Darth Vader, Baby Chicks, and My Last Year in the Classroom
This year feels different. It’s my last year in the classroom, and I’ve been soaking up every little moment. Hatching chicks has been a favorite tradition with my students for years. This year we started our hatch in September. 🐣 And let me tell you—it made the beginning of the school year more magical than ever.
From the moment I got the incubator out, my students were hooked. We talked about the life cycle of a chicken, counted down the days, and excitedly waited for hatch day to arrive. Their excitement reminded me exactly why I’ve loved teaching all these years.
Meet Darth Vader 🖤🐥
Our first chick hatched fully fluffed and ready for the spotlight. The class proudly named it Darth Vader, keeping in theme with our Star Wars-inspired classroom. Vader quickly became a favorite, and honestly, I couldn’t imagine a more perfect name for our first fluffy friend.
The Sweetest Moment: Chick Cuddles
While I take care of feeding and watering, the most exciting part for the kids is getting to hold the chicks. For many of them, it’s the very first time they’ve ever held a baby animal.
Their eyes light up. Their voices go quiet. Their hands cradle these tiny lives so gently. It’s a moment I never want to forget—and I don’t want them to forget it either.
So, I take a photo of every single child holding a chick. Each image is printed and lovingly placed into their end-of-year memory book.
Because Moments Like This Deserve to Be Remembered
As a teacher and a photographer, I know how quickly childhood moves. These little hands won’t always be so small. But with just one photo, that moment—their first time holding a chick—can stay with them forever.
These photos are more than cute snapshots. They’re proof of joy, bravery, curiosity, and growth. They tell a story these kids will remember when they look back one day.
A Beautiful Beginning... and Ending
Even though this is my last year teaching, starting it with something so engaging felt incredibly special. The chick hatch wasn’t just a science lesson—it became a symbol of growth, of trying something new, and of savoring the little moments.
We read chick books and drew chick pictures. But most of all, we made a memory together.
And now it’s one they’ll get to keep forever.
Want to follow along as I close this beautiful chapter?
You can find me over at www.littleriverlens.com, where I’m sharing more classroom stories and life behind the lens. Whether you're a fellow teacher, a parent, or someone who believes in the power of pictures, I’d love to have you along.
