Course: MSED 4311
Instructor: Dr. Pei-Ling Hsu
Centennial Museum Lesson Plan
UTEP Course: MSED 4311- Teaching Science in Intermediate and Middle Grades
Designers: Shannon Murphy, Carlos A. Terrazas
1. Lesson Title: Strength of Eggshells
2. Grade: 6th – 8th grade
3. Time: 20-30 minutes
4. Learning Objectives
(1) Learners will be able to compare and contrast various eggshells through the
use of various observations during the experiment.
(2) Learners will be able to test the strength of the common chicken eggshell both
empty and not.
(3) Learners will be able to analyze the findings of the experiment and make
inferences and hypotheses of why the experiment had those results.
(4) Learners will be able to Make conclusions about the experiment and renew
and possibly change their perspectives of common chicken eggshells.
5. TEKS Alignment
(1) TEKS §112.18. Science, Grade 6, Knowledge and Skills (2) (E)]: analyze data
to formulate reasonable explanations, communicate valid conclusions supported
by the data, and predict trends.
(2) TEKS §112.19. Science, Grade 7, Knowledge and Skills (2) (E)]: analyze data
to formulate reasonable explanations, communicate valid conclusions supported
by the data, and predict trends.
(3) TEKS §112.19. Science, Grade 7, Knowledge and Skills (11) (C)]: identify
some changes in genetic traits that have occurred over several generations through
natural selection and selective breeding such as the Galapagos Medium Ground
Finch (Geospiza fortis) or domestic animals.
(4) TEKS §112.20. Science, Grade 8, Knowledge and Skills (2) (E)]: analyze data
to formulate reasonable explanations, communicate valid conclusions supported
by the data, and predict trends.
6. Concept Map
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Course: MSED 4311
Instructor: Dr. Pei-Ling Hsu
7. Materials in the Centennial Museum (Lists and Pictures):
We will use the exhibit of different types of birds’ eggs and we will also be
needing a table.
We can also refer to the exhibits of birds and have the student match the bird to
the egg if time permits.
8. Self-Created Materials (Lists and Pictures)
(1) We will use empty eggshells to test during the experiment.
(2) We will use Masking tape and scissors to cut the eggshell in half.
(3) We will use books of the same weight to test the endurance of the eggs’
strength. The specific book we will use is the UTEP UNIV 1301 textbook
(Borders: Crossing Into Your Future), we have multiple copies in order for
the weight to be equal and the experiment to be valid.
(4) We will use a balance and scale in order to weigh the textbooks and the
eggshells.
(5) We will use Markers and other items to decorate the eggs.
(6) We will use newspaper in order to maintain a clean area in the museum.
(7) We will use paper towels and cleaning wipes in case of any eggs breaking.
(8) We will use a handout to provide a brief explanation of the concepts covered
in the experiment.
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Course: MSED 4311
Instructor: Dr. Pei-Ling Hsu
(10)We will use [a poster board to have pictures of different eggs and their
characteristics in order to provide a visual for the students participating in the
experiment.
These characteristics are: Size
• Egg sizes vary from chicken to chicken, and some breeds generally lay larger
eggs than others. Average-sized eggs weigh 2 oz. The USDA measures the weight of
a dozen eggs and labels the eggs' size as jumbo, extra large, large, medium, small or
peewee on egg cartons.
Structure
• Chicken eggs are protected by a hard shell made of crystalline calcium carbonate.
The shell is formed just before the egg is laid. Inside the shell, the egg white, or
albumin, protects the egg's yolk. The egg white is a clear membrane full of structural
fibers to stabilize and cushion the yolk.]
9. Safety Consideration
(1) It is possible that when the empty eggshells do break under the weight of the
books, they will crack and the eggshell pieces will scatter. This could be a hazard
for the eyes of those nearby. A solution will be for the students not to stand very
close to the table. However, during the practice run-throughs, the eggshells
stayed crushed beneath the book and did not present a safety problem.
(2) A student might drop the textbook on their hand. This could hurt them. The
solution to this would be to not have the younger students handle the textbooks.
The older students would not get hurt if they drop the book as the books are not
very heavy.
(3) When standing on the eggs, if someone loses their balance, they might fall. The
solution to this is to have someone standing with the person on the eggs providing
stabilization to the volunteer.
(4) ….
10. Scientific Topics
(1) Force
(2) Evolution
(3) Mass
(4) Pressure
(5) Gravity
(6) Adaption
(7) Natural Selection
11. Opening Activity (hook)
We will show the YouTube video of certain people standing on eggshells.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xckhg7Ns8so It is surprising to see how
much weight the eggs can support. This video will be able to grab the attention of
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Course: MSED 4311
Instructor: Dr. Pei-Ling Hsu
the participants and they will be curious to try for themselves in the experiment.
The video is also a good resource since they also discuss the scientific concepts in
the video as well.
12. Practice for the targeted audience
The targeted audience is middle school aged students. They will participate in the
experiment by watching the video in order to make inferences on the experiment.
The audience will hypothesize on how many books the eggshell can hold. They
will then pile books on top of the eggs. They will also weigh the textbooks in
order to make inferences on the strength of the eggshells. They will use the
characteristics given about eggs in order to hypothesize about what makes the
eggshells strong.
13. Practice for younger audience
The younger audience just watches the video and experiment being performed.
They will also be given an empty eggshell to decorate. Markers and other items
will be provided.
14. Practice for older audience
The older audience will watch the video and make inferences on the experiment.
Also, the audience will pile books on top of the eggs. They will also weigh the
books to make inferences on the strength of eggshells and why they are strong.
They will also have to connect the information given on other types of eggs to try
and figure out if other eggs are capable of holding the same amount of weight.
They will also relate this to the concepts of Evolution, Adaption, and Natural
Selection.
15. Assessment for the targeted audience
Informal assessment; you ask questions about the experiment to the audience.
Through gauging the audience’s answers, you will be able to see how much the
audience understood the purpose of the experiment.
Questions include: What characteristics contribute to the strength of eggs?
Will using a larger egg make it stronger? A smaller egg?
How do the characteristics of an egg help against predators?
16. Assessment for the younger audience
Informal assessment; you ask questions about the experiment to the audience.
Questions include: How many books could the egg hold?
Did you expect the egg to hold that many books?
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Course: MSED 4311
Instructor: Dr. Pei-Ling Hsu
17. Assessment for the older audience
Informal assessment; you ask questions about the experiment to the audience.
Questions include: Given the weight and size of the textbook, how much force is
exerted on the egg?
Make a hypothesis of how many textbooks the Elephant bird egg can withstand.
18. Reference (at least five references, two from the course and three from external
sources).
Concept map
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xckhg7Ns8so
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=6148
http://www.ehow.com/info_10052169_characteristics-chicken-eggs.html
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fairprojects/project_ideas/MatlSci_p021.shtml#summary
6. http://www.stanford.edu/group/stanfordbirds/text/essays/Eggs.html
7. http://science.yourdictionary.com/
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