Second graders at White Oak Elementary recently participated in two 4-H projects – embryology and emerging butterflies! These hand-on learning opportunities teach youth about the life cycles of chickens and butterflies.

For embryology, each classroom was equipped with fertile eggs and an incubator. Students learned about what was happening during each day of the 21-day incubation period. On day 21 the chicks began to pip (the first break in the shell by the hatching bird). After the chickens hatched and were fully dry, they were then moved to heated brooder boxes.

For their Winged Wonders (emerging butterflies) project, each classroom was given four cups of Painted Lady Butterfly larvae. With this project, “youth will observe the wonders of the natural world unfolding in front of them by raising painted lady butterflies from larva through adulthood. Youth will experience the mystery of the butterfly life cycle while engaging in hands-on activities that explore concepts of insect structures and functions, compare insect behaviors and life cycles, and demonstrate the role everyone can play in environmental stewardship.” Over the course of a few weeks, each larva eats and grows, forms a chrysalis, and then emerges as an adult!

Chowan County 4-H is always so “egg-cited” to provide these educational opportunities to the youth in our community. For more information on Chowan County 4-H, please contact Camaryn Byrum at cibyrum@ncsu.edu.