Farm Animal Science: Chicken Life Cycle Cards

We have all heard the question, “Which came first: the chicken or the egg?” Here’s a science activity for a farm theme, this is a fun way for your children to learn and remember the chicken life cycle.

Amazon links included below.

Prepare

1. Download the Chicken Life Cycle Cards Pack. (printable is available below)
2. Print the cards and other pages on cardstock for durability.
3. Cut apart the cards. (Cards are found on pages 4-7 in the printable)

Game #1: What Am I?

In this game, you and your preschoolers will look at the pictures and talk about what they see in each picture. For example, show this card and say, “This is a picture of a hatchling.”

First, look at each card individually. Then lay down 3 cards, point to each, and name it.

Adjust the number of cards depending on the skill level of your children. For some children, 3 cards might be too much while other children need the challenge of more than 3 cards.

Lay the 3 cards on a flat surface and state what each card is. Then, invite your preschoolers to answer these questions:

1) Where is the ____?

2) What color is the ___?

3) What card is in the middle?

Ask other questions, too. Create as many questions as you can that refer to the 3 cards that are currently being used.

Game #2: Where Am I?

Place the cards in different areas in the room and play a hide and go seek game. Say: “Where is the ____?” Your preschoolers can search for that card. Continue with the other cards.

Game #3: Where’s My Match?

Use the Life Cycle chart (p. 8 in the printable). Lay it on a flat surface. Show your preschoolers the life cycle and talk about the different stages in the cycle. For example: The chicken lays the egg in a nest. She then sits on them (roosts) to keep them warm. From these eggs come hatchlings. Hatchlings are chickens that have just hatched. After a few days the hatchling grows into a chick and the chick grows up to be a chicken.

Point to each picture and name it (or ask your children to name it). Invite your preschoolers to find the matching card and lay it beside the Life Cycle chart.

Game #4: What Is Missing?

After you talk about the Life Cycle (p. 8), you can use the other pages to play this game. Cut out the cards (p. 10).

Once you have explained the life cycle a few times, try to see if your preschoolers can fill in the missing stages of the life cycle chart. Lay down the partial life cycle chart (p. 9). Look at the cards and encourage your children to place the cards in the right place in the life cycle.

Thanks for allowing me to share with you today. You can download the Chicken Life Cycle Cards below.

BIO: Alecia is the author of Learning 2 Walk where she shares other fun preschool science experiments as well as preschool sensory activities and preschool printables for letters and sight words that she does with her 2 children. You can find her on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram.

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