Fourth grade students at TCS recently had an up-close look at God’s creation in action. The class was part of the birth of baby chicks!

The eggs were given on loan to the class from a local farm. They were kept in an incubator until hatching time and students actually got to see the chicks emerge from their shells.

“The kids were part of the whole process of turning the eggs and making sure the temperature and humidity were correct,” says fourth grade teacher, Jackie Thompson.

The whole process took about 3 weeks, but for fourth graders, it felt like an eternity.

“The eggs took so long to hatch. I’m really excited. I can’t wait until my group gets to hold the chicks,” said fourth grader, Jalen Fleming.

“It’s amazing to see how quickly the chicks went from hatching from their eggs to being able to eat and drink on their own. “

In a small kiddie pool covered with hay and wood, the 18 chicks, affectionately named by the students, were coddled and cooed over. Esther, Fluffy, Rosie, Violet, M.J. and Henrietta along with a few others had all the spotlight.

“Esther is my favorite because she’s the one that saw me first,” said fourth grader, Hannah Stefanovic. “It’s a long process but it’s so worth it. You get to cuddle up and feel those soft, little faces and they’re just so cute.”

These chicks are more than just cute – their teacher says their birth goes perfectly with the curriculum the class is studying.

“We are studying classifying animals that have babies in a womb, or an egg, or a pouch,” says Thompson. “I’m so thankful that my students had the chance to see the beauty of God’s creation in real life.”

While most of the chicks went back to the farm after hatching, a few of them found homes with TCS students.

Watch students interact with the chicks here.