South Carolina ETV

South Carolina ETV
1101 George Rogers Boulevard
Columbia, SC 29201-4761
Phone: 803-737-3545

Flutter By! (Grades 2)

Master Teacher

Shirley Peeples

Time Allotment

Two 45- to 55-minute class sessions

Overview

This lesson focuses on the developmental stages and life cycles of the Monarch Butterfly. Students will identify these stages through the use of both video and the Internet.

Subject Matter

Science

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to: identify and list in order the four main stages of the life cycle of a butterfly

South Carolina Standards

Visit the South Carolina Department of Education for the South Carolina Science Standards.

II. Life Science Unit of Study: Animals

B. Life Cycles of Organisms (Animals)

1. Animals have life cycles that include being born, developing into adults, reproducing, and eventually dying.

a. Observe and describe the growth and development of animals throughout their life cycles.

b. Investigate and understand that animals go through a series of orderly changes in their life cycles.

c. Observe growth in animals over time.

Media Components

Video

Backyard Safari, Lesson 3: Butterflies. Celia's Monarch Butterfly has hatched and she is about to set it free. Before she does, she learns all about the life cycle of a butterfly. She visits a butterfly expert who teaches her about the "tricks" caterpillars use to fool their enemies, the functions of the parts of a butterfly, and how to tag a Monarch.

Web Site

Knowitall.org houses South Carolina ETV's resources for teaching and learning. Students will watch a video clip from NatureScene on Monarch Butterflies.

Materials

Per student:

Activity Sheet 1 - Butterfly Book Cover
Activity Sheet 2 - Butterfly Book
Activity Sheet 3a and 3b - Butterfly Metamorphosis Skill Sheet
Activity Sheet 4 - Butterfly Metamorphosis Sequencing Prop Sheet
glue/tape
scissors
crayons
wooden craft sticks ( 4 per student)
student science journals

For the teacher:

chart paper (2 large pieces)

markers

Prep for Teachers

Prior to the lesson, prepare a large butterfly outline to record the students' ideas about what they know and what questions they have about butterflies. Label the left wing: "What We Know" and the right wing: "Our Questions."
Record vocabulary words and their definitions on another sheet of chart paper. (This can be in the shape of a butterfly also.)
Copy the Butterfly Metamorphosis Skill sheet and Butterfly Metamorphosis Sequencing Props sheet for each student.
Gather tape/glue, crayons, craft sticks, and scissors for the class.
Preview and bookmark the Web site and video for easy access.

Introductory Activity: Setting the Stage

Step 1

Establishing a Knowledge Base. Find out what the students know about butterflies and what questions they still have by recording their ideas and questions on the large piece of paper cut in the shape of a butterfly.

Step 2

Establishing a Personal Connection with Science. Discuss places people can go to see butterflies in nature. Invite students to talk about the most beautiful butterfly they have ever seen. Have the students describe what it looked like and where they saw it.

Step 3

Introduction of Vocabulary Words and Their Definitions. Show students the chart with the vocabulary words and their definitions. Review each word. You can make this a more challenging activity by leaving off, or covering up, the definitions and asking the children for their own definitions first.

Vocabulary

chrysalis—a butterfly pupa

cocoon—a silk web that encloses the pupae of many moths, but not butterflies

larva—the second stage, after the egg, in metamorphosis; also known as the caterpillar

metamorphosis—the series of developmental stages or changes through which insects go to become adults

migrate—to move from one region and settle in another

molting—the shedding of skin

pupa—the third stage in metamorphosis, after the larval stage; also known as a chrysalis

Step 4

Distribute Butterfly Metamorphosis Sequencing Props Sheet (Activity Sheet 4), scissors, glue/ tape, craft sticks, and crayons to each student. Follow directions for making life cycle stick puppets.

Review each stage of butterfly metamorphosis.

Learning Activities

Step 1

Focus for Media Interaction: To give the students a specific responsibility while viewing, tell them that they will be instructed to hold up the appropriate Butterfly Metamorphosis Sequencing Prop as each stage of the butterfly metamorphosis is discussed in the segment of the video. Remind them they will be asked to identify these stages again, in the appropriate order, at the end of the video.

START the video at the beginning and STOP tape when Bud says, "Metamorphosis" (slowly) and "Cinema Naturale" appears on the screen. Remind students to watch and listen for each stage (egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly) of butterfly metamorphosis and to hold up the appropriate prop at the correct time. Reinforce the learning by asking the students to hold up their props in the order as identified on the tape.

Step 2

Focus for Media Interaction: Relate to the students that caterpillars have special tricks that they perform to keep from being eaten. Tell students to listen for ways that caterpillars keep from being eaten. RESUME playing the tape. STOP tape after the caterpillar shows its "eyes" and Celia says, "Caterpillars can really be tricksters."

Review and list ways caterpillars keep from being eaten on the chalkboard:

coloring (green-like the leaf or grayish- brown like the branch)
movement (like the swaying caterpillars)
protective parts (like prickly spines)
scare tactics (like the "eyes" on the tail)

This is a good point to end the class on day one.

Step 4 (Day 2)

Focus for Media Interaction: Tell students that you are now going to go "on-line" and do some further research on a specific butterfly that can be found in the eastern part of the United States. Tell them to wave their butterfly props when they hear the name of this butterfly and to listen and to watch for the different stages of metamorphosis that this butterfly goes through.

Go to the Web site: Knowitall.org. Under search, type: Monarch Butterflies. Click on "Search NatureScene." Click video clip number 2—New Hampshire/Monarch Butterflies. Click video play and continue until the end of the clip. After watching the tape, ask the students for the name of the butterfly (Monarch) and discuss the metamorphic stages.

Culminating Activity

Review the stages of butterfly metamorphosis and have students then demonstrate the proper order by using their Butterfly Metamorphosis Sequencing Props.

Using information they have seen and heard from both the video and the Internet Web site, and the help of your local county extension agent (see Community Connections), the students will plan a butterfly garden in their science journals. Be sure to tell them to discuss and write about the types of plants needed, environmental necessities, and where this site could be located on school grounds. Later, these plans could be acted upon and a real butterfly garden established for your school.

Assessment

As a final assessment, give the students a copy of the Butterfly Metamorphosis Skill Sheet (Activity Sheet 3a and 3b), scissors, and crayons and go over the directions for completion of the skill sheet. For students finishing this assignment ahead of time, assign them to turn their papers over and list ways a caterpillar keeps from being eaten.

Cross-Curricular Extensions

Writing: Have students write a story in their writing journals: "If I were a butterfly, here's what I'd see and do..."

Make and illustrate a butterfly story shape book. (See Activity Sheets 1 and 2.)

Literature Links: Gulliver's Story by Marilyn E. Ruggles and Orley R. Taylor

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

From Egg to Butterfly by Angela Royston

Monarch Butterfly by Gail Gibbons

Science: Establish a butterfly garden in your schoolyard.

Raise butterflies in your classroom.

Utilize the Butterfly Kit from Carolina Biological (1-800-334-5551).

Art: Decorate a construction paper butterfly with colored tissue paper and hang with string from the ceiling or in the classroom window. Make caterpillars by gluing pompons onto a clothes pin, then adding pipe cleaner antennae and "wiggly eyes."

Math: Note the symmetrical design of the butterfly. Trace half of a butterfly shape onto construction paper. Show students how to crease the paper on the fold and cut out the butterfly. Open up and there you have a full butterfly. Apply this skill to other shapes and have students draw the lines of symmetry.

Introduce ordinal numbers and sequencing by using various colored butterfly cut-outs lined on the chalk ledge.

Technology:

Explore the following Web sites:

Community Connections

Visit The Butterfly Kingdom near Hardeeville, S.C. For more information, contact Dr. Bob Wolff, Director of Education at (843) 671-3200 or visit the web site at ButterflyKingdom.com,
Visit The Blue Heron Nature Trail in Ridgeland, S.C. This is a lovely nature trail where the students can explore the natural habitats of many local plants and animals. They also have a butterfly garden. Contact Mrs. Anne Walker at (843) 726-8148.
Invite the local Clemson Extension County Agent to help the students establish a butterfly garden in their area.