Community Based Unit of Instruction - Pens for Hens

Building Chicken Coops

For my community based unit of instruction I had this great idea.  During #PSUAgEd2WI (Domestic Study Away to Wisconsin) I had the chance to learn about a philanthropic program called Pens for Hens.  Pens for Hens started out as a sustainable agriculture program that travelled to Haiti but then became a program which raises money to fund trips to Haiti to help towns in Haiti to build modernized chicken facilities.  These facilities would raise both meat birds for Haitians but also provide layer birds which would supply about an egg a bird a day to them as well.




The purpose of a community based unit of instruction is to provide the community with the opportunity to work with the students.  Often when we think about community we think about the town we live in.  I wanted my students to think bigger.

So here was the plan:

1) Students will build chicken coops.
2) Chicken coops would be marketed and sold to members in the community.
3) The profits would benefit Pens for Hens
4) Hopefully with the money raised Pens for Hens would be able to build more coops in Haiti.

There are some things I learned about a community based unit of instruction at the same time.

Nothing Goes as Planned

The original plan? The coops would be done in six weeks. That is incorrect.  Eight weeks into construction and they are still hard at work.  Some of the students are losing steam and that happens with a large project.  The students though are eager to see their end results.  I am too.

Don't Forget the Community

As I instructed the students to build the coops I forgot for the first month to connect it too Pens for Hens.  It was a good thing that I got a Power Point Presentation which also had Mr. Gousch voice.  It was kind of like a online skype visit but it was more of a virtual presentation.  It was a good for the students too see how agriculture is so different there compared to here.  This was a great way to get the students to make a connection.

Looking Ahead

Even though my student teaching is ending the students will complete the coops with ease. After which the students will sell them and hopefully in the Fall hear about a great experience from Pens for Hens. I am excited to see the next step for this project even though I might not see the full end of it.

To Be Continued . . .

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