Caterpillars to Butterflies

Introduction
 
    Did you ever hear of the ugly duckling that turned into a beautiful swan, or the little tadpole that turned into the frog or toad?  Well, come on in and join us to see how the crawling caterpillar flew away!

• You are going to gather information from various sources on the life cycle of a butterfly.
• You are going to identify and label pictures showing the stages of the life cycle.
• You will visit a museum and view beautiful butterfly pictures.
• You can make a butterfly that will flutter in the breeze.

        First you will visit Butterfly Farming to learn how to hatch butterflies.  Next you will visit the Life Cycles  site to see the different stages of a butterfly.  Then you will travel to the Silver Springs Project   to gather information from other second grade children.  While you are on your excursion, you will visit the Museum Photos to see beautiful pictures of live butterflies.  Finally you will make Fluttering Butterflies  to hang in the classroom.
 

Additional Resources

You may visit our school library to find out more about Butterflies from the following list of books:

The Butterfly by Sabrina Crewe
Butterflies by Lynn M. Stone
Caterpillars by Lynn M. Stone
Where Butterflies Grow by Joanne Ryder
Butterfly and Caterpillar by Barrie Watts
Monarch Butterflies (Mysterious Travelers) by Bianca Lavies
 

Process

    1.   Read the information on hatching butterflies.
    2.   Draw and label the life cycle of a butterfly.
    3.   Write a few sentences on the life cycle of a butterfly using
           your time words. (first, then, next, last)
    4.    Follow the directions to make a fluttering butterfly.

   
 

Conclusion

    Now that you have explored all of the sites, you will be able to give a report on the life cycle of a butterfly and explain to your classmates what you have learned.  You will draw and label the stages of the life cycle.  You are now ready to help your teacher hatch real butterflies in your classroom.