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The first of 13 ducklings waits for its siblings to hatch back in November, under the watchful attention of third-graders in Laura Franz's science classes at Sharon Elementary School. Five of the now-grown ducks came back to school for a visit in March.
(Photo Courtesy of Highland Local Schools)
MEDINA, Ohio - Thirteen was the lucky number in November, when third-graders at Sharon Elementary School welcomed a flock of fuzzy yellow ducklings to their classroom.
Each year, students learn about life cycles in their science classes. So when the family of third-grader Owen Rapp offered to donate 13 duck eggs to science teacher Laura Franz, she knew this would be a great opportunity for some hands-on learning.
The students were put to work caring for the eggs. Their teachers cautioned them that it was unlikely that all of the eggs would hatch, but all 13 did.
Third-graders at Sharon Elementary School got a chance to see how big their ducklings have grown in the months since they hatched in their classroom.
The first of the Pekin ducks hatched in early November. The students were able to keep the ducklings in a glass aquarium for a while to observe their habits and growth.
The Rapp family took eight of the ducks home and third-grade teacher Bernadette Yu agreed to adopt the other five. She even let them swim in her bathtub until they were too large.
On March 24, just before spring break, Yu and her husband brought the five ducks back to school for a visit. Sharon Township firefighters were on hand to provide water for the ducks to splash in on the back lawn as the students fed them cereal.
Now the life cycle is complete, as the Yus' female duck laid her first egg on April 1.
Huntertones to lead jazz clinics, perform on April 25
The Huntertones, a contemporary jazz band, will lead jazz clinics with middle and high school students on April 24 and 25.
The band, originally from Columbus but now based in Brooklyn, New York, will share their experiences as professional musicians and educators.
They will also direct and perform with students during the District Jazz Concert at 7 p.m. April 25 at Highland High School. The concert is free and open to the public.
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