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Through a partnership with Alliance Academy Jennifer Zappia’s fifth-grade classroom has become a living laboratory for baby chicks.The students have been tracking their physical changes closely, observing the growth of new feathers and noting how much weight the birds gain even over a single weekend. The students follow a consistent rotation to provide fresh food and water and they regularly help clean the brooder.
"It’s amazing seeing them become confident working with and taking care of the birds as they grow," Mrs. Zappia observed.
Mrs. Zappia has noted the profound emotional connection forming in the classroom, remarking on the impact of seeing the students' demeanor change.
"Our kids don't always have a lot of opportunities to just be gentle and calm," she said. "To see a tough fifth-grade boy sitting there, whispering in a high voice as a chick falls asleep in his hand, that’s a side of them that doesn't always get to come out".
This bond has also become a powerful academic motivator. "Chick time" is now the ultimate incentive in the classroom; students are eager to hit their goals or complete their state test preparations for the chance to spend time with their feathered friends.
By teaching life cycles, responsibility, and the power of gentleness, these nine small birds are helping Alliance Academy fulfill its mission of educating the whole child.