Chickens & Life Lessons

Our primary classroom is lucky enough to be incubating chicken eggs.  We are fortunate to have parents who run an organic, free range chicken farm and they are assisting our children in experiencing the wonder of life first hand. The eggs are in an incubator which keeps them warm and turns them every so often.  The children can observe through a microscope and in just a few more weeks they will witness the miracle of life!

As I saw them gather together to meet two visiting hens last week, I couldn't help thinking that this is what true learning is about.  Maria Montessori wrote often of the need for the young child to experience things first hand. Yes, they could read a book about the life cycle of chick or they could see the process in a movie or on a computer, but nothing can replace this real life experience they are a part of.  It won't be a fleeting memory or forgotten in a few days.  It will be a long lasting experience that I suspect will be them for the remainder of their lives.

I see this type of learning at every level of our school and I'm so grateful for it.  It happens when the children go out in nature to gather flowers to study the parts.  It happens when they care for their environment and learn to clean or to repair something that breaks.  It happens when they make a food list and prepare a meal.  It happens when they plant and then harvest their fruits and vegetables.  It happens when they run a business and learn to market, track sales and profit.  It happens when they care for friend who has been hurt.  It is one of the greatest gifts we offer . . .