In the fall of 2024, Perry County 4-H met with educators from both Perry County Public Schools and Hazard Independent Schools to better understand how 4-H could best  support classroom learning. A consistent theme emerged,  teachers wanted hands-on STEM programming to increase student engagement and interest in science. With limited access to interactive science tools in many rural classrooms, 4-H saw an opportunity to provide a memorable and educational experience that would align with n with science standards. 

To meet this need, Perry County 4-H implemented the Chick Incubation Project across every school in the county, specifically targeting science classrooms for students in 3rd-5th grade, reaching students in both Perry County Public and Hazard Independent School Districts. Incubators and fertilized eggs were placed in classrooms throughout the districts, giving students a front-row seat to the life cycle. Over a 6 week period, students observed embryo development, learned about animal science and biology, and engaged in STEM lessons tailored to the incubation process (curriculum was sourced from the ChickQuest and Embryology's Helper Guide books published by Ohio State University Cooperative Extension in addition to materials developed by Extension Specialists and Agents at the University of Kentucky) . Lessons focused on the life cycle and biology were conducted and teachers were provided with supporting materials and curriculum to ensure they could easily integrate the incubators into their lessons and classroom learning to make the most  the project while it was being conducted. Perry County 4-H personnel stayed in frequent contact with teachers to troubleshoot any issues with the incubators or answer general questions in hopes of promoting the success of the project. The project concluded with the students getting to witness the chicks hatching, many teachers livestreamed the process to their entire school. 

A total of 516 students (grades 3rd -5th) participated in the project.  

A post project survey completed by the participating teachers showed that 94% of respondents felt their students showed increased understanding of the lifecycle and 88% felt classroom engagement was improved during the duration of the project. All participants indicated that they would like to participate in the program again in the future. 

By providing youth with hands-on STEM learning opportunities like the chick incubation project, Perry County 4-H is increasing classroom engagement, promoting student understanding of STEM content, and fostering skill development in the next generation of residents of Perry County.