Raising butterflies in our classroom is always one
of the highlights each year. We wait with baited breath
for our caterpillars to arrive and then we get right to it
because they grow fast! This year I knew I wanted to
incorporate more math into our butterfly life cycle unit
and observing the life cycle lends itself so well to
measurement, calendar skills, and especially data and graphing!
I created some butterfly graphing activities so we could
use the data we were collecting in our observation journals to
create different types of graphs.
When our caterpillars arrived, we began keeping
observation journals, but first we learned how
to handle our caterpillars with care.
Students also kept an observation calendar to
record changes on the dates they occurred so we could
see at a glance the data we were collecting and
later on, graph.
While raising our caterpillars, I've learned if I'm not careful
they can be an all-day distraction. To avoid this, I keep each table's
cups in a basket on top of the filing cabinet. I label each
cup with the student's initials and their table number.
This way it only takes a few seconds to pass them out when
we're ready to observe them and student's know when their
butterfly has emerged by the empty chrysalis on their lid.
I prepped my charts ahead of time
and as the life cycle progressed, we tallied the data from
our calendars and used it to create these class graphs.
Next, students drew our class charts and did some graph
chatting by answering questions about each chart.
We displayed our graphs for our Spring open house and
my class loved walking their parents through our process
of collecting, organizing, transferring, and analyzing
our butterfly data!
After our butterflies began to emerge,
I had small groups compare and discuss the data from their
calendars and observation journals using data discussion cards.
We also incorporated some (teacher guided)
measurement into our science unit by measuring paths
and asking, "How far did the caterpillar crawl?"
This activity is part of my butterfly life cycle unit.
We used PlayDoh to measure and compare caterpillar lengths.
Students spin, roll out caterpillars, measure and record.
They spin again, roll the caterpillar some more, then
measure and compare their lengths.
We explored how butterflies help plants
measurement into our science unit by measuring paths
and asking, "How far did the caterpillar crawl?"
This activity is part of my butterfly life cycle unit.
We used PlayDoh to measure and compare caterpillar lengths.
measure and compare their lengths.
Along the way, we read a lot of informational books.
I somehow misplaced the snazzy, orange butterfly KWL
chart I made last year, but this quickie did the trick.
We discovered a lot in our learning labs exploring
pollination, compound eyes, and ways a caterpillar
and butterfly protect themselves.
We explored how butterflies help plants
grow with a pollination simulation using juice boxes
and macaroni and cheese powder.
What to do with all that macaroni after we've used all
the cheese powder? Make commas, of course! (You can
download this free butterfly facts commas in a series page
in last year's post.)
We used kaleidoscopes to imagine looking through an
insect's compound eye.
We learned that being a butterfly isn't all sunshine
and nectar either. They have their problems too!
To incorporate some reading skills we matched these
butterfly problems to their solutions.
and nectar either. They have their problems too!
To incorporate some reading skills we matched these
butterfly problems to their solutions.
Raising butterflies offered so many opportunities for writing!
As we studied the life cycle we wrote about what we learned.
We made small booklets after each of our minilessons
and learning labs with vocabulary, diagrams, and
explanations of the different stages and aspects of
the life cycle. We put it all together
in these butterfly foldable booklets .
We made small booklets after each of our minilessons
and learning labs with vocabulary, diagrams, and
explanations of the different stages and aspects of
the life cycle. We put it all together
in these butterfly foldable booklets .
My class was so proud of our hallway display and really
loved giving their parents a tour of our classroom and our
life cycle themed hallway!!
loved giving their parents a tour of our classroom and our
life cycle themed hallway!!
I hope you've found some ideas and activities you can use
to incorporate math, reading, and writing into your own classroom
as you raise butterflies!
Be sure to find me and follow on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, or
TeacherspayTeachers for more ideas, free printables, and
classroom resources!
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