"The
chicks
are
hatching!"
For
the
past
several
years,
the
excitement
of
hatching
eggs
and
welcoming
baby
chicks
has
become
the
talk
of
the
school
at
several
PWCS
buildings.
The
Beginning
of
Life
Embryology
project
is
an
interactive,
month-long
enrichment
opportunity
offered
by
Prince
William
County
(PWC)
4-H
with
support
from
Virginia
Cooperative
Extension,
Virginia
Tech
University,
and
Virginia
State
University.
This
year,
the
participating
schools
received
12
fertilized
ISA
brown
chicken
eggs,
which
are
considered
the
best
breed
for
first-time
chicken
caretakers.
Ashley
Isaccson,
the
education
and
outreach
specialist
for
PWC
4-H,
explained,
"Embryology
teaches
students
about
life
science
and
respect
for
life
as
students
witness
the
exciting
miracle
of
life.
Students
take
the
responsibilities
of
caring
for
the
fertilized
eggs
and
the
chicks
after
they
have
hatched."
The
anticipation
of
hatching
grows
as
students
learn
the
proper
way
to
sit
an
egg
in
the
incubator
and
monitor
that
the
incubator
maintains
the
correct
temperature
and
humidity
level.
A
week
after
receiving
their
eggs,
students
can
start
to
candle
the
eggs
to
see
the
baby
chicks
developing
in
the
shell.
Donna
Garzione,
third
grade
teacher
at
Loch
Lomond
Elementary
School,
shared,
"The
students
took
turns
with
the
'"chick
check.'"
They
logged
their
observations
in
a
daily
journal.
I
also
included
a
fact
page
in
the
journal
for
each
day."
With
three
weeks
of
proper
care,
sounds
of
chirping
can
be
heard
and
students
observe
as
the
baby
chicks
pip
their
shells,
which
is
an
initial
crack,
then
begin
to
emerge.
The
newly
hatched
chicks
are
moved
to
a
brooder
box
complete
with
food,
water,
and
a
heater.
As
a
part
of
the
registration
requirements,
the
staff
member
at
the
school
in
charge
overseeing
the
care
of
the
baby
chicks,
must
attend
a
training
session
hosted
by
the
4-H.
The
PWC
4-H
also
provides
educational
materials
that
incorporate
Standards
of
Learning
(SOLs)
for
math,
life
science,
English,
and
computer
technology.
Julia
Renberg,
the
supervisor
of
science
and
family
life
education
for
PWCS,
explained,
"As
with
any
project-based
learning,
it
takes
students
beyond
reading
about
the
natural
world
to
witnessing
and
experiencing
it
first-hand.
It
also
promotes
the
development
of
observational,
sense-making,
and
communicative
skills
that
are
critical
for
successful
scholarship
and
citizenship."
The
School
Division's
partnership
with
the
PWC
4-H
is
a
great
example
of
how
beneficial
it
is
to
partner
with
local
and
national
businesses
and
nonprofit
organizations.
Garzione
said,
"This
PWC
4-H
enrichment
program
has
been
a
fantastic
community
resource.
As
a
teacher,
they
made
it
very
user
friendly.
I
was
grateful
for
their
organization
and
support."
