Many local Virginia Cooperative Extension Offices participate in the 4-H Embryology Project in which teachers hatch chicken eggs in the classroom or school library. Students are given the opportunity to track the growth and development of chickens from embryo to hatchlings.  They learn about the phases of animal life cycles and then may have the opportunity to adopt chicks and further their study into animal care and nutrition which allows them to track the energy cycle through an in-depth and hands-on study of the food web and relationships between producers, consumers, and decomposers. Embryology is a fascinating way to allow your child to level up in his or knowledge of the life cycle and personal responsibility in caring for animals.