Egg Experiments

Doug Cox Spring Lake Park Schools, Blaine, MN. These experiments I have never completed with students. The experiments would be an extension of concepts such as concentration found in the FOSS module Mixtures and Solutions. I found these experiments online from Alberta Egg Producers. However I have modified the activities slightly.
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Summary

There are two experiments that the students will investigate using uncooked eggs. Students will be given materials in which they are to explore how to remove the eggs outer shell while keeping the rest of the egg intact. The second experiment, students will be given a different set of mixtures with the intent of shrinking the egg without a shell. They will determine the substance(s) that eliminated the shell as well as the reduction of that same egg. Students will be noting the physical changes as well as the chemical changes that take place in science journals/notebooks.

Learning Goals

The learning goals of these extensions is to provide a physical/visual model for the concepts of concentration, osmosis, and chemical change; ie. acidic erosion. Students will develop and use critical thinking skills to help them achieve the goal of eliminating the outer shell of the egg, then shrinking the egg. Students will develop their solution in which they will accomplish both tasks. The skills developed in these experiments are observing, questioning, data analysis, and evaluation of mixtures and solutions.

Vocabulary:
Concentration
pH
Acids and Bases
Calcium Carbonate
Osmosis

Context for Use

These activities can be done in a classroom or a lab. Protective eye wear would be recommended, as we would be working with acidic materials. All of the materials would be household materials. The materials that are selected as mixtures can vary, however vinegar must be a substance to be used, as well as corn syrup. These activities are geared for a week worth of extensions; however the time could most certainly be adjusted both to be shorter and longer. I would allow 45 minutes per day to work on the eggs/solutions. No special materials are needed. The most important concepts are acids and bases as well as concentration and osmosis. You will need lots of eggs! Each group or student will need a total of two eggs for the experiments.

Description and Teaching Materials

Plan to introduce the activity by presenting the students with a challenge. Informing them that the experiments are follow-ups to concepts learned in the FOSS kits.

Activity One:
1. Review with the students the necessary procedures of the lab or classroom lab.
2. Review acids and bases.
3. Present the students with a challenge. Each group of 4 students will be provided 2 eggs. Both eggs you are provided with liquid materials to help you eliminate the outer shell of the egg. You are to ensure that the rest of the egg stays intact.
4. Give the students the list of your liquid materials. Ensure that vinegar is made readily available.
5. Present to the students containers in which they are to hold the egg into.
6. Students should be given the eggs.
7. Give the students the time frame of 30 minutes to determine, complete, and record the solutions/mixtures that they will use to complete this first experiment.
***I would have several eggs ready to show them. I would also allow the students to examine the eggs, guiding them through observations, ideas, and results.
***Hopefully students would determine that vinegar was used in eliminating the shell, but the concentration of vinegar would be unknown. That should be explored.***
8. Remind the students to enter observations, ideas, thoughts, drawings, etc. into the journals of the first activity.
9. Allow for students' questions to guide the discussion that follows with the experiments.
Activity Two:
***Follow the same procedures as in activity one, however make sure that students understand that corn syrup was used in reducing the egg.

***After each days activities debrief with the students about what is happening. What happened? Why did that happen? What would happen if...?


I would close the lesson by asking why is it so important that we completed these experiments. I would also challenge the students to determine how, where, and why this might be used in the, "real world:.
Again, these are extension activities that are meant to reinforce the concepts of concentrations and chemical reactions.

Here is the site in which the actual experiments were found. http://www.eggs.ab.ca/kids/Egg%20Science/eggsperiment004.htm

Teaching Notes and Tips

The vinegar smell might be an overwhelming experience. Be sure to have good ventilation in whatever space you are doing these tasks.

Assessment

The students will be assessed through Science Journal entries. An optional quiz could be utilized to assess the students and their knowledge of the chemical changes that took place in the experiments, through a similar text based experiment.

Standards

1. The Practice of Science
5.1.1.1.2
5.1.1.1.3
5.1.1.2.1

References and Resources