By Kelsey Haynes
Students who live in urban areas usually play with their dogs, cats, or hamsters, likely having limited opportunity to play with other animals such as farm animals. Louisville Public Schools gave the 2nd grade class the whole month of March to interact with the cycle of life by hatching chicken eggs in an incubator and being allowed to take home their own chickens that they raised. The chicks give these students one way to engage with something they wouldn't normally interact with in their daily routine.
Raising chicken eggs from day 1 to day 25 can be exciting, especially for the younger grades who love animals and love to learn. Raising chicks gives the 2nd graders something to look forward to. Even when the chicks hatch, it can bring in mixed emotions of happiness but also sadness of the chicks being one day closer to leaving. Observing their diet, life cycle, and behavior is one way to bring excitement to the classroom.
“This gives an opportunity that many students don't get to experience,” said 2nd grade teacher Mrs. Zwiener.
Students can also apply skills like responsibility, sharing, and comprehension of a basic life cycle to real life situations in the future. Louisville elementary can provide a special way to learn and create memories keeping young students on their toes and interested in learning more.
“The chicks were so cute and I loved showing them to the kindergarteners and first graders,” said 2nd grader Charlotte Staroscik.
Taking care of these chicks for almost a month, the 2nd graders got the chance to show off their hard work and dedication to the younger grades. The chicks provide a much needed break towards that end of the school year.
These cute fluff balls really help keep students engaged in learning and looking forward to what topic they learn next.