Each fall for about the past 10 years, the 2nd Graders start a butterfly unit/project. The teachers order Painted Lady Butterfly larvae from a lab on the East Coast. The students stalk the UPS guy for days waiting for their larvae to arrive. The students then each get a cup with one larvae in it to observe the progress and development. The whole grade works on this project together. They journal daily about the development of the larvae into a chrysalis and then into a butterfly.
This is Ashlin's chrysalis. When I took this photo, Ashlin's was the only chrysalis in the butterfly net waiting for it to become a butterfly.
Unfortunately, the project failed for the first time this year. The teachers have called the lab and reported the failure of the project. The lab said that they would send out a new supply of larvae for the project. The teachers told the lab to not send the larvae until the spring because the weather has turned too cold for the butterflies to survive once released outside. The students start this project with so much enthusiasm and excitement and they discuss this project for days. Ashlin was sad, but the class looks forward to trying the project again in the Spring. I think the teachers are as disappointed as their students that the project failed.
Take care,
Michelle
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