Brookline Regional Catholic
Welcome To Brookline Regional Catholic School
Geocaching
Raising Chicks
On Saturday, May 10, 4th grade students from BRC got a chance to Geocache in South Park. As part of their Social Studies program, the children participated in a "high tech" treasure hunt using hand held GPS devices.
This spring our fourth grade class has teamed up with the Kindergarten class to learn about how chickens develop. It started on March 26th when two dozen fertilized eggs arrived form the Penn State Extension. From that day on, the fourth grade became the nursemaids for the developing chicks inside.
With the help of the Kindergarten, the fourth grade kept data daily on the temperature and humidity inside the incubator. We turned the eggs several times a day. In their science class they investigated both unfertilized and fertilized eggs. We were quickly becoming experts in the field.
When an egg with a crack was discovered, they were amazed to see how fast the chick had developed in 6 days. Opening the egg brought both amazement and sadness at the same time.
A few days later with a Kindergarten partner, when we candled the eggs with Mrs. Majetic, we got to see the now 13-day old chicks moved in the eggs. We saw the network of blood vessels that surrounded the chick embryo. The excitement was building. After the 18th day, no more turning was allowed and the class must wait to see if we had taken good care of the eggs and baby chicks would arrive. Knowing that day 21 should be the day they should hatch, the countdown continued.
On day 20, the some eggs pipped. That means that the chicks inside chipped a small hole in its egg. The chick could now breathe air outside the egg. Sometimes we could see its beak moving. And when we were quiet enough we could here them peeping from inside the egg. Now we were sure we would have some chicks hatching soon.
On day 21 as predicted, we had 17 out of our 24 eggs hatch. As dismissal was beginning, we were standing on chairs and surrounding the incubator to cheering on the chick that was breaking out of its shell. Just as we were leaving it escaped its shell and came into the world.
Since their arrival we have watched them sleep, poop and grow. They have grown much larger feathers in the few days they have been here. We have held them and some of us have adopted them for a day or a weekend.
Our memories and impressions have been captured in the journal we have kept through the entire process. We have all enjoyed the Chick experience.
