Butterflies

April 14 marked the 50th anniversary of Rachel Carson's (author of Silent Spring) death. Her efforts helped bring awareness to the impacts of pesticides & herbicides on birds as well as pollinators like butterflies and bees. A nationwide initiative (makewayformonarchs.org) encouraged communities to find ways to increase monarch awareness or conservation efforts. Monarch butterflies have been in decline for a variety of reasons. We painted flower pots & planted milkweed seeds, a plant that attracts butterflies. 

We had a lot of great posters about the life cycle of butterflies and the different species of butterflies and moths. We did a life-cycle activity with pasta noodles that are the shape of the phases in the metamorphosis process. We also had several specimen and some plastic butterfly life-cycle "toys" that are really great. Kids enjoyed putting them in chronological order.

Coincidentally, my friend and I found a wolly bear over the weekend... so I kept it to bring in. Live animals are always a hit. Everyone was very excited and wanted a chance to hold it.