Students learn about the Butterfly Stages of the Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle.
Science Standards Addressed
Kindergarten Lesson Plans - LIFE SCIENCE - Organisms - Living and non-living things, compare and contrast, simple groups for living things.
First Grade Lesson Plans - LIFE SCIENCE - Organisms - Observe and describe life cycles (how things grow and change).
2nd Grade Lesson Plans - LIFE SCIENCE - Organisms - Recognize and describe life cycles.
3rd Grade Lesson Plans - LIFE SCIENCE - Organisms - Recognize and describe structures of living thing that serve specific purpose in growth, survival and reproduction.
Above are the basic science standards addressed in these Elementary Lesson Plans. More science, math and art standards could also be covered in this Unit.
Objectives - Butterfly Lesson Plans
Discover the signs and what happens to the Monarch Chrysalis when it is time for the Butterfly to emerge.
Explore how long this fourth stage lasts.
Anticipatory Set
Ask the students to recall Stage 1, 2 and 3 of the Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle. Review what the students learned about the Monarch Chrysalis Stage and what was the sign that the next stage is about to happen (the chrysalis starts to change in color).
The Life Cycle of Butterflies by Judy Burris and Wayne Richards - Excellent book with over 400 beautiful photographs!
Monarch Butterfly (Welcome Books) - Edana Eckart
Materials - Science Lesson Plans
Construction Paper, markers, crayons, scissors, Virtual Butterfly Project
Introduction - Elementary Science Lesson Plans
We will be learning about the fourth stage of the Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle - the Monarch Butterfly.
Procedures
How do you know that is nearing the time when the Monarch Butterfly is going to emerge?
The Chrysalis changes color and becomes darker. Then, within 24 hours, usually overnight the Chrysalis becomes almost black and you can actually SEE THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY WINGS THROUGH THE "SHELL" OF THE CHRYSALIS. This is AMAZING!!
What happens next?
The Chrysalis starts to split from the bottom up and the butterfly appears in less than one minute!
What does the Butterfly look like?
Its wings are all shriveled and its body is fat with fluid. It starts to pump that fluid into the wings and they start to "grow" until the wings are big and beautiful. The butterfly will hang very still for a few hours while its wings dry and then it will fly away. A MONARCH BUTTERFLY IS BORN!!
Activities - Butterfly Lesson Plans
ART
Have the students draw a picture of something they learned about the fourth stage of the Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle. Have them share with the class what their picture represents.
MATH
Update the time line on the blackboard to show the Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle through the butterfly stage.
Virtual Butterfly
Have the students add to their “Virtual Butterfly” by representing the Butterfly that they learned about today. They have completed the Life Cycle of a Butterfly!
Closure - Butterfly Lesson Plans
Review Monarch Butterfly stage and the meaning of "Life Cylce".
Assessment of Learning
Informally assess the the student's progress through the input they share during the lesson and observations of their Art, Math and Virtual Butterfly project.
I hope these Free Lesson Plans are helpful in getting your students excited about science, nature, and the beautiful Monarch Butterfly.
Make sure and give the parents of your students a link to this website so they can share the wonderful experience of Raising Butterflies with their kids at home this summer.
