Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix

Students examine the process of egg production from the hen to our homes, explore the parts of an egg, perform measurements of circumference and height, compare raw egg whites to egg white foams, and prepare meringue cookies. Grades 3-5

chalazae: the white strings on each side of the yolk that hold it in the center of the egg

membrane: a very thin skin or covering

porous: having tiny pores or holes

soft peaks: egg white foams that stand up at first and then fall over

stiff peaks: egg white foams that stand up with only the tips falling over

vitelline membrane: the skin around the yolk

Introduction to FoodMASTER:
FoodMASTER (Food, Mathematics and Science Teaching Enhancement Resource) is a compilation of programs aimed at using food as a tool to teach mathematics and science. It is our theory that if food is used as a tool to teach mathematics and science, students will be better prepared to demonstrate and apply mathematic and scientific knowledge. Because students encounter food on a daily basis, they have preexisting contextual experiences preparing them for learning new and relevant mathematics and science material.

Food is conducive to hands-on and virtual, inquiry-based, active learning that uses multiple senses to engage students in the learning process. Utilizing food allows for an interdisciplinary approach to learning concepts and ideas in a variety of scientific subjects like general science, biology, chemistry, microbiology, nutrition, and health. Additionally, food labs are a dynamic way to teach mathematics concepts such as numbers and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, and problem solving.

The knowledge and skill development that can be inspired by the FoodMASTER approach is limitless. Proper use of measurement tools, data collection and interpretation, application and generalization, classification and organization, graphing and comparative analysis, understanding chemical changes, observing functions of ingredients and controlling variables, pricing, critical thinking, self-directing learning, and team building are only a few of the potential knowledge and skill development areas for intermediate grade students experiencing FoodMASTER’s scientific inquiry labs.

Additional FoodMASTER lessons can be found to cover health and nutrition topics such as: Food Safety, Vegetables, Fruits, Milk and Cheese, Meat, Poultry, and Fish, Fats and Oils, Grains, Measurement, and Meal Management.

Background for this lesson:
Did you know a hen can lay 250 to 300 eggs a year? That’s a lot of eggs! In the United States, chicken eggs are the most popular, but you can eat duck eggs, goose eggs, ostrich eggs, and more. In this chapter, we will focus on chicken eggs.

Chicken eggs are an excellent source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. However, a microorganism called Salmonella can infect eggs and make you sick. Thoroughly cooking eggs makes them safe to eat because cooking kills Salmonella. To avoid foodborne illness, be sure everyone washes their hands after touching raw eggs and that no one eats raw eggs.

In this lesson, students will:

1. list several parts of an egg and complete egg fact tables;
2. make pictorial representations of the parts of an egg;
3. practice measurement skills using appropriate units for weight, circumference, and height;
4. make egg white foams and identify egg white soft peaks and stiff peaks;
5. measure ingredients accurately and complete a Venn diagram comparing raw egg whites and egg foams; and
6. make and test a prediction and measure time accurately.

1. Play a game of Pictionary with your students to illustrate the steps of egg production from the farm to their home.  
2. Print one copy of the Egg Interest Approach Pictionary Cards and cut the six cards into separate pieces.  
3. Choose six students from your class and line them up at the board in chronological order from left to right.
4. Give each student one card and instruct them to sketch their word until the class guesses it. Begin with student #1 and continue until all six students draw their word.
5. After the class guesses each word, have the student read the additional facts on their card.  
6. When the game is complete, the Pictionary sketches will illustrate the path of egg production from the farm to our homes.

Activity 1: Egg-ceptional Eggs
Scientific Inquiry: Egg Facts

1. Read Egg-ceptional Eggs and complete the Doodle Bugs.
2. Demonstrate how to crack a raw egg:
   • Hold the egg over a plate.
   • Gently tap the side of the egg shell with a table knife to crack the shell.
   • Use both hands to gently pull the two sides of the shell apart.
   • Pour the egg onto the plate.
   • Discard the egg shell and wash your hands.
3. Demonstrate how to peel the shell off a boiled egg:
   • Use the dull end of your knife to tap the wider end of the egg shell.
   • Make several small cracks in the egg shell.
   • Use your fingers to peel the shell off the egg white (this can also be done under cool water).
   • Place shell pieces on a paper towel and throw away.
4. Instruct your students to read the Scientific Inquiry: Egg Facts directions, study the egg diagram, gather the supplies, and begin the activity. Remind the students to record their findings in the appropriate chart and to record units of measurement when appropriate.
5. Review the use of measuring tapes and scales. The students will place a plate or bowl on the scale, zero the scale, and then add their egg, egg white, or egg yolk. Zeroing the scale makes the weight of the plate/bowl disappear.
6. A teacher or other adult should break one raw egg for each group to study. Be sure to dispose of the egg when the group is finished with their observation.
7. Review the parts of the egg and what the class learned about each part.

Activity 2: Fantastic Foams
Scientific Inquiry: Peaks, Peaks, Peaks

1. Read Fantastic Foams and complete the Doodle Bugs.
2. Follow Scientific Inquiry: Peaks, Peaks, Peaks directions to make meringue cookies.
3. Demonstrate how to separate egg whites from yolks:
   • Place the egg separator over the mixing bowl. (A helper may hold the egg separator.)
   • Gently tap the side of the egg shell with a knife to crack the shell.
   • Use both hands to gently pull the two sides of the shell apart.
   • Pour the egg into the egg separator. The egg white will fall into the bowl and the yolk will stay in the egg separator and be discarded.
4. Allow your students to take turns beating the egg whites, adding ingredients, and dropping teaspoonfuls of meringue onto cookie sheets.
5. While beating the egg whites, ask your students to make observations about visible changes (size, color, state of matter). Be sure to point out soft and stiff peaks.
6. Instruct the students to complete the Venn diagram.
7. While the cookies are baking, complete While You Wait: Egg-citing Egg Foams.
8. When the cookies are done, an adult should use oven mitts to remove the cookie sheets from the oven. Place the cookie sheets on the hot pad holders.
9. Let the cookies cool. Remove the cookies from the tray with a spatula and place on napkins.
10. Serve one cookie to each student. Have the students answer the Tasting Time questions.

While You Wait: Egg-citing Egg Foams

1. Instruct your students to make a prediction before you begin beating the egg whites and yolks.
2. Allow the students to assist with beating the egg whites and yolks and measuring the volume of the foams.
3. Instruct the students to record times and volumes on their workbook pages.
4. Discuss the differences between the egg foams. Remind students that egg whites are mainly protein and yolks contain both protein and fat. The protein makes the egg foams strong. Whereas, fat prevents foaming.

• Created by: FoodMASTER- Food, Math, and Science Teaching Enhancement Resource
• Sponsored by: SEPA- Science Education Partnership Award
• Partnered with: Ohio University and East Carolina University
• Graphics provided by FoodMASTER

• Chicks & Chickens
• Eat Happy Project video series
• Eggs 101: An Egg's Journey from the Farm to Our Tables
• Eggs in Schools
• Food Group Puzzle
• Hatching Classroom Projects
• Hatching Science: 21 Days of Discovery Video
• Inside An Egg
• Look Inside Food
• One Egg
• The Science of Cooking
• Virtual Chicken
• Virtual Egg Farm Field Trips