In Search of Animals That Hatch

A Study of Oviparous Animals

Science: SOL K6 Living Processes

Designed by
Renita L. Best
singerjoi@aol.com

Chickens Aren’t the Only Ones

INTRODUCTION
Do you know how a snake is like a butterfly? Or how a ladybug is like a
crocodile? Does a bird have anything in common with a lobster? Have you
ever heard of oviparous animals? Oviparous animals are animals that hatch
from eggs. During this quest we are going to learn about some animals that
hatch from an egg. Any animal that hatches from an egg is OVIPAROUS*

We are going to examine some oviparous animals and become ovipacologists.

 Birds are oviparous.

Reptiles are oviparous.

Fish and shellfish are oviparous.

l All insects are oviparous.

Many animals hatch from eggs. They are

OVIPAROUS animals.

THE TASK

Your task is to make book about oviparous animals. Your book will show eggs
from which the animals are birthed, tell an interesting fact about each
animal, and include a picture. By the end of this project you will have made a
model of an egg, learned the meaning of the word oviparous, collected
information on some oviparous animals, and made oviparous animal models.
You will also make a book to share with your family and friends.
We will make an oviparous animal mural and display it in the hall.
Let’s get started!

THE PROCESS
Day 1:
1. Go to the computer to listen to a talk from the book, Chickens Aren’t the
Only Ones by Ruth Heller.
2. Scroll down and hear about other egg books.
3. When you are done listening come to the rug.
Your teacher will read Chickens Aren’t the Only Ones by Ruth Heller.

Day 2:
1. Choose a colored egg card from the deck. There are four different
colors. Get with the people who have also chosen your color. For example all
blue cards will be in one group and all green cards will be in one group, etc.
Find the table that has your color marked on it and sit with your teammates.
Put your egg cards in the cup on the table.
2. Go to a computer work station.
3. Look at the pictures below to see what study team you are on and the
names of the animals you will be studying.

Team Names

Blue Team-Birds

Orange Team-Reptiles

Green Team-Insects
 Red Team- Fish and Shellfish

4. Go back to your (table) team study station. Write your name on the team
log. It will have a picture of your animal on it.
5. Each work station will have supplies in the basket for you to use to
complete this project.
6. Take a few minutes to talk to each other about your coming animal
adventure.

Day 3:
1. Go to your team study stations.
2. Get a plastic bag from the basket at your table. It has precut materials
in it to make a model of an egg.
3. Once you’ve made your egg write your name on the back.
4. Use the markers, colored pencils and crayons to decorate.
5. Put the egg back in the plastic bag and place in your work station basket.
6. Go to the computer. Click on egg hatching to watch an egg hatch.
7. Go back to your study station and talk about what you saw.

Day 4:
To the teacher: Walk children through the process of accessing the
web site and completing the online task. The computer task involves
four steps: copying the underlined statement, accessing the site,
scrolling down to the desired animal and getting back to the WebQuest.

Day 5:
The fun begins!

Blue Team-Birds
 Toucan Peacock

Dove
Chicken

*Chickens, toucans, peacocks and doves are birds. All birds

hatch from eggs and are oviparous.
At your team station:
1. Use the precut materials in the plastic bags to make a model of your bird.
2. Once you’ve made your animal write your name on the back and put it back
into the plastic bag.
3. Put it in your team’s work basket.
4. Take your work folder and a pencil to the computer.

At the computer:

1. Copy the underlined statement above into your notebook.

2. Click on the word bird and hit ENTER to go to the website. Scroll down
and find one of the birds shown above.
3. Copy down one fact about your bird. Draw a picture in your book.

Orange Team- Reptiles

 Turtle

Gecko Snake Alligator

Lizards, snakes and alligators and turtles are reptiles. Re

Reptiles hatch from eggs. They are oviparous
At your team station:
1. Use the precut materials in the plastic bags to make a model of your
reptile.
2. Once you’ve made your animal write your name on the back and put it back
into the plastic bag.
3. Put it in your team’s work basket.
4. Take your work folder and a pencil to the computer.

At the computer:
1. Copy the underlined statement into your notebook.
2. Click on the word reptile and hit ENTER to go to the website. Once
there scroll down and find one of the reptiles shown above.
3. Copy down one fact about your reptile. Draw a picture in your book.

Green Team- Insects*

dragonfly ladybug butterfly-1

honeybee

Dragonflies, butterflies, bumblebees and ladybugs are insects.

All insects hatch from eggs and are oviparous.
At your team station:
1. Use the precut materials in the plastic bags to make a model of your
insect.
2. Once you’ve made your animal write your name on the back and put it back
into the plastic bag.
3. Put it in your team’s work basket.
4. Take your work folder and a pencil to the computer.

At the computer:
1. Copy the underlined statement above into your notebook.
2. Click on the insect name and hit ENTER to go to the website.
3. Copy down one fact about your insect. Draw a picture in your book.

Optional Activity:
Copy the following information into your book. Go to Insects to find a
picture of another insect. Write its name in your book.

* All Insects must have:

• three body parts - a head, thorax, and abdomen
• six jointed legs
• two antennae to sense the world around them
an exoskeleton (outside skeleton
Shark Lobster Fish

Sharks, shellfish and fish hatch from eggs. They are

oviparous.
At your team station:
1. Use the precut materials in the plastic bags to make a model of your fish.
2. Once you’ve made your animal write your name on the back and put it back
into the plastic bag.
3. Put it in your team’s work basket.
4. Take your work folder and a pencil to the computer.

At the computer:
1. Copy the underlined statement above into your notebook.
2. Click on the fish name and hit ENTER to go to the website.
Scroll down to see pictures of your animal and to read about it.
3. Copy down one fact about your animal. Draw a picture in your book.

Day 6-8
Rotate work and computer stations so that each group explores each animal
and completes the tasks.

Day 9- Evaluation Day

Each group will evaluate its members using the rubric.

Day 10- Create Oviparous Animal mural to display in hall.

RESOURCES
Eggs
http://www.primarygames.com/holidays/easter/games/match_up/egg_matc
h.htm
http://teachingheart.net/eggs.htm
http://mcs.k12.in.us/les/hawkins/photos.htm

http://www.msichicago.org/exhibit/genetics/chicks_gall1.html
http://pbskids.org/readingrainbow/books/episode38.html

Birds

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/birds/printouts/
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/kindergarten_links.htm

Reptiles
http://www2.tltc.ttu.edu/thomas/classPet/1998/brownsnake/pictures.htm
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/reptiles/printouts.shtml

Bees
http://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4th/kkhp/1insects/honbeefax.html

Ladybugs
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Atrium/5924/ladybuglifecycle.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Atrium/5924/ladybugjigsawpuzzle.htm
 Insects
http://www.husd4.k12.il.us/unit/technology/K-
2Reading/Insects/Insects.htm

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/themes/insects.shtm

Fish and Shellfish

http://www.swsgrp.com/lobstermen/LobsterFacts.html

EVALUATION

Explain how the project will be evaluated using a rubric.

CONCLUSION
This has been a great introduction to online research. We have learned
a new word and learned about many animals that hatch from eggs. We
have made paper models of eggs and animals. We have made a beautiful
mural which shows oviparous animals in their habitats. We are
ovipacologists!

Ovipacologist-one who studies oviparous animals

In the future we will continue to study oviparous animals. We might

bring in hen eggs and watch them hatch and make our own web
presentation. We might design a website about oviparous animals to be
visited by hundreds and hundreds of children.

CREDITS & REFERENCES

Teacher Resources:
http://www.angelfire.com/la/kinderthemes/chickens.html
http://teachingheart.net/eggs.htm
http://www.pma.edmonton.ab.ca/vexhibit/eggs/vexhome/ne

Based on a template from the WebQuest Page. Updated Spring 2004