WEST COLUMBIA, SC -- It was no ordinary Thursday morning in the kindergarten hall at Riverbank Elementary.
Students gathered on their class rug, a large strip of bright blue paper rolled out before them. They waited patiently to meet their newest, if temporary, class members.
Teacher O’Neta Poovey carefully lifted out of an incubator six baby chicks, after most had hatched overnight. She placed them on the bright blue paper, as her students held out gentle hands and spoke in soft voices, hoping the baby chicks would come their way.
Eggs carrying the soon-to-hatch chicks were donated and delivered earlier this week courtesy of House of Raeford Farms to Riverbank as well as Cayce Elementary.
“There is nothing like the amazement that shines on the faces of kids watching creation unfold before them,” said the House of Raeford’s Chuck Underhill. “We love it and are happy to share it with each and every class.”
Poovey and fellow kindergarten teacher Beverly Hill said Thursday their students’ excitement in meeting the new baby chicks, after days of learning about the life cycle of chickens, will stay with them.
“Our students are able to observe first-hand the life cycle of a chicken from watching the incubator, the hatching process, observing the baby chicks and helping to care for them once they are hatched,” Poovey said. “This is a wonderful hands-on learning experience for our children as we study life cycles of animals and what they need to survive.”