Ideas please for a quiet way to keep chicks in a classroom?

[lazy gardener]

Worms:

For young kids: Math: counting, size comparison, volume measurement, time: How long does it take the worms to eat a slice of banana vs. a slice of apple.

Science: Comparing worm growth based on types of feed given, temperature. Research regarding how worms reproduce.

For older kids: comparison between standard composting and vermicomposting, More research regarding reproduction, comparison of temperature in vermicompost vs. standard compost. comparison of plant growth with and without worm castings added to soil. Kids could come up with their own questions and hypothesis regarding the goings on in the bin, and plan their own experiments.

For kids of all ages: sensory integration, and an appreciation for life cycles.

 

[Laodicia]

Very good advice from L.G. that I hadn't even thought of.

If you can brood outside that would probably be best.

And I still suggest the MHP brooder

I agree 100% heating pad is the way to go for quiet. Light for heat makes the cheap incessantly.

 

[lazy gardener]

Kelsey, just about any thing can be used as a hands on lesson to make learning more interactive!

 

[imnukensc]

I think I'd go with an ant farm before I tried raising chicks in a classroom. No noise, no dust, and you can see their tunnels being built. 'Course, you couldn't pick them up and play with them.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Worms:

For young kids: Math: counting, size comparison, volume measurement, time: How long does it take the worms to eat a slice of banana vs. a slice of apple.

Science: Comparing worm growth based on types of feed given, temperature. Research regarding how worms reproduce.

For older kids: comparison between standard composting and vermicomposting, More research regarding reproduction, comparison of temperature in vermicompost vs. standard compost. comparison of plant growth with and without worm castings added to soil. Kids could come up with their own questions and hypothesis regarding the goings on in the bin, and plan their own experiments.

For kids of all ages: sensory integration, and an appreciation for life cycles.

Wow that's really cool! I hadn't even thought of all those possible lessons, especially just from worms.

Kelsey, just about any thing can be used as a hands on lesson to make learning more interactive!

Very true!

I agree 100% heating pad is the way to go for quiet. Light for heat makes the cheap incessantly.

Yup! It's amazing how quiet they are

 

[debid]

Lots of excellent ideas!

Having used both light and heating pad methods, I feel confident in saying that the difference is only noticed at night. It's a happy sound but it would be disruptive to a child who struggles with tuning sounds out. Outdoors is the way to go for many reasons.

When I visited the local highschool, they had their chicks out in the garden area. It was near where they teach ag science but it wasn't in the classroom. The chicks had a 3-sided enclosure on legs so you had prime viewing from the wire side and being inside a walk-in greenhouse, there wasn't really any breeze blowing. They were getting a lot of human exposure as they had visitors every time there was a class or someone coming to tend the other animals and plants and with a clear view of all goings on.