South Casa has been looking at the life cycle of a butterfly up close and personal. Through the use of a local company that has its own butterfly shelter, we are able to observe the life cycle of a butterfly from caterpillar, to chrysalis, to butterfly, right in our own classroom! Each stage of the butterfly’s life offers a chance to learn something new. At the caterpillar stage, the children are able to see the change in growth of the caterpillar leading up to the chrysalis stage. During the chrysalis stage, the children observe that caterpillars have become pupae and that the chrysalis hardens and changes colour after one day. It is fun to see the children check on the chrysalis each day to see if there are any changes or if the butterflies are ready to emerge. While we wait for the butterflies to emerge, the children have the opportunity to do extended activities, such as the life cycle of a butterfly puzzle and life cycle book with objects and matching cards, as well as drip art butterflies and prick a shape butterflies. Within twelve days, the butterflies begin to emerge, and the children are so excited to see the butterflies come out of their cocoon one by one. Once all the butterflies emerge, we take the butterflies outside on a warm and sunny day, and release them into nature. The children take joy in seeing the butterflies leave their temporary “house” and fly away into the sky. Some butterflies even remain in the area for a few days, giving the chance for the children to see the butterflies in our playground environment.
