On May 28, in Linda Morgan’s classroom at Jasper Elementary School, about 30 Grade 1–2 students sat at their desks, twitching with excitement.
For the past 21 days, a batch of eggs had been incubating in Morgan’s classroom, and less than a day ago 13 of them had hatched into tiny chicks.
“We had a baker’s dozen of chicks this year,” Morgan said, as she led the students up one-by-one to collect the day-old chicks and bring them back to their desks.
As screeches of excitement, and “awwws” of delight rang throughout the room, Morgan explained that hatching the chicks provided the perfect opportunity for her students to learn about life cycles.
Bringing the chicks in from Valemount has fast become a tradition in Morgan’s class. Sometimes not all of them make it, but the chirping bundles of feathers that do provide a focal point for Morgan to discuss with her students what happened to the chicks who didn’t make it, as well as what will eventually happen to the ones that did, or even in what ways, and how quickly, the animals develop.
“It’s just a great learning opportunity,” she said.
And while her students are more informed about the lives of chickens as a result of the project, the real payoff is watching the students delighted faces as they gently handle the newborn chicks.
“The kids are over the moon—it doesn’t matter if they’re in Kindergarten or Grade 6, they adore these chicks.”
Trevor Nichols
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