Return to TFB Main Page
Return to AITC Main Page
Return to Idea Page

(This article was published in the January 30, 1998
issue of the Brady Standard)

Classroom chicken makes hit!
'Sheldon' loves to have her 'chin' scratched

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By James and Holly Stewart

Mrs. Betzy Day's third grade class at South Ward has an unusual friend and classmate not commonly found in elementary schools.

Sheldon, as named by Mrs. Day's daughter, Carrye, is a game chicken hatched in an incubator on Thanksgiving Day

Since then, Sheldon has become a regular "student" accompanying Mrs. Day's class on its daily activities at South Ward.

Mrs. Day got the idea of hatching eggs after she attended the Ag Institute, sponsored by the Texas Farm Bureau. The week long Institute is held at Tarleton State University, twice a year.

While attending the Institute, Mrs. Day wrote a unit of study on hatching chickens.

What began as a "hopeful" classroom project and given a relatively small chance for success, Sheldon the chicken has come to life on a wing and a prayer.

The class project began in early November when Mrs. Kay Morris gave the class several eggs to hatch. The eggs were not given much hope for success because certain circumstances had put them in less than ideal conditions.

With no less hope and effort, Mrs. Day's class did their best to care for the seemingly lifeless eggs.

With no signs of hatching, the children left school on Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving for the holidays with no changes.

The one lucky egg apparently hatched later that night and, much to the surprise of Mrs. Day, a black baby chick was up and walking around in the incubator when she went to check on Thanksgiving Day.

Since that time, Sheldon the chicken has befriended all of the children in the class and has provided them with hours of conversation, lessons and entertainment.

Sheldon remained in the third grade classroom through the Christmas holidays before going home with Mrs. Day. To avoid too much disruption, Sheldon now only visits the class one day each week.

While at school, Sheldon makes herself at home and travels about the room under watchful eyes of members of the "poop patrol." Responsible for cleaning up any mishaps that may occur, Amanda Vandine and Brittany Flores man the toilet paper as they keep their watch.

Over the past few months, the children have learned many interesting facts about hatching chicks and keeping a pet. Most recently, the class has located Sheldon's ears and learned that chickens' eyes blink from the bottom up.

They have discovered Sheldon's "alarm system," as they call it. She often sounds her "alarm," a series of chirping sounds, when she is picked up.

Several students have become quite fond of Sheldon, often asking for the responsibility of caring for the pet.

"I actually keep Sheldon at my home except for the one day a week that she comes to school," said Mrs. Day. "Since she has been in the classroom, Brenna Sayles seems to be our chief chicken keeper. She has really taken to our pet."

As Sheldon has grown over the past several weeks, she continually develops interesting personality traits. According to Mrs. Day, Sheldon loves to watch movies and sleep in the children's laps.

Sheldon also has a love for saltine crackers. She had even been known to eat a heart sticker off of another teacher's shirt.

Presently, Sheldon is learning to fly and has made friends with Kimberly the turtle, another class pet.

The excitement Sheldon creates in the classroom can be seen in the eyes of the children as they talk about their beloved pet.

"Once she sat on my shoulder and pecked at my teeth," said Carrie Lundgren.

"We used to have chickens. Now it's fun to have one in our classroom," said Johnny Colombo.

"She thinks she's a cat. She loves to be scratched under the chin," said Brenna Sayles.

As Sheldon the chicken grows, the children continue to make sure that she is surrounded by friends who love and care for her and who will always accept a "peck" on the cheek.

For additional information contact Tad Duncan at (254) 751-2608
or E-mail: Tad Duncan

 

 

Please send your comments and suggestions for the
Texas Farm Bureau website to:
Vernie Glasson, Executive Director
Gene Hall, Publisher
Linda Andrews, Webmaster
Texas Farm Bureau | P.O. Box 2689
Waco, Texas 76702-2689 | 254-772-3030
Cindy Wennin, Sr. Graphic Designer