Mrs. Towle, Newspaper Teacher
The start of a new school year means the start of new clubs, sports, initiatives, friends, classes, and daily routines. This year, one of the newest additions to Ensworth’s clubs is Eggworth, the chicken club!
As many of you may have heard by now, we've added some new members to our high school campus: chickens! While some might wonder what the real purpose for them is, what class it’s for, and how they can get involved, I’m here to address the nuts and bolts of the club.
Why?
Why not? To be honest, with enough faculty and students showing interest, what better way to teach our students and staff about…
-raising animals for food (including processing)
-responsibility of raising animals
-introduction to the business side of agriculture
-organic farming practices
-community overlap (eggs, cafeteria, processing for meat, compost, etc.)
Note: You don't have to have any previous interest to get involved. Even committing to one day a month helps, and it connects you with something outside of the walls of a classroom or office. Already, we’ve had teachers, athletes, and even people from the lower campus jump in to help after school and on the weekends. All you need is an interest in it to join.
What kind?
Currently, we have a variety of baby chicks that are just over a month old. They are assorted "colored egg-layer" birds, meaning they will lay an array of blue, green, pinkish, and dark brown eggs. Being so young, we won't expect any eggs until about between 18-28 weeks (all chickens are different). Until then, some classes may utilize the birds for class activities outside of normal club meetings, and you can certainly enjoy seeing them through their fence!
Where are they?
They are nestled safely in a wonderful coop built by our very own technology specialist, Matt Dyer, against the building behind the blacktop on your way to the parking garage. Our phenomenal Facilities crew worked tirelessly through the heat of the summer constructing a fenced-in chicken run for protection. We ask that you DO NOT access the coop or the run unless you are a part of the club or are accompanied by an adult. And yes, there are cameras.
How might this be utilized in the classroom?
Great question! While there are a variety of ways to blend in the importance of taking care of another living creature, here are some ways it is also directly applicable to some course content:
-Lifecycle of animals
-Incubating, brooding, raising chickens
-Candling eggs to view the fertilization process
-Composting
-Basic life skills (cleaning, maintaining, weekly obligations, etc)
-Where our food comes from (and food safety)
-Finance and budgeting
-Outside wellness time
-Biology
-Crime scene (if a predator breaks in)
-History (breeds tied back to early settlers)
-Genetics
-Hygiene
-Math (percentages through hatch rates)
-Legal issues, policies (USDA process, requirements of food retail, inspection)
-Empathy
-Creative writing in English OR foreign language classes
Can I see them and maybe hold a chicken?
YES!! Simply join the club! We hope to meet at least once every other week to establish club responsibilities and expectations and to get a routine down for those who will want to feed the birds during school hours and over the weekends. Want to know more or know how you can jump in and get involved? Fill out this form: https://forms.gle/A7ihZq8ymiWx1URv8, or simply shoot me an email at: towlem@ensworth.com
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