Which came first: the chicken or the egg? Lower School Science & Robotics Teacher Mekea Johnson's students have spent the last month learning about chickens' gestational cycles and contemplating this age-old question.
"Bringing in the eggs not only supports our science curriculum, allowing the girls to learn about gestational development, it also fosters the students' love for animals and teaches them to care for all living things," said Mrs. Johnson.
The eggs joined the classroom in mid-March. The girls could watch them develop inside the shell through candling, illuminating the inside of the egg so they could observe their growth. The students learned that a chicken's gestational cycle typically lasts 21 days, and they feed off the yolk while inside the egg. When it's time to hatch, chicks use a sharp tooth to crack the shell and instinctively call out to their siblings to help them hatch.
In a timely fashion, the chicks hatched at Mrs. Johnson's house over Easter break.
"I couldn't help but watch the eggs all weekend, waiting for those exciting moments. The girls loved seeing the pictures and videos of the eggs hatching, which made them feel like they got to be a part of each step of the process," said Mrs. Johnson.
Of the six eggs, there were four surviving chicks named Hermione, Tiger, Sirius, and Ashley. They currently live under an incubator light in Mrs. Johnson's classroom and have had a flurry of visitors. They even visited ECC Chapel last week and were very popular with our littlest Turkeys!
"The students have shown great curiosity and engagement throughout the development of the eggs and now with the chicks. Their desire to treat these little lives with kindness, respect, and responsibility has been an absolute joy to watch. The girls can't wait to get to science to learn more about the chicks' development!" said Mrs. Johnson
In two weeks, the chicks will transition from St. Mary's to their new homes with two of our families.
- All-School
- Lower School
