The chicks of Grinzing

At our school’s kindergarten, a project that is both heartwarming and fascinating has been delighting our youngest pupils for several years. Thanks to the remarkable commitment of Carmen Kavan, who teaches both German as a mother tongue and German as a foreign language, children are able to experience a unique educational journey centered around the birth of chicks and the discovery of animal life.

Working closely with Rosa, a farmer from the Weinviertel region, the pupils follow every stage of life with great excitement: from fertilized eggs to the hatching of the chicks. Fifteen fertilized eggs entrusted to our school have allowed the children to observe, day after day, the miracle of nature unfolding before their eyes. Through this experience, they learn patience, observation, care for living beings, and respect for animals and their needs.

The children’s enthusiasm is immense: each class carefully chooses a name for one chick through a democratic voting process in which every child can suggest ideas and take part in the final decision. It is a wonderful way to combine scientific discovery, cooperative learning, and responsibility.

Our youngest pupils care for “their” chicks with incredible tenderness and attention. And when the summer holidays begin, the chicks will return to Rosa’s farm, back to their natural environment, where they will continue to grow under the best possible conditions.

This project perfectly reflects the richness of learning experiences offered from the earliest years at LFV: learning through experience, awakening curiosity, developing empathy, and creating a meaningful connection with nature and the living world.

A heartfelt thank you to Carmen Kavan and to Rosa for this beautiful human, scientific, and educational adventure, which is already creating unforgettable memories for our pupils.