Project Description
The story of chickens at Summers-Knoll begins with the 3rd/4th-grade class of 2016-2017. After discussing their desire for a class pet, the students were excited by the possibility of raising chickens. A few of the students raised chickens at their homes and extolled the virtues of them as pets. We researched the city ordinance and found that only properties zoned as residential were permitted to raise chickens on site. Undeterred, we reached out to our local city council representative, Zach Ackerman, to learn more about how we could move past this obstacle. He had his legal team look into the matter and determined that an amendment to the ordinance would have to be drafted. While his team worked on this, he asked us to prepare a presentation for the City Council. The students visited local families with chickens to learn more about what we would need to do to create a healthy habitat for the hens. Then together, we documented the ways in which raising hens at our school would engage their intellects, interests and learning styles.
After creating a presentation, we attended a City Council meeting and the students shared the reasons for their request. We gained the approval of the amendment and then set to work preparing the grounds for chickens.
Before bringing chickens on to our campus, the students researched various breeds with a focus on the following categories:
The purpose of the research was to determine which breeds would thrive at our school and which we should avoid. After doing so, they created informational posters which were shared with the school during a morning meeting and at the SEMIS Coalition Community Forum at Eastern Michigan University.
As we cared for the chicks in the brooder, the students worked in small groups, observing individual chicks and making notes about how they interacted with humans and how they acted around the other chicks. They also noted any physical changes over time.
In order to further prepare, the students welcomed a local architect into the classroom who helped them think about chicken coop designs. The students then used crafts sticks and index cards or 3D modeling software to create models that contained the following and would provide a healthy environment for the chickens:
After finishing, the students shared their models with the architect.
From here, we began work on the coop, with the help of Nick Durrie (father of Iris and Layla) of OakLeaf Design and Build who supplied much of the materials and helped us with construction.
After creating a presentation, we attended a City Council meeting and the students shared the reasons for their request. We gained the approval of the amendment and then set to work preparing the grounds for chickens.
Before bringing chickens on to our campus, the students researched various breeds with a focus on the following categories:
- Temperament
- Egg Lay Rate
- Preferred Climate
- Country of Origin
- Expert Level
The purpose of the research was to determine which breeds would thrive at our school and which we should avoid. After doing so, they created informational posters which were shared with the school during a morning meeting and at the SEMIS Coalition Community Forum at Eastern Michigan University.
As we cared for the chicks in the brooder, the students worked in small groups, observing individual chicks and making notes about how they interacted with humans and how they acted around the other chicks. They also noted any physical changes over time.
In order to further prepare, the students welcomed a local architect into the classroom who helped them think about chicken coop designs. The students then used crafts sticks and index cards or 3D modeling software to create models that contained the following and would provide a healthy environment for the chickens:
- Protection from Predators
- Protection from Elements
- 3 - 5 sq ft per Chickens
- Nesting Boxes
- Poles for Roosting
After finishing, the students shared their models with the architect.
From here, we began work on the coop, with the help of Nick Durrie (father of Iris and Layla) of OakLeaf Design and Build who supplied much of the materials and helped us with construction.
Trips / Workshops / Local Connects
City Coucil Representative Zach Ackerman from Ward 3, Green Things Farm, Local Families (The Rouillard Family, The Leo Family, The Dragun/Reszetar Family), Durrie Design