Animal Health and Food Safety: Chicken Little, Chicken Big
Medical and dietary supplement products, such as vitamins, are often given to humans and other animals to improve health, growth, or performance. In this activity, students analyze data from a fictitious study on the effects of a chicken growth supplement. Students are introduced to thresholds and toxicology, the design of clinical trials, and how to determine threshold and lethal doses. Students study the positive and negative effects of the dose administered and body weight on the growth and health of the chickens. Students are also given the opportunity to determine an optimum dose by considering the trade-offs between risks and benefits.
Details at a Glance
- 1-2 Days | 1-2 ~50 minute class periods
- 1 Activity
- Accommodates unlimited classes, each with 8 groups of 4 students
- Meets our criteria for supporting literacy
- All materials are non-consumable
- Includes digital resources
- Developed in partnership with SEPUP
Scientific Concepts
•All organisms use resources to grow, reproduce, and maintain stable internal conditions.
•Substances taken in by organisms can have positive and negative health effects. •Which effect occurs, and its magnitude, is influenced by the amount of substance taken in.
•Think critically and logically to develop explanations using evidence.
•Use a systematic approach to analyzing and making decisions about risks and benefits.
•Technology influences society through its products and processes.
Guides & Student Sheets
Our kits and modules provide you with everything you need so you can open, review, and teach the material confidently the next day.
- Full downloadable Teacher Guide with background information, detailed instruction, example data and answers
- Downloadable Student Sheets with age appropriate background information, full procedure(s), and analysis questions
- All materials necessary to carry out the investigation
- Safety Data Sheets
Kit Components
- 2 Sets of 80 Chicken Cards, Weeks 1 - 8 with 10 chickens per week
- 32 Student Guides
- 1 Teacher’s Guide
- Not included and needed for instruction: Obtain an egg, milk, or other food label stating “Contains no (name of additive or hormone)”.
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