All things chicken
Submitted photos
Dubach students cared for and hatched live chicks last week. From left to right, Blaine M., Darian M. and Daisy G. observe the brand new chicks.
From left to right, Miracle M., Allyson S., Caitlyn S. and Courtlyn S. placed first, honorable mention, third and second, respectively, in the 4th grade section of the Chicken Art Contest and are shown with their creations. Also receiving honorable mention was Emajah Frost.
As the Chicken Festival for which the town of Dubach is most known rolls around each fall, the students of Dubach Elementary School also lean into the theme with an annual Chicken Art Contest.
This year, though, in addition to usual 3D art creations, live chicks were also added to the festivities.
Students hatched their very own chicks in teacher Lauren Dixon’s art room, waiting 21 days for the chicks to emerge last week just days before the festival.
Prior to hatching, they “candled” the eggs by holding a flashlight to them in a dark room, seeing inside the eggs to learn about the different stages of the chicks’ development.
“I used to teach science when I first started teaching, so this was a fun way to bring science to the art room,” Dixon said.
Then, of course, there was the art as well.
All students in every grade pre-K through 5 created a chicken for the art contest, most of them in a 3D medium such as collage, plaster cloth, paper mache, clay, model magic and more.
While not affiliated with the Louisiana Chicken Festival, the art contest nonetheless celebrates its arrival. Twelve judges from the Dubach and Ruston areas came to the school Thursday to go over each piece and select a top 3 and honorable mentions from each grade, which were announced Friday morning.
Judges also enjoyed reading the stories that the 3-5 graders wrote to go along with their chickens.
The chicken creations will be entered as part of the school’s annual art show in May before going home with the students.
“That creates a way for the community to come and see the art the students made earlier in the year,” Dixon said.
