Lifecycle of the Painted Lady Butterfly

Length: Approximately 4 Weeks
Grade Level: 2

Materials: caterpillars, one plastic cup with lid for each student for caterpillar storage, mallow-food, butterfly houses to store chrysalli, digital cameras for documentation, science notebooks for documentation

Objectives:
1. TSW document stages of the Painted Lady Butterfly lifecycle using digital cameras and pencil/paper records of change.
2. TSW create a Power Point presentation describing the life stages of the Painted Lady Butterfly using digital camera images from class, anecdotal records taken in class, classroom resources, and internet resources.

PA Academic Standards:
Reading,Writing, Listening, and Speaking:
1.4 Types of Writing
1.5 Quality of Writing

Science and Technology:
3.3 Biological Sciences
3.7 Technological Devices

Anticipatory Set: KWL chart on butterflies

Procedures:
1. Each child is given a caterpillar with food and a storage cup. Once caterpillars become chrysalli, the teacher will move the insects to a butterfly house to hatch.
2. Each child will be given a science notebook to document the growth of their insects. Every day, students will draw and write about changes they notice in their caterpillar/chrysallis/butterfly.
3. Students will be assigned to small camera groups. When there is evidence of change in the organisms, students will take turns photographing the changes. The teacher will download pictures to the district drive for student access.
4. Students will be given access to materials to learn about the lifecylce of the butterfly as documentation continues(books, district curriculum, internet resources).
5. With instruction from the technology teacher, each student will then prepare a Power Point slide show explaining the life cycle of the Painted Lady Butterfly in the computer lab. Students will write facts about each stage and include digital photographs taken in class to illustrate their slide shows.

Closure:
1. Each student will share their slide show in class or printed on paper with a partner at our "Butterfly Release Party".
2. Students will complete KWL chart and correct any errors.