Part of the Montessori curriculum is to have the children engage with and gain a deep respect and appreciation for nature and life. We incorporate this into the classroom by having the children experience and observe the life cycle of a butterfly in real time. We received containers with several caterpillars and their food source. The children watched as the caterpillars ate their way through the “molting” stage and transitioned into the pupa or chrysalis stage. The children eagerly awaited the fourth stage, the grand arrival of the butterfly! We set them free in our playground on a warm day to find their new home.
