Mars Area Middle School eighth-grader Sophia Furman plays with one of the baby chicks hatched from the Western Pennsylvania “Hatch the Chicken” program.

Mars Area Middle School eighth graders helped “Hatch the Chicken” this month as part of an education program on embryonic development and the cellular process.

Teachers Amanda Stavish and Michelle Weston partnered with the Western Pennsylvania “Hatch the Chicken” program, allowing the students to follow the growth of seven fertilized chicken eggs over a five-week period.

After the eggs hatched in late April, the students were tasked with caring for the chicks to close out the program.

All materials for the project were provided by the Western Pennsylvania “Hatch the Chicken” program.

Eighth-grader Wyatt Wilson plays with a baby chicken hatched during teachers Amanda Stavish and Michelle Weston’s “Hatch the Chicken” program. Submitted photo

Eighth-grader Kate Southwell plays with a baby chicken hatched during teachers Amanda Stavish and Michelle Weston’s “Hatch the Chicken” program. Submitted photo

Eighth-grader Jenna Smith plays with a baby chicken hatched during teachers Amanda Stavish and Michelle Weston’s “Hatch the Chicken” program. Submitted photo