News

Dec 18, 2023

Classes hatch chicks

The second- and third-grade students at Power Public School gather around their

The second- and third-grade students at Power Public School gather around their baby chicks. The students (not in order) are: second-graders Ezra Anderson, Gunner Beal, Abel Davis, Dean Teeple, Hunter Vick, Trevor Woodhouse and third-graders Colter Check, Ella Gilbert, Lane Houck, Colton Jordre, Ruger Licht, Terrance Stengrimson, Trey Taylor, Abigail Toeckes and Parker Vick with teacher Mindi Grassman and aide Meggan Lehnerz.

Sixteen baby chicks were the hit of the school, thanks to Power Elementary School third-grader Terrance Stengrimson.

A student of Mindi Grassman, Terrance asked whether his class could hatch chicks, with eggs supplied from his own chickens. So began the journey using an incubator that was used for similar class projects and donated to the school by former Power elementary teacher Theresa Burgmaier.

"We put the eggs in on April 11 and were surprised to have four chicks hatch on May 1," Terrance said during an interview of the class about the project. Throughout the month the chicks were at the school, Grassman's combined class of 15 second and third graders watched and learned about the hatching progresses, candle wicking, the variety of breeds and upon their arrival, how to feed and care for the chicks and how soft they are to pet.

"A total of 16 hatched out of the 36 eggs. Unfortunately, we lost two along the way," Grassman said. "I had no clue what I was doing, but with help from Terrance and notes and equipment from Mrs. Burgmaier, we made it through."

Third-grader Terrance Stengrimson (above) holds one of the baby chicks hatched through a classroom project.

The baby chicks went to their new homes last week, much to the disappointment of not just the second and third graders but the entire student body who visited the baby chicks often throughout the process.

"It was a fun and educational project for the students and a perfect way to welcome spring and keep the students excited as they finished the school year," Grassman said.

Terrance, who raises chickens on his family's farm outside of Power, explained how they used candling to learn which of their chickens’ eggs were fertile and would hatch into baby chicks. "The candling works to illuminate the interior of an egg so you are able to see what is inside the shell," Terrance explained. He said the temperature inside the incubator is critical for successfully hatching eggs.

They kept the incubator in the next classroom but had a camera with a live feed projecting all the action on their media board. Grassman said the timing was perfect to watch one baby chick as it hatched. "The students were cheering as it made its way out of the shell and named the new baby chick ‘Chicken Little,’" she added.

Terrance was pretty surprised they had chicks hatch in 14 days after placing them in the incubator. With some thought and research, Terrance determined it must have been eggs from a "lazy" hen who had been sitting on them before they went into the incubator.

During the interview, the students talked about the different colors of the eggs and the characteristics of the breeds upon their birth. Terrance said his family raises mainly Silkie and Araucana chickens. The students like the fluffy plumage of the silkie and the tufts of feathers on the faces of the Araucana.

Terrance, who was happy to share his knowledge of hatching and raising chickens, planned to take home a few of the chicks and was excited one resembled a chicken he had lost.

When asked what their favorite part of the project was, the students resoundingly agreed watching "Chicken Little" hatch and getting to hold, cuddle and pet the baby chicks, even if they were starting to peck as they grew.

Third-grader Abigail Toeckes shared how they fed the chicks mealworms. "They really like that and were crawling all over us," Abigail said.

Dean Teeple, a second grader, thought watching them eat and run around the pool was fun. Third grader Colter Check liked the candling process the best, watching as the baby moved inside the egg. Ezra Anderson was surprised at how big the chicks were when they hatched. Ella Gilbert was happy when they hatched, and excited that they could pet the chicks.

Many students enthusiastically said they wanted to raise baby chicks at their place, but if they couldn't convince their parents, they were at least happy they could experience the process at school.