The first graders at Meadowlark Elementary School in Chinook have been studying life cycles. To ensure their learning experiences are memorable and impressionable, their teacher Mrs. Tammy Edwards creates conditions that transform her students into scientists by supplying an incubator and poultry eggs. On May 3, four chicks hatched, with the first one arriving just before dismissal on Monday.

By Tuesday, May 4, Edwards' goal had been achieved: "Sixteen chicks for sixteen students, which means everyone can name one-or two-since more are coming!" On May 5, the poultry population had risen to two dozen, and the first graders were excited to share their learning.

Because the four incubators used in the project have microscope attachments, several of the students described seeing blood vessels, air sacs, diminishing yolk, and growth in the eggs. Others described how wet and tired the chicks appeared once they had hatched, and some even revealed the names of certain chicks, such as Nugget, Pineapple, and Peepers.

Bowman Billmayer and Amiya Greetham were especially eager to share the chicks' progress and pointed out their diverse colors. Kane Crowley, who announced that the incubation period for a chicken is 21 days and 28 or more for ducklings, held up a book that he had checked out from the library, called Baby Ducks.

Edwards reported that none of the ducks had hatched, guessing that the eggs weren't fertile since once they were cracked open the class discovered no evidence of growth. "That was kind of sad, but it's still science," Edwards announced.

"Gross stuff that was green came out when we cracked them open," Aaron Anderson described.

Several sheets of large chart paper hung on the wall outside the classroom where the various lab notes and drawings were logged about the chicks, everything from what was observed to when an incubator failed on day fourteen, and when the first pip appeared, announcing the beginning of the hatching process.

The eggs, which were donated by Vanessa Schoen and René Brown, will return to the farm on Friday, May 7, as fluffy, cheeping birds. Edwards stated that she always gets eggs from two different sources to ensure variety as well as to increase chances for fertility.

ane Adamson pointed out two eggs in the incubator that exhibited early signs of hatching. One was rocking slightly, while the other featured a visibly pecking beak.

"This is a fun project for the students, one they take ownership in and about which they express enthusiasm," Edwards said.

In this multidisciplinary unit, students drew pictures, read books about chicks and ducklings, and created Venn diagrams comparing and contrasting the two feathered creatures.