Clark Elementary second-graders hatch chickens

Second-graders at New London’s Clark Elementary are only days away from hatching chickens in their classrooms.

The experience of hatching chicks began in Angie Syfert’s classroom last year and has caught on in all the other second-grade classrooms this year.

The students are learning about the life cycle of the chicken through this experiment.

“They’re very engaged,” Syfert said.

Clark Elementary is working with the Henry County Extension Office which has provided the soon-to-be chicks from an Iowa farm and all needed supplies.

Henry County Extension Office’s Erin Heaton is heading up this project with various area schools.

Earlier this year, Heaton partnered with Mt. Pleasant High School’s FFA animal science class to do live chicken hatching and plans to follow Clark Elementary with Salem Elementary later this spring.

Both Syfert and Heaton are enjoying teaching the students in a collaborative effort. Heaton visits classes four times throughout the hatching process while teachers work through additional information with the children.

“I love how much the kids are learning about poultry and just Ag in general in our community,” Heaton said.

According to second grade teacher Angie Syfert, the students are “impatiently waiting,” to meet their new feathered friends.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com