A Hen in the Kindergarten 



Alice L. Shallcross 

 Kindergarten Primary Department, Harris Teachers' College, St. Louis, Mo . 



On April 3, 1918, a mother hen with her dozen white eggs came to 

 spend her brooding time in the kindergarten of the Wyman School. 

 Being a pet hen, not all all afraid of children, she waited contentedly 

 in the arms of one small boy until her nest was prepared in the large 

 pasteboard packing box which was to be her home. When every- 

 thing was ready, the children scattered grain for her on the kinder- 

 garten floor and watched her drink from a glass of cool water; 

 then they gathered around the box with eager eyes to see her spread 

 her feathers over the eggs and settle down comfortably and serenely 

 in her new quarters. 



Of course the whole school took an interest in the kindergarten 

 visitor, and the children on the lower floor claimed her as partly 

 their own. There was much guessing — and some calculating — as 

 to when the first chick would arrive. The kindergarten children 

 made a calendar and marked each day of waiting with a crayolla- 

 colored (reminiscences of Easter) paper egg. 



Every day the boy who owned the hen took her out into the school 

 yard, where he fed her and gave her a chance to stretch her tired 

 legs. The kindergarten children watched her come and go, but 

 took no active part in the performance — ^f or they understood that 

 the mother hen must be kept quiet and undisturbed. They always 

 tiptoed when they went into the small room next to the Kinder- 

 garten, where they had selected a dark out-of-the-way comer for 

 her temporary home. 



Every morning "mother hen" was the first thought of each child 

 as he entered school, and "Have any chicks come yet?" his first 

 question. It seemed to the children that this question was asked 

 many times before, on April 24, a soft "peep, peep" was heard 

 inside one of the eggs. The little boy who heard it first called the 

 others, and great excitement reigned until the teacher found the 

 right egg and held it to the ear of each child. No one missed this 

 experience. The next morning, to the intense delight of all the 

 children, a tiny yellow chick was found waiting to receive them in 

 the kindergarten. 



Then, April 25, began the most interesting time of all! An egg, 

 which was just pipped, was laid on a clean towel on a table in the 

 center of the room. Beside it were placed two mason jars of hot 



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