We have a chick!

This morning when I arrived at school I noticed one of our chicks was hatching.  We had almost given up that any eggs were going to hatch.  Mrs. Franks, Mrs. Snader and I watched the chick hatch and made a video to show the students once they got to school.  The little chick spent the school day in the incubator drying off, resting and peeping loudly.  The students were so excited to see it.  During the day we noticed two other eggs with tiny cracks but they didn’t make much progress.  After school the chick moved to a glass tank with a heat lamp.

 

A chick trying to hatch.
A chick trying to hatch.
Just hatched!
Just hatched!

 

Drying off in the incubator
Drying off in the incubator
Another egg with a small crack
Another egg with a small crack
A third egg with a crack
A third egg with a crack

 

 

 

 

 

Seedlings

Our bean seeds have germinated and grown into seedlings.  These plants are growing quickly and it’s time for students to take them home.  If you want to watch your plant go through its entire life cycle you will probably need to repot it into a larger pot and stake the growing plant.  This plant will eventually produce yellow beans.  If you do continue to care for your plant please take pictures and email them to me!

IMG_2407

Chick Update- day 17

Today was the last day we had to turn our eggs.  Kitty, Jayden and Ashlyn were the Egg Helpers. After day 18 the chicks are preparing to hatch so we do not move them.  At the end of the day I filled the incubator’s grooves with water and added wet paper towels under the eggs. The added humidity will help them hatch from their shells more easily and not stick to the shell.  Most chicks begin to hatch on Day 21 which will be Tuesday.  Stay tuned….

Kitty, Ashlyn and Jayden turned the eggs for the last time.
Kitty, Ashlyn and Jayden turned the eggs for the last time.

 

The eggs are kept moist on wet paper towels to help the chicks hatch.
The eggs are kept moist on wet paper towels to help the chicks hatch.

 

Fire Prevention Day

Today the Bowmansville Fire Company and Fivepointville Ambulance Company came to Brecknock.  The kids were so excited to go in the smoke trailer.  The firefighters taught us about situations to watch out for in the kitchen like pot holders too close to the stove or what to do with a grease fire.  Next the students went upstairs in the trailer to the “bedroom” while the trailer filled with fake smoke.  They had to crawl down the stairs and outside.  The kids got to see first hand how staying low helps you stay out of the smoke.  The EMTs taught us about CPR and how to call 911 in an emergency.  We also got to see the inside of the ambulance.  Thank you to the visitors who came to school today to share this important safety information!

Make sure the pot handle doesn't stick out over the edge of the stove.
Make sure the pot handle doesn’t stick out over the edge of the stove.

 

Put a lid on a grease fire.  Don't add water!
Put a lid on a grease fire. Don’t add water!

 

IMG_2393

Stay low and crawl to safety if you see smoke.
Stay low and crawl to safety if you see smoke.

 

IMG_2397

The ambulance can help us if we are hurt or sick.
The ambulance can help us if we are hurt or sick.

 

 

IMG_2398

If someone stops breathing call 911 and start CPR.
If someone stops breathing call 911 and start CPR.

IMG_2399

Chick update- day 14

Lukas and Kevin were the Egg Helpers.
Lukas and Kevin were the Egg Helpers.

Today Kevin and Lukas were our egg helpers.  They noticed one of our eggs had yellowish drops that seemed to be oozing through the shell.  After school I candled the egg and it didn’t look like there was a chick growing inside.  I was afraid that the oozing substance may contaminate the other eggs if left in the incubator so I disposed of it. We now have 23 eggs.  After candling them all again I think that maybe 7 eggs have chicks growing in then but we will continue to incubate all of them anyway.  We are about one week away from hatch day.