Special Feature Lesson:

Make a Hatching Duckling

Overview:
Children create an egg that "cracks" open to hatch a mallard duckling.

Curriculum Focus:
• art

Materials:
• Eggshell and Mallard Duckling printout
• scissors
• drawing materials such as markers, paints, crayons
• metal brad fastener
• glue

Activity:
Make enough copies of the Eggshell and Mallard Duckling printout for each child to use. Review Special Feature and More About. Lead a general discussion about eggs, nests and facts children know about them. Pass out copies of the printouts and other materials. Share the directions below with children to help them create their hatching ducklings. Display children's art, perhaps by placing the eggs in a large paper nest you design and create as a a group.

Directions

1. Have children cut out the 2 eggshell shapes and the duckling shape.

2. Invite children to decorate the cut-outs however they choose. Provide photos or art of mallard ducklings for reference if children wish to make their ducklings look realistic.

3. Help children glue their mallard ducklings along the top edge of one of the eggshell pieces. Position the duckling so that it "perches" on the cracked edge of the eggshell.

4. Help children use the point of a scissors to carefully poke a hole through each black dot printed on the eggshell pieces. Position the two eggshell pieces so that these black dots overlap. The piece with the duckling on it should be on the bottom.

5. Push a metal brad through the holes, and bend the ends outward on the backside of the eggshell pieces to make a hinge. Swing the top eggshell piece down so that it covers the duckling. Swing it up to reveal the "hatching" duckling!

Extension Idea:
Have children help you make an edible bird nest. You'll need 6 squares of semi-sweet chocolate, 1 cup butterscotch chips, 1 cup crumbled pretzel sticks, 1/2 cup roasted peanuts, wax paper and jelly beans. Place the chocolate and butterscotch chips in the microwave on medium power for three to four minutes or until they are almost melted. Stir the mixture until it is smooth, then stir in the pretzels and peanuts. Drop tablespoons of the mixture onto wax paper. Press in the centers to make each pile look like a bird nest. Place a few jelly bean "eggs" in each nest. Cool in the refrigerator for one half hour.