The Life Cycle of the Butterfly

The Task | Resources | The Process | Week 1 | Week 2  |  Week 3 | Conclusion

Week 2- more observing and describing

Day 6 - 1. Record all the changes taking place with your caterpillars in your journal. Draw a picture to describe what you see. After 7-10 days, the caterpillars begin to form chrysalides by attaching to the paper disk under the lid. This is a very delicate process of transformation, so take care not to disturb the chrysalides during formation.

2. Click on The Amazing Life Cycle of the Butterfly www.butterflywebsite.com/Articles/ShowArticle.cfm?ID=157. Scroll down to the Pupa stage. What happens inside the chrysalis during this stage? How do caterpillars change into butterflies? Write your answers in your journal.

3. Children ages 3-6 will enjoy reading Stripey the Caterpillar, by Kate George. Older children may want to take a trip to their local public library to find books of interest about butterflies.

Day 7 - 1. Write the day number and record the changes taking place in your butterfly house, as your caterpillars form their chrysalides. Draw a picture of what you see. What color are the chrysalides? Did all the caterpillars make their chrysalides at the same time?

2. It will take 1-2 days before the chrysalides are complete. After this happens, attach the chrysalides to the roof of your butterfly house following the directions in your instruction booklet, included with your live caterpillars. Make sure your butterfly house is ready for its new occupants. Do you have a stick or large twig inside for the butterflies to land on? Why is this stick important for the butterflies? How long will it take for the butterflies to emerge?

Day 8 - 1. Continue to observe your caterpillars. Have they all made their chrysalides, yet? Record what you see in your journal and include a picture to describe what you see.

2. Click on Pen Pals www.butterflywebsite.com/penpals/index.cfm.
This is a great place to meet other children who are interested in butterflies from all over the world. Choose someone who shares your same interests and send them an e-mail about your study of butterflies.

Day 9 - 1. Your caterpillars should all be snug inside their chrysalides. Write down in your journal what the chrysalides look like. Have they changed since yesterday? Be sure to make notes about the color changes that take place during this stage. Draw a picture of what you see.

2. Click on The Butterfly Life Cycle www.butterflywebsite.com/articles/index.cfm?ID=336. Scroll down the page and click on the blue words Emerging from the Chrysalis. Scroll down this page and carefully watch the magical change from chrysalis to butterfly. This is exactly what your butterflies will be doing in about 7-10 days. Pretty cool, huh?

Day 10 - 1. Once your chrysalides are formed, you must have the patience of a true scientist. This means that a good scientist must observe what is taking place in the butterfly house and write down the changes in the daily journal. Don't forget to keep track of the day number in your daily entries and draw pictures of what you see.

2. Read The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle. Your classroom teacher will read this story to the class. If you are learning at home, ask an adult to read it to you or you can read it yourself!

3. For very young children or non-readers, the video The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Stories , by Eric Carle is a delightful video that goes right along with the story.

Click on the blue words below that say Week 3 to continue.
 
 

The Task | Resources | The Process | Week 1 | Week 2  |  Week 3 | Conclusion
 
 


mbsteger@laplaza.org