Five Chicks and Counting!

        "It's hatching! It's actually hatching! Come and see!" Students, parents and staff quickly gathered in Mrs. Smoker's classroom, circling around the little incubator with anticipation.   Four chicks hatched through the night, but there we were about to witness it first-hand for ourselves!  Peck, peck, peck ... crack, crack ...  and then there it was.  Wet, exhausted and likely overwhelmed by the noise of our excitement, a little newborn chick emerged into the world.  Mrs. Smoker, confident and calm,  thankfully knew exactly what to do!  She carefully removed a piece of shell that was stuck to its head, encouraged us all to whisper and manuevered it safely inside the wall of the incubator so she could replace the top to keep it nice and warm.  What excitement!