Hatching project brings lessons to life at South Side Elementary

A month of careful waiting finally cracked open into something worth chirping about at South Side Elementary. What started as a simple classroom project has grown into a schoolwide spectacle, as students, teachers and even families counted down the days to watch chicks hatch in real time. Kindergarten teacher Shana Whitaker and first grade teacher Justine Wright said excitement spread far beyond their classrooms as the first eggs began to pip Thursday, drawing constant check-ins and even a live stream for eager viewers. Whitaker said this is the third year the school has taken on the project. "We are very fortunate to have literacy coaches, reading coaches and science coaches here in Johnson City," Whitaker said. "A former science coach came to us and said she had an incubator and asked if we'd be interested in hatching eggs. I was a little hesitant, but Ms. Wright and Ms. Henry were all for it, so we said yes and jumped in." The first year did not go as planned, according to Whitaker. "Unbeknownst to us, the first incubator we had was faulty," she said. "None of the eggs hatched because they didn't develop. From then on, we decided we had to make it right, and we've done it every year since — it's become a tradition." This year, Wright said, the school is using three incubators with 18 eggs. "We were excited that our coaches took the idea and ran with it," Wright said. "They made sure we had new incubators, and we got our eggs from a wonderful local farmer, Johnny Garland. Out of the kindness of his heart, he supplies them because he wants to bring the joy of the life cycle into the classroom." Whitaker said the project quickly turned into a cross-curricular learning experience. "We started before the eggs began hatching, back on April 9 and 10 when we got them," she said. "Students made predictions, so we created a graph of which eggs would hatch first. We've done writing projects, research and gathered information to meet our standards for scientific data collection." She added that the hands-on nature of the project fits directly into life science standards. "One of our standards is to observe how plants and animals grow," Whitaker said. "This is a great way to incorporate that right in front of their eyes." Wright said students have stayed engaged every step of the way. "It's really been every subject we can think of to incorporate," she said. "In first grade, we're comparing and contrasting adult chickens and baby chicks, tying in reading and science standards. The kids love it. They've helped set up the incubators and the brood box." After hatching, Wright said the chicks must rest and dry before moving. "Their feathers have to be completely dry, which takes about 12 to 14 hours," Wright said. "Then we move them to a brood box, where students can observe them for about 10 days." After that, she said the chicks will be adopted to new homes. "Last year, local families reached out and said they'd love to take them home," Wright said. "We're planning something similar this year and finding good homes for them. Some of our former students still have their chickens from last year and that's been really neat to see." Whitaker credited fellow teacher Susan Henry for her behind-the-scenes work. "Ms. Henry has done a great job," Whitaker said. "She prepares the brood box with everything they need, including nutrients, food and feeders." Wright added that Henry's dedication has been constant throughout the process. "She comes in on weekends and after school to check the heat, temperature and humidity," Wright said. "She's really been the leader of this project, making sure our eggs stayed safe." As part of the project, students were also able to observe the development of the embryo before the hatch. "As the embryos grew, we candled the eggs," Wright said. "The students used a light to track development with an embryology chart. They could see the chick moving, the air sac and the blood vessels. It really came full circle when they finally hatched." When asked about student excitement, both teachers laughed, saying "It's through the roof." To keep up with demand, Wright said they created a live stream of the chicks so students and staff could watch while doing other assignments — and even from home. Whitaker echoed that sentiment, noting a constant string of classroom visitors over the month. "It's not just kindergarten," Whitaker said. "Older grades come through for tours, and now that TCAP testing is over, classes pull it up on their screens in the afternoon. It's one of their favorite activities." She said the project has brought the school together. "It builds a big community," Whitaker said. "Everybody is invested in these chicks and how they're going to survive and thrive. It's not just kindergarten and first grade, it's everyone, even the grown-ups." Wright said she hopes the experience sticks with students. "We hope they remember this as they grow up," she said. "That in kindergarten and first grade, they hatched chicks and made those lifelong memories." Whittaker and Wright said the excitement has even had an unexpected effect. "They've (students) never wanted to come to school more than right now," Whitaker said. "Our attendance has been 100% every day this week." Ultimately, Whitaker said, the lesson goes beyond the chicks. "Learning doesn't have to be linear," she said. "It doesn't have to be paper and pencil. We can learn so much just by observing."