monarch butterflies for third graders josefa vickey palolo elementary
TRANSCRIPT
Monarch Butterflies for Third Graders
Josefa Vickey
Palolo Elementary
Standards• SC 3.1.1 Pose a question and develop a
hypothesis based on observations• SC 3.4.1 Compare distinct structures of living
things that help them to survive• SC 3.5.1 Describe the relationship between
structure and function in organisms• LA 3.6.1 Use oral language to obtain
information, complete a task, and share ideas • M 3.12.1 Interpret data and state what the
representation shows about the data
Introduction
Observations• Students were reading a selection of books
from the classroom library. A student who read a book about insects commented that caterpillars become butterflies. Another student said, “I have butterflies in my yard.” Another one said he did too. More discussion continued between the students about butterflies and caterpillars. I gathered the class together on the carpet and continued the discussion about butterflies as I wrote on chart paper under KWL.
• After school when I got home I got a container and walked down the sidewalk to this milkweed plant near the road. I found 4 caterpillars. I took them to class the next morning and set the container on the table. As the students walked into the classroom, they noticed the container and walked over to see what was inside. They began talking and asking questions about the caterpillars, their size, shape, color, body parts and the food they eat.
Research Question
• How does a caterpillar become a butterfly?
Background Information
• Nonfiction and fiction books about caterpillars and butterflies:
• “Insects” by Alice Fields, • “Where Butterflies Grow” by Joanne Ryder
• Helpful resources on the internet:• http://warrensburg.k12.mo.us/webquest/mon
archs/• http://www.lessonplanspage.com • http://k6educators.about.com • http://www.teachervision.fen.com • http://www.sciencenetlinks.com• http://www.learnnc.org• http://teachers.net
Hypothesis
• If you observe a caterpillar for several weeks then you will see the changes it goes through to become a butterfly because butterflies go through a life cycle.
METHODS
Materials4 Caterpillars, 2 containers, moist milkweed leaves, twigs, nectar (juicy fruits), caterpillar and butterfly books, paper, pencils, markers, journal, chart paper and magnifying lenses.
Subjects4 Caterpillars
Procedures• Each morning observe what is
happening with the caterpillars.• Record in your daily journal what you see
in the container.• Illustrate your findings.• Compare and contrast from day to day
what stage each caterpillar is in.• In your group share and discuss your
writings and illustrations. • Read several books and take notes as
you research butterflies.
• Use the internet to gather information about the stages of the caterpillar and butterfly.
• In your groups write on chart paper under KWL what you learned about butterflies.
• Share with the class your findings.• Draw the four stages of the butterfly life
cycle and label it.• Keep a folder of all your work.• Make a graph of how long it took each
caterpillar chrysalis to emerge into a butterfly.
Classroom Collaboration
Chrysalis
Chrysalis
See Through Chrysalis
Monarch
Monarch
Monarch
Observations
Observations
Observations
Observations
Attentive Listeners
Caterpillars
Team “Dragons” Work
What do we know now?
Team “Lion” Work
A Hard Working Team’s Work
A Butterfly Game
A Great Game! Butterfly Circle
Who Moves Next?
Some of our projects
Butterfly Projects
Projects
A Job Well Done!
Results
Graphing how long it takes to become a butterfly.
More Graphing Results
Stages of the life cycle
The Egg
Stages of the life cycle
The Larva
Stages of the life cycle
J - Form of the Larva
Stages of the life cycle
Chrysalis
Stages of the life cycle
Another Chrysalis
Stages of the life cycle
See Through Chrysalis
Stages of the life cycle
Emerging from the Chrysalis
Stages of the life cycle
Exiting the Chrysalis
Stages of the life cycle
Completely outside the Chrysalis
Stages of the life cycle
Ready to
Fly!
Discussions and Conclusions
• If you observe caterpillars for several weeks then you will see metamorphosis take place because they change in the chrysalis into a butterfly. Female butterflies lay tiny eggs that in a few days hatch into larva (caterpillar). Then they eat a lot of milkweed leaves.
• They grow and shed their skin. They continue to grow to about 2inches. Then they make a silk web on the leaf or container and hang in a J form. Soon it is a cocoon (chrysalis). After about a week, it emerges into a beautiful butterfly.
• Our results show that caterpillars become butterflies after being in a cocoon (chrysalis) for about 8-9 days. They go through a life-cycle called metamorphosis.
• Based on our results, we will retain our hypothesis.
• This study shows the changes that some insects/animals go through during their life cycle.
Next StepWe will research to find other insects or
animals that go through metamorphosis. We plan to study tadpoles and frogs.
We will share our findings with our family and friends.
Reflections
• I will gather butterfly eggs or keep the butterflies until they lay eggs so the students see the entire life cycle in the classroom.
• I will have each caterpillar in its own container.• I will label each container.• The students will be able to label their results
and illustrations in a more organized way.