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Park Avenue kindergarten students welcome spring chickens

A group of young children gather around an egg incubator on a table in a classroom, with a whiteboard visible in the background.

Students in Theresa Canfield’s kindergarten class at Park Avenue experienced something truly special last week: the miracle of life right before their eyes! 

For weeks, the students watched, waited, wondered, and learned as they cared for a group of chicken eggs. They discussed life cycles, growth, patience, and responsibility, but, as the class described, “nothing could have prepared us for the excitement of hearing that very first tiny peep from inside the incubator.”

At long last, one by one, the chicks began to hatch!

A young woman and three girls pose in front of an incubator filled with eggs, with a classroom of other children and supplies visible in the background.

“Every crack in an egg brought squeals of excitement, wide eyes, and so much anticipation,” said Ms. Canfield. “With each new arrival, we all practiced a classroom tradition, joyfully singing Happy Birthday to welcome each little chick into the world.”

Out of 19 eggs, the class celebrated 16 healthy hatchings. Each chick instantly became far more than a science lesson; they became part of the classroom family. The students observed them closely, asked thoughtful questions, celebrated their differences, and showed gentle care and compassion. They lovingly named each chick based on the personalities they saw emerge.

“Uno came first, followed by Penguin, Sunny, Oreo, Midnight, Darth, Tiger, Fluffy, Orca, Stripe, Chippy, Brownie, Chocolate Chip, Black Night, Big Bird, and Chippy,” Ms. Canfield reported.

Several fluffy chicks huddle with eggs inside a clear incubator, while a yellow stuffed duck sits to the left.

What made this experience unforgettable was not just the knowledge gained, but the heart behind it.

“We learned that waiting can be exciting, that growth takes time, and that caring for something else can fill your heart in ways you don’t expect,” Ms. Canfield said.

Children sit on a wooden floor in the foreground, observing several small chicks, while a classroom with shelves of toys and supplies is visible in the background.

Of course, that all made the inevitable even more difficult. Ms. Canfield said that the hardest part of the project was when it came time for the chicks to leave for their forever homes. 

“There were hugs, final goodbyes, and even some tears,” she said. “The Students poured so much love into these tiny lives. Watching them say goodbye reminded us all that caring deeply is something to celebrate, even when it makes parting difficult.”

The annual chick-hatching experience imparts not only knowledge but also wonder, joy, memories, and lessons that will stay with the students for a long time. Their hearts and their classroom are fuller because of these 16 little chicks.

Three children sit cross-legged on a wooden floor with chicks in front of them, while a classroom shelf is visible in the background of the left panel.

 

A group of young children gather around an egg incubator on a table in a classroom, with a whiteboard visible in the background.
Three children sit cross-legged on a wooden floor with chicks in front of them, while a classroom shelf is visible in the background of the left panel.
Children sit on a wooden floor in the foreground, observing several small chicks, while a classroom with shelves of toys and supplies is visible in the background.
A young woman and three girls pose in front of an incubator filled with eggs, with a classroom of other children and supplies visible in the background.
Several fluffy chicks huddle with eggs inside a clear incubator, while a yellow stuffed duck sits to the left.