Elise Franco Senior reporter efranco_star

For 21 days, students at Springmore Elementary gained hands-on experience caring for chicken eggs as a lesson in life cycles.

Wendy Turbyfill, youth development agent with 4-H of Cleveland County, said 4-H organized a school enrichment program and worked with Case Farms to have 125 eggs donated for use in five second-grade classrooms.

"The classes were studying life cycles, and embryology fit perfectly with this program," she said.

Second-grade teacher Anna Ramsey said the program not only taught students about life cycles, but also about responsibility.

"The kids were in charge of turning the eggs three times per day for 21 days in order for them to hatch," she said. "They were so excited, and they got so motherly, even the boys."

On Thursday, 4-H staff, along with Springmore students and teachers, wrapped up the project with a "chick birthday bash" to celebrate the hatching of 96 of the 125 eggs.

"You could ask any of the kids a question about the life cycle now, and they'll all be able to tell you about it," Ramsey said. "We love that they got the hands-on experience and got to take part in it."

Turbyfill said that hands-on learning is the reason why 4-H hosts these type of programs.

"They'd never understand how embryology works the way they do now," she said. "Hopefully it's something they'll always remember."

Turbyfill said 4-H has also worked this year with students at Bethware and Washington elementary schools. She said the goal is to eventually host the program in every second-grade class in Cleveland County.

Elise Franco can be reached at 704-669-3337 and efranco@shelbystar.com.

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Students mother chicks - Shelby Star