Learning about Nature

For this activity, children will learn the importance of biology and ecology. First, children will engage in a field trip to the zoo to learn about conservation. Second, students will engage taking care of a butterfly habitat.

Materials:

Butterfly Habitat (with food and water feeder)
Caterpillars (at least six)
Butterfly Feeder with Nectar
Book: From Caterpillar to Butterfly
Butterfly and moth video recording (focuses on how butterflies and moth grow)
Butterfly Life cycle Poster
Butterfly Observation Sheet (one sheet)
School Bus (trip to the zoo)

Introduction:

First, the children will go on a field trip to the zoo. There, they will learn about animals and conservation. The next day, students will sit on the carpet in the gathering area. A book, “From Caterpillar to Butterfly” will be read, then the Butterfly Life cycle Poster will be presented to give a more in depth look at how butterflies metamorphosis happens. Opened –ended questioned will be addressed during this time. The teacher will ask the students to go home and think about how can take care of butterflies.

On the next day, students will see the butterfly habitat sitting by the window in their classroom. The teacher will ask students how they will implement taking care of the habitat. A plan will be set forth on a poster board. Each student will be in charge of taking care of the habitat until the caterpillars becomes butterflies and are able to be released.

During the three-week period, (this is about how long it takes for metamorphosis to happen) the children will watch a video on butterfly growth. The teacher will then explain to the students that when the time comes the butterflies must be released. The teacher continues to explain that maybe the butterflies will come around from time to time if a butterfly feeder is put outside on a tree. After that the teacher and the students go outside and hang the feeder.

Before the release of the butterflies, students will write down on the observation sheet how many butterflies will be released and their colors.

Though out the year students engage in observing the feeder. Any time a student see a butterfly; they log it on an observation sheet, noting it colors and size. Then students can compare the colors of the butterflies they let go to the ones they see on the butterfly feeder

Predictions:

The children will get excited about their field trip.
The children will be excited to see all the animals at the zoo.
The children will get excited about visual seeing the metamorphosis of the butterflies.
The children will enjoy taking of the butterflies.
The children will want to visual see the caterpillars daily.
The children will tell their friends, family and other students about their project.
The children will want to invite the rest of the school to come see their butterfly habitat.
The children will want to invite the rest of the school to come see the butterflies after they have metamorphyically changed from caterpillar to butterfly.
The children will want their family to come see that habitat too.
The children will be excited to release the butterflies.

Theories:

The children will wonder if all the caterpillars will change to butterflies.
The children will wonder if the caterpillars will be safe at night when nobody is at school.
The children will begin to care for the insects.
The children will also wonder when the butterflies are set lose will they be okay on their own.
The children will wonder if they can take care of another set of caterpillars.
The children will see how important it is for animals to have a safe environment to live in.

Questions:

When will the caterpillars change to butterflies?
What colors will the butterfly be?
Where the butterflies will go after they are released?
Will the butterflies come to our butterfly feeder?
How long do butterflies live?
Will all the caterpillars become butterflies or will some die?
Can this activity be done at home?
Can I take home a butterfly?