Baker Students Grow More Than Crops and Chickens in STEM Program

BAKER, La. — At Baker Heights Elementary and Middle School, students learn outside the classroom, grow crops, and care for chickens. For these young learners, the experience goes far beyond science and math—it’s about building responsibility, pride, and a deeper connection to their community.

“It feels good to care about some farm animals,” said a student with a broad smile as she tended to the chickens.

The program, a partnership with Baton Rouge STEM, has turned in-class lessons into hands-on opportunities. Eric Lewis, the founder and executive director of Baton Rouge STEM, said the initiative helps students connect academic concepts to real-life applications.

“Oftentimes, kids wonder when they’ll use what they’re learning in real life,” said Lewis. “This program helps them see how science and math apply to things like food production and agriculture.”

Each day, students take turns watering plants, feeding chickens, and maintaining their environment. The tasks are simple but meaningful. One student shared how the playful nature of the chickens made the experience enjoyable.

“They make me laugh a lot,” the student said. “When they see us coming with food, they run around excitedly.”

Lewis emphasized that the sense of ownership is key to the program’s success. “This belongs to their school community,” he explained. “It creates pride because it’s their work—it’s something they can see and feel proud of every day.”

In addition to sparking excitement for learning, the program supports the school’s academic goals by engaging students in innovative ways. “We want to help schools improve math and science outcomes while preparing kids for future careers or college,” said Lewis.

For students at Baker Heights, the lessons learned in the garden are as vital as those taught in the classroom, cultivating not only plants but also confidence and life skills.