Submitted by Karen Simonelic, Racine, Wisconsin

Idea posted April 8, 2003

The Early Childhood teachers do a "growing" unit in the spring, so I take out my homemade egg shakers and we use them with the song "Dip An Egg" (from Music K-8, Vol 10 No 4), but for each of the four weeks of the unit, I put a different kind of seed inside the eggs (rice, beans, popcorn, and the last week... jelly beans). Of course, we don't talk about "Easter eggs," but focus on the concept of colors and the scientific concept of growing.

The kids have fun exploring the different sounds each of the seeds makes, plus we talk about where the seeds come from and what we have to do before we can eat them. Some of the teachers even do some cooking with the rice, etc. And of course, the last week, when we discover the jelly beans inside, we get to eat them, too.

I have some really great intermediate level students help me empty and seal the eggs each week.