Sagewood elementary students have embarked on an exciting multi-year adventure, raising chickens! While they patiently awaited the big “hatch” day, students busied themselves with research and spent time learning about the process an egg goes through…from yolk to chicken.
What began as a classroom project quickly grew into an exciting and collaborative opportunity after teachers saw the students’ enthusiasm about their new little classmates and had the idea of starting an Ag Club.
Sagewood’s Agriculture club allows students to expand their knowledge and interest in raising chickens and learn about other agriculture components and projects. Natalie shared her reflections on the project: "My favorite part about the chickens so far was getting to see them hatch. I have learned that you need to take care of the chickens like you have to keep them warm if they don't have a mama chicken, and you have to feed them and clean their space.”
Colton shared his excitement and anticipation in gaining valuable experience being responsible for such an important project, “We haven’t had a lot of experience with the chickens yet, but it was exciting when they hatched. And now, I am excited about the amount of time we will spend raising them.”
As the chickens grew, it became clear they would require a larger space; from this need, a collaborative project was “hatched.” The Sagewood Ag Club reached out to Pathways Innovation Center students to see if they would be interested in sharing their construction skills to build a new home for their chickens.
Pathways Innovation Center (P.I.C.) is an extension of Natrona County’s high school system. Pathways Innovation Center is focused on preparing tomorrow’s workforce through academic, career and technical studies by providing students with an authentic and rigorous learning environment in order to graduate productive citizens who are college, career, and military-ready.
The high school students jumped into gear, crafting a beautiful coop and enclosed yard for the Sagewood flock. “It makes me feel really good. It is fun to know that I am a part of helping these kids getting to experience what it is like to raise chickens. That isn't something I ever did in school, and it is cool that these kids get to experience a lot more stuff in school now,” said Trystan.
This collaborative project provided an excellent chance for elementary students to explore what opportunities are available to them in high school. Fifth-grade students took a trip to Pathways Innovation Center to see the progress of their chicken coop. While there, students toured the facility and got a sneak peek inside the PIC Core Construction cabin project. “It’s been really fun showing the kids around because they have so many questions and are so curious,” shared Billy, a PIC Core Construction program student.
Sagewood Principal Annal Lavin shared her appreciation for the partnership, “The collaboration with PIC has been great because it is a connection between two learning environments. We partnered with them on a shed project before, so I was familiar with their process, but being able to take fifth graders to PIC and experience that learning environment was a huge benefit in showing fifth graders what is to come in their learning journey.”
As the project grew, students held a school-wide contest for students to design a logo for their chicken coop. The winning logo design was then built and crafted with the assistance of the Pathways Innovation Center welding program.
Finally, move-in day was upon them, and the finished coop was carefully placed in a grassy corner of the playground. While the chickens have been busy exploring their new home, Sagewood Ag Club students are now embarking on the responsibility and enjoyment of learning about and caring for their new chickens.
Sagewood Elementary is committed to empowering a community of learners and leaders!
Great work, students!