Chick hatching in the classroom is one of those experiences that’s not only exciting, but also packed with learning opportunities. From math to science to building empathy, there’s so much to explore. If you’re thinking about bringing chicks into your classroom, you’re in for a treat (and I don’t just mean the cute chicks). I’ve got some ideas and resources that make this process easy, engaging, and educational for your students. Here’s how you can make the most of it.
Math Connections: Counting Down the Days
Math is a natural fit with chick hatching. You can start with a countdown to hatch day, which gives students a chance to practice number recognition and sequencing. A visual calendar or chart to track the days can help make it even more fun and tangible. And since I’ve created some chick-inspired math resources, you can easily tie in things like addition, subtraction, and counting. For example, students can count how many eggs are left, compare how many chicks hatched, or even measure how much the chicks have grown. Math doesn’t get more hands-on than this!
Science: The Growth of Living Things
Chick hatching is a fantastic way to dive into science. Students can watch the eggs and chicks develop, document the stages, and learn about how living things grow. To help guide this process, I’ve put together a Chick Hatching Journal where students can record their observations, questions, and what they learn along the way. They’ll get to see firsthand how the chicks grow and change, making the learning process that much more engaging.
Beyond just observing, students can investigate and research all the cool things that happen during hatching. Encourage them to ask questions like, “How do eggs hatch?” or “What do chicks need to survive?” and then let them find the answers together. It’s a great way to build inquiry skills and get students thinking critically about the world around them.
Compassion: Caring for Animals
Having chicks in the classroom is also a perfect way to teach students about compassion and responsibility. Caring for the chicks—feeding them, keeping their environment clean, and ensuring they’re safe—gives students the chance to practice empathy in real time. You can even extend this to discuss how to care for animals responsibly and why it’s important to be kind to living creatures. It’s not just about the science, but about helping students understand their role in caring for the world around them.
Documenting the Journey
One of my favourite parts of chick hatching is giving students a chance to reflect on what they’re learning. With the Chick Hatching Journal, students can draw pictures of the chicks, write down questions they have, and track their progress. It’s a simple way to get them thinking about the life cycle and their observations, and it gives them something tangible to look back on after the chicks have gone.
Cross-Curricular Connections
The best part about chick hatching? It touches on so many different subjects! Here are just a few ways you can tie it into other areas of learning:
Literacy: Read books about chicks, birds, or the life cycle. Students can write their own stories or share their findings with the class.
Art: Let students create their own chick-themed artwork. They can make drawings, paint eggs, or even design life cycle charts.
Social Studies: Talk about the role of animals on farms or in ecosystems and how farming has changed over the years.
Chick hatching is such a great way to bring learning to life in your classroom. It’s not just about watching eggs hatch (though that’s definitely exciting!), it’s about using that experience to teach math, science, compassion, and more. Whether you’re counting down the days, observing the growth of the chicks, or teaching your students to care for animals, this hands-on experience connects everything in a fun, meaningful way.
With my chick-inspired resources, your students will have plenty of opportunities to document their learning and reflect on their discoveries. Ready to hatch some chicks in your classroom? Let’s make it an experience your students will never forget!