3rd graders hatch chicks in classroom
Students were able to see new chicks hatch in class as they completed their lesson on the life cycle.
By Ian Dinkins, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications
Back
Over the last month, third grade students at University School of Nashville learned firsthand about the life cycle by having eggs in incubators in classrooms and witnessing the hatching process.
The project turned out to be a wonderful hands-on life science unit and created the perfect stage to teach concepts across the curriculum because the students were so engaged, according to Third Grade Teacher Barabra Voehler.
In previous years, Lower Schoolers have learned about the life cycle of frogs, trout, and other animals. Still, as Third Grade Teacher Barbara Voehler mentioned, they were particularly excited to see the hatching process in class and track progress from the night before using a camera set up to monitor the incubator.
“They were eager to learn and research. They loved to come into the classroom every day and see if anything had changed and to learn what was happening inside the egg every day,” she said.
During each day of the project, students created detailed diaries of what happened inside the egg. Once the eggs hatched, they presented all of the different ways they learned about the life cycle in front of the class.
Stella Luecke ‘33 and Layden Horton ‘33 had some experience seeing chicks on family farms but loved the hands-on nature of the project.
“My favorite part of the project was holding the baby chicks and seeing them hatch in our class,” Layden said.
A highlight of the project for Stella was learning so much about her second favorite animal (her favorite is a cat) and one that she had seen around a family farm.
“Learning about the difference between fertilized and unfertilized eggs and that chicks like to cuddle was one of my favorite parts of the whole thing,” she said.
While the eggs were readying to hatch, third graders studied other parts of the life cycle through frog dissection.
“Each part of the project teaches responsibility and the fragility and resiliency of life,” said Voehler. “With the frog dissection, we got to study and learn about the anatomy of a frog and how it compares to a chicken.”
On Tuesday, April 16, the moment that everyone had been waiting for finally arrived. The chicks began to hatch, and students saw the wonder of the life cycle with their own eyes.
Now, third graders are studying what food and habitat the small birds need to grow and successfully continue their life cycle. The best part of the project is that some families will take the chicks home and care for them in the backyard, so students will continue to see the life cycle up close every day.
More USN News
List of 3 news stories.
-
Spirit Store flash sale November 18-22
Get your holiday shopping done early at the USN Spirit Store, where everything is 20% off.Read More -
5th and 6th graders compete in Quiz Bowl tournament
USN's Middle School Quiz Bowl Team hosted the third annual Welcome to Quiz Bowl tournament at the school, as students continue a strong start to the season.Read More -
Cum Laude Society welcomes 22 seniors
Congratulations to the Class of 2025 inductees of the USN Cum Laude Society: Lucy Elisabeth Callen, Collin Hamilton Chan, Ophelia Cherry-Pulay, Tessa Chomsky, Penelope Kathleen Graham, Daniel Guo, Anna Hulan, Caroline Alice Keiper, Kareena Banerjee Kloek, Stella Olivia Liebeskind, Lillian Brantley Martin, Margaret Woods McKay, Eleanor Igo Molvig, Joshua Hans Muellenbach, Rhea Nachnani, Elizabeth Seabury Nichols, Rohan Ramachandran, Elena Rothman, Bronson Royce Schmidt, Saul Sharfstein, Amelie Cormier Soslow, and Katherine Adriane Tong.Read More
Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.