Friends, is this year’s early Easter totally throwing you off or what? We’re still celebrating St. Patrick‘s Day with our Great Potato Disguise projects this week, but I’m already looking ahead to our chick adoptions for spring/Easter. We’re on spring break the week of April 1st, and I’m still debating on whether or not to push the project into next week or just wait and have it late when we come back from break. I’m leaning toward later so I can really give the unit justice. It doesn’t specifically mention Easter so I think my kids will survive the wait. =)
Either way, I did want to get it out to you now so you’d have time to plan for it if you decide to tackle it this year with your kiddos. It’s so much fun! Just like the sugar or egg babies of high school, students adopt adorable chicks for spring and spend the week taking care of them while also doing reading, writing, and science activities about chicks.
The week starts by students going on a scavenger hunt to find a plastic egg with their new baby chick inside. I like to use these adorable fuzzy chicks (and sometimes stuff two in an egg if I have extras… twins!), but you can also use the marshmallow “Peep” brand chickens. Just be sure your students don’t eat their new babies if you use those. It makes for some tears when they realize we’re turning them into our babies for the week.
After students adopt their new chicks, we complete birth certificates and spend the week using our chicks for writing workshop. Because this unit is very similar to my Great Potato Disguise unit many of the prompts are similar but with a chick twist. I like this because we don’t ever have time to get to all of the prompts in either unit and the variety also provides for a lot of choice at the writing center.
This year, I decided to add the chick life cycle to add a bit more nonfiction “meat” to the unit. My students are also browsing chick (and other baby animal) books during reading workshop. They can read aloud to their chicks if they’d like. It’s so cute! Near the end of the week, we reuse the eggs for a math scavenger hunt where students must solve a word problem hidden inside each egg. I’m sneaky like that, mixing learning with fun.
If you want to grab my printables to try this unit with your class, it’s available in my TpT shop. I’d love to hear all about how it goes for you!
This is the cutest thing EVER! You are so creative 🙂
Thanks! It really is so cute to see them care for their babies. =)
This is such a great idea! I am totally pinning this post! You rock, Christi!
Irene
Learning With Mrs. Leeby
Thank you! This one is near to my heart. 🙂
Christi,
This is darling! (and I agree about the early Easter TOTALLY throwing everything off!)
This is just too darn cute. I just picked up your pack from TpT and can't WAIT to do this with my littles next week. Where did you get those precious little chicks from??
Amanda
Let's Get Fancy in First
They're from Mel- http://graphicsfromthepond.blogspot.com/. She's the best!
Amanda, I picked it up too! I found some baby chicks at Orientaltrading.com 🙂 Can't wait to do this with my class!
Hi Ms. Fultz, where did you get your chicken/baby chick graphics? They're so cute, and I'm thinking about creating my own chick project soon. Thanks.
Jessica
The Learning Metamorphosis
They are from the amazing Mel- http://graphicsfromthepond.blogspot.com/ Love her!
What an awesome idea!! I love it! I would never have thought of such a project. I bet your students really love it!
Teresa
2nd Grade Pig Pen
We did a penguin unit in December and bought the kids little penguins for the holidays. They treated them like gold! I know they will LOVE this unit- I just bought it from TPT-can't wait to use it after the break. Now to find those baby chickies! Thanks, Christi!
Tracey
The Teacher’s Chair
Thanks, Tracey! =)