YORK The 11 lively third-graders in Jillian Starks class received an eyes- and hands-on life lesson.

With help from York County Extension 4-H assistant Tanya Crawford and 4-H director Megan Burda, Stark and her students incubated, carefully monitored and hatched eggs in their classroom..

Embryology is a 4-H School Enrichment project taught in almost every elementary school across the state. The program is designed for grades 2-4. The Extension Office provides the incubator, eggs and educational materials.

In classroom discussions Crawford taught Starks students about eggs and the birds from tiny to very large - that lay them. They also found homes for the newly-hatched chicks.

Once Stark took up the Extension offer and signed on, Crawford came to class to introduce the project and then visited again with Burda to candle the eggs.

Students of all ages, Crawford said, enjoy taking care of eggs and anticipating the arrival of baby chicks.

We learn about the similarities and differences between chickens, as well as study the development of life. The program usually starts in March or April. I would love to bring embryology to your classroom, Crawford wrote in an earlier invitation to local teachers.

Embryology ran for 21 days during which time Stark and her students carefully checked temperatures in the hatching container and filled water to last over the weekends.

In the past, I have done up to three visits in the classroom (one per week), Crawford said, to deliver the following curriculum:

Lesson 1 introduce embryology and deliver eggs

Lesson 2 talk about egg development and candle the eggs

Lesson 3 talk about brooding and share egg collection

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The eggs for Starks class came from Clare Quandt from Stromsburg and Jill and Ryan Koch from York.

For her part, Stark said, I decided to take on the embryology project because I thought it would be a great way for the students to learn about eggs and their connection to agriculture. The 4-H Extension office brought the supplies, including the incubator and the 24 eggs. After seven days the students candled the eggs to see if they were fertilized. After 14 days the students candled them again to check on their growth, she said.

By day 20 the eggs had begun to hatch.

The Extension Office then provided the necessary supplies to keep the chicks in the classroom for a few days, she explained.

The students have been really engaged throughout the whole process, she added. They were excited to watch the (chicks) hatch from the egg and hold them after the feathers had dried. Not only are they learning about science behind the chick, but they are also learning about the responsibility that comes along with having a pet. The experience has been great overall and I cant wait for next year.

Teachers of grades 2-4 are invited to contact Crawford about bringing the project to their classrooms, too.

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Embryology in action - York News-Times