Purposeful Collaborators | Critical Thinkers | Persistent Creators & Innovators | Information Evaluators
Science is alive—and we mean that quite literally—in Lisa Holt-Taylor’s 3rd grade classroom at Boyd E Smith Elementary.
While Mrs. Holt-Taylor is no stranger to creating memorable learning experiences, this spring her students were chirping with excitement—thanks to the arrival of baby chicks being raised right in their classroom! Beyond the adorable factor, the live hatchlings have become a hands-on centerpiece for lessons in life cycles, habitats, and responsibility.
To kick things off, Mrs. Holt-Taylor invited Gunnar, a Milford High School student who raises chickens himself, to speak with the class about his personal experience. Gunnar shared how many birds he cares for, explained day-to-day poultry maintenance, and helped bring real-world context to their classroom studies. It was a standout example of how students can become Purposeful Collaborators, learning directly from peers in other grade levels.
But the learning didn’t stop there.
Back in the classroom, students put on their Critical Thinker hats as they dug into independent research using their Chromebooks. Each student explored specific traits of different chicken breeds—comparing everything from temperament and space needs to climate preferences and egg-laying habits. They then had to evaluate this information and develop thoughtful arguments on whether or not their own homes would be a suitable habitat to raise a chick. It was a true test of their ability to be Information Evaluators, drawing conclusions based on credible sources and practical reasoning.
Meanwhile, the classroom’s hydroponic systems continue to thrive. As students experiment with growing plants without soil, they are learning what it means to be Persistent Creators and Innovators—facing challenges, tweaking their systems, and understanding how science can be used to solve problems in the real world.
In Lisa Holt-Taylor’s classroom, science is more than a subject—it’s a dynamic, hands-on, and collaborative journey. Every student is empowered to explore, build, and ask bold questions, becoming true examples of Milford’s Portrait of an Eagle in action.
