It's Mad Science Monday and We're Growing Butterflies! Part II

It's Mad Science Monday and I thought I'd welcome you back into our playroom to take a peek at our progress in growing our own painted lady butterflies. This kit we purchased was well worth the money and the experience has been as much fun for the adult scientists in the house as it is for the younger ones! We have had such a blast watching our caterpillars eat and grow and eat and grow. They were several times their size by the time we took this photo (left) on Day 9! Between Days 7 and 10, the very hungry caterpillars work their way to the top of the jar and hang in the shape of a letter J as they prepare to make their last molt and turn into a chrysalis, the pupa stage of metamorphosis.

S loves to see the caterpillars each day and even to hold the container when given the opportunity (although he needs support to not tip it upside down or drop it!). He talks about caterpillars and butterflies all the time, creating "pupas" and "caterpillars" out of playdough, biting pretzels into the shape of a butterfly and requesting to read books we've checked out of the library on the subject. Reading together has been one great part of this extended science study.

We have also made use of our preschool journals to document the process in a variety of ways. One of my favorites is to print and incorporate photos of our journey into his journal and allow him the opportunity to dictate/draw his observations and predictions. Our journals are such a treasure already after spending just the last year working in them. While I have done a lot of journal work with older preschoolers (4-5), this was my first experience with the toddler age range and I am so tickled by how much skill and comprehension S has demonstrated over just this last year. His doodles have emerged into story lines and representations of objects as he dictates the words he would like me to add. I never push the process and he is very young for writing at this point. I encourage it and at times he even takes his journal out independently to use it. I am sure he will also grow to treasure this memoir of our year together!

He was excited to begin drawing/dictating on the morning I set out this journal prompt with two photos of our caterpillars taken on Days 3 and 7. He dictated as he drew about how his caterpillars have grown so big and what will be happening next. He especially enjoys prompts with photos we take at home--especially if he is in the picture, too!

Dramatic play is another wonderful way to incorporate play into learning about science. We wondered what it would be like to be a caterpillar. After a very hungry S finished his breakfast, we decided to build a chrysalis for him! I have seen this activity done with toilet paper but wanted a less wasteful option for us at home. I used a sheet and wrapped him up in his chrysalis. 

Next, I got out a butterfly wand we had in our dress up collection and POOF! he emerged from his chrysalis a big, beautiful butterfly! (The magic in our butterfly wand allowed us to speed up the pupa stage so he didn't have to be stuck in that chrysalis for so many days!)

 But a big, beautiful butterfly is simply not so convincing without a set of big, beautiful butterfly wings! Using a large rectangle of felt, I pre-cut the shape of butterfly wings for S to decorate with foam stickers. He had so much fun peeling paper from the stickers and sticking them on his wings. He decided the circles represented "eggs" that would hatch into more caterpillars! (He also requested one pink circle on his shirt for a second belly button...that's my boy!)

Peeling stickers for sticking is a great fine motor activity! Many children need help with this process, however I try to resist the urge to automatically do it for them unless they demonstrate frustration or ask for help. 

My handsome butterfly on the flutter!

Now we are eagerly awaiting the next stage of metamorphosis here. We are so excited to observe the caterpillars in their chrysalis form as they harden and prepare for the next fascinating stage--emerging as fully grown painted lady butterflies! We hope you'll join us on our journey and until then...

Reading while we wait...

Happy Playing!