Finally a Butterfly

Do you remember way back at the beginning of the school year when our class did a unit on metamorphosis? This video is from September when we got our first class pet - caterpillars. 

We watched as they all formed their chrysalises and waited it out all winter. In all honesty, we were beginning to wonder if they’d ever emerge, but I’m so happy to report that our patience finally paid off. On out very first day back from spring break (appropriately) there was a surprise waiting. One our caterpillars had finally emerged from it’s chrysalis as a beautiful butterfly! 

I wish I had thought to film its release into the garden, but it all our excitement, I was lucky to get this lone, blurry photo! The kiddos named him Peter and waved goodbye as he flew... for the first time in his life! One student, in all her excitement, exclaimed “It’s a miracle!” I couldn’t agree more. =)

The Newest Members of 1D

Since the start of our unit on Metamorphosis we’ve been caring for some baby caterpillars. They’ve been growing and growing and this week they have begun to change - forming a chrysalis while undergoing an amazing transformation inside. We would love to share our discovery =)

Magnificent Metamorphosis

This week we jumped head first into a study of metamorphosis - concentrating on the life cycle of the Monarch. We have a few life specimens munching away parsley in a jar in our classroom. 1-D was particularly excited about these new “class pets” and has been observing them intently since they arrived.

We’ve also been getting familiar with the steps in the Monarch’s life cycle, and its name in each stage. Check out our ordering and labeling from this morning:  

Also, make sure you stop by and investigate out the bulletin board outside our classroom... it is proudly displaying more student work from our Monarch study.

If you’d like to learn more about the life cycle of butterflies or want to support your child’s learning at home, watch this incredible video. Our first graders LOVED it! And if you watch with your kiddo I can guarantee that he/she will be more than happy to narrate =)