May
Butterfly Activities
In the beginning of May we received our delivery of caterpillars.
Our caterpillars would eventually become Painted Lady butterflies. They came in a big clear cup that had food at the bottom. Students came over in pairs to help put each caterpillar into it's new home. First the student's placed a small scoop of food into the new tiny clear container. Then the students gently lifted out one caterpillar to put into their container. They used a paintbrush to pick up the caterpillar. Lastly, the students placed the lid on top and poked three small holes in the top for air. Finally, when all of the caterpillars were done, each student filled out the first page in their Butterfly journal. The student's journals consisted of six copies of an identical scientfic examination sheet. It said:Today I looked at a______________ (caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly)
Here is what it looked like: (They drew a picture)
Here are three things I noticed:(They had to record three facts)
The students filled in a page in these journals every few days and each time their was a big change- when the caterpillars hung upside down, when the chrysalids first appeared, when the butterflies harched and when we released the butterflies. Students do a great job on these journals because they just LOVE looking at and observing changes in their butterflies!
Symmetry
Would a unit on butterflies be complete without some lessons on symmetry? We talked a lot about symmetry and discussed that you don't just find it in butterflies. One of our favourite activities was a when I gave the students a folded piece of paper with the outline of a butterfly on it. I gave them ten minutes to design one side of the butterfly. I then collected the drawings, shuffled them and passed them out again. Now the students had to look at what was already drawn and try to copy it on the other half of the paper. They really enjoyed this!
Here is a link to a great picture of the type of symmetry that butterflies have:
Butterfly Symmetry
Butterfly Activity Links
Balancing Butterfly Activity
Butterfly Optical Illusion
Painted Lady Information
Painted Lady Pictures
One Class' Experience With Painted Ladies
Mother's Day
This year we made fizzy bath type bombs for Mother's Day. We took turns mixing the ingredients and then sprayed a light mist of witch hazel over it all. When it just barely stuck together when we squished it, it was ready for the molds. We used small kitchen molds in star and fish shapes. We packed the mix into the mold tightly and then tapped the bombs out onto paper to dry. They only took a few hours to dry. After this, we put them into little clear cellophane bags with a poem for our Moms and tied them up with a ribbon. They looked good! Here is the recipe:
Bath Fizzies 3 cups of citric acid
6 cups of baking soda
Mix these two together well. Then add:
20-25 drops of essential oil (lavender or any other type)
a few spritzes of witch hazel (in a spray bottle-like ones used for ironing)
Mix again. Add a touch more witch hazel if needed. Mix until it just holds together when squished. Quickly put into molds, tap out of the molds and leave to dry.
Mommy I Love You Mommy, I love you
For all that you do.
I'll kiss you and hug you
'Cause you love me, too.
You feed me and need me
To teach you to play,
So smile 'cause I love you
On this Mother's Day.
