Sherman Students Hatch New Interests

Peeps and chirps filled the Neblett Elementary library as instructional technology specialist Jaime Thomasco and library associate Dianna Rodriguez held out newly hatched chicks for students to lightly brush their fingers against.

“They’re so soft,” said one student.

“This one likes me,” said another.

“They’re very fragile, that’s why you can only brush them,” Thomasco said to the students. “How long did they take to hatch?”

“21 days!”

In the first week of April, Neblett, along with Dillingham and Washington elementary schools, received fertilized eggs along with an incubator and brooding box from Grayson County 4-H. The equipment was set up in the libraries, and staff started livestreams for classes to watch for the first signs of hatching.

Then in the last week of April, the chicks pecked away their shells.

“Students got to see the whole process from beginning to end,” Rodriguez said. “They saw eggs turn into a whole living being.”

“We even livestreamed when we candled the eggs,” Thomasco said. “That’s when you hold a strong light under the egg and see the shadow of the actual chick.”

The first grade classes used the time to learn about the life cycle and the functions of the different parts of the chicks. The lessons offered a unique learning experience and aligned with objectives under the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).

“We can tie a lot of science into this,” said Neblett first grade teacher Kayla VanZandt. “We’re talking about basic needs, living and non-living aspects, and animal structures like feathers.”

Even if first grade was the only grade to have lessons involving the chicks, all grades had some interaction with the chicks, be it watching the livestream or peering through the library window to where the eggs and chicks were housed.

“It’s been a nice break for the kids,” Thomasco said. “Some students even said they could see the eggs moving.”