Last year’s ducklings
Each year after spring break, Highlander second graders watch with anticipation as duck eggs hatch into ducklings inside their Plano Road classroom. Many tears were shed when children learned they wouldn’t be returning to school. The 7-year-olds feared they’d miss out on the highlight of second grade.
Highlander teacher Drue Puckett, who developed the project ten years ago, resolved to include it in the students’ remote learning. She contacted the hatchery, which had already received payment for the class’ 7 eggs, and they sent a bonus. Sixteen eggs of seven different breeds arrived by mail. The students selected the varieties for their incubator over Zoom teleconference, and Puckett found a vet friend happy to hatch more eggs with his grandkids, homeschooling during the pandemic.
Puckett “candled” the eggs for the kids, holding them up to a bright light to check vein development, and found all 7 to be progressing well. The project has always included a “duck cam” to allow students to watch eggs develop and hatch from home, making it ideal for remote viewing for students and anyone else interested in the science lessons involved.
Kari and Bob Tarulli live in duck heaven – a beautiful rolling property in Kemp, Texas with big trees and five ponds. Over the past five years, they’ve adopted the Highlander ducklings when the Duck Cam project was complete. When Puckett called to make sure the Tarullis could take a few extra, they were delighted.
Asked Kari, “Who doesn’t love ducklings?”
The eggs are expected to hatch approximately April 28. Until then, students are learning all they can on the subject. The class completed a duck and chick science unit, then each student researched a duck breed and presented a report to his/her classmates on Zoom.
You can view the Highlander Duck Cam here.
View through the duck cam
Ducks at their forever home in Kemp, Texas
