Life cycles are a part of the core Science Standard in Kentucky.  To help youth better understand life cycles 4-H has stepped in to give students hands on experience.  We started small in the spring of 2018 with an after school club.  We had mixed results hatching the chicks but students had fun and learned a lot along the way.  

This year we have taken the project to Eden Elementary.  We are starting out with 3 kindergarten classes of totaling 70 kids.  4-H supplied all the learning materials, incubators, fertilized eggs and everything classes will need after the eggs have hatched.  We are early in the project but should have some chicks start to hatch very soon.  The students have really enjoyed learning about each stage of life cycle as we go.  It is a good learning experience for the kids to know that if the follow the correct steps their project will be a success.

The project is in the initial stages so impact has only been measured by what the kids have learned so far.  Not only are the kids learning valuable science lessons, they are learning teamwork, patience, cooperation and other important life skills.  This project will also help to recruit future members to 4-H.  Starting at the clover bud level is a great way to retain kids for future programs.