Learning came to life in a memorable way on Wednesday afternoon, April 8, in Katy Foster’s third-grade classroom at Hawthorne Elementary, where students took part in a hands-on Project Based Learning experience centered on chicken incubation.

This unique opportunity was made possible through a $685 Teacher Innovation Grant from the KSD Education Foundation for Ms. Foster’s project, "From Egg to Chick: A Hands-On Learning Experience in Life Science." As part of the experience, students had the chance to candle the eggs, observe development inside the shells, and learn more about the incubation process from a special guest with remarkable expertise. Ms. Foster’s mother, a scientist who previously worked at SeaWorld San Diego hatching penguin eggs, visited the classroom to guide students through the process and help bring the science to life.

Experiences like this are a powerful example of what Project Based Learning and authentic literacy look like in Kearney School District. Students were not just reading about life cycles in a textbook. They were asking questions, making observations, recording what they noticed, and engaging directly with the kind of real-world learning that helps concepts stick.

“This grant has given our students the chance to experience science in a way they will remember,” Ms. Foster said. “Seeing their excitement as they observe the eggs, ask thoughtful questions and begin to understand the incubation process has been incredibly rewarding.”

Hawthorne Elementary Principal Chauncey Rardon said the project reflects the kind of meaningful learning experiences staff work to create for students each day.

“At Hawthorne, we want learning to be active, engaging and connected to the real world,” Rardon said. “This project gave students an opportunity to explore life science through curiosity, observation and hands-on discovery, and we are grateful to the KSD Education Foundation for helping make that possible.”

Kearney School District is grateful to the KSD Education Foundation for investing in innovative classroom experiences like this one and to Ms. Foster for creating such a rich opportunity for her students. You can help bring these types of learning experiences to life by getting a ticket today for the KSD Education Foundation's Harlem Wizards basketball fundraiser on Saturday, April 11, at Kearney High School. We look forward to seeing what happens next as this project continues and the chicks begin to hatch.