*Link to Teacher Page

Butterflies

http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/lvelem/butterflies
by

Shyla Crowson

Introduction | Task | Resources | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion

 

Introduction

Have you ever wondered how you could find the eggs and caterpillars of your favorite butterflies? This unit will get you started on the path to finding San Diego butterflies, the Anise Swallowtail and the Painted Lady. Enjoy learning about this insects' mysterious changes that lead to a beautiful unfolding of wings.

Task

Your task will be to identify the two butterflies you will be learning about, their habitat, eating habits, behavior patterns, and life cycle and be able to give a definition of metamorphosis. You will also take part in caring for the species while observing and recording data. You will make a comparison of the life of a caterpillar and the life of a butterfly.

Resources

Swallowtail Caterpillar

Butterflies of North America- California

Children Butterfly Web Site - coloring page

Anise Swallowtail Butterfly

Anise Swallowtail Butterfly to Music

Anise Swallowtail Life Cycle

Anise Swallowtail

The Process

With the help of your teacher, you will learn to search the Internet through Yahooligans and Alta Vista search engines to gather information for your tasks.

You will start this unit by working on a KWL Chart Activity.

You will learn about metamorphosis, the butterfly's life cycle. Then you will answer the worksheet questions.

You will learn to identify the Anise Swallowtail butterfly.

You will learn to identify the Painted Lady butterfly.

You will learn to identify the anise plant, also known as fennel, which the Anise Swallowtail lays its eggs on and the mallow and thistle which the Painted Lady lays its eggs on.

You will learn how to find the Anise Swallowtail and Painted Lady eggs and caterpillars.

You will need to take a neighborhood walk to a canyon, empty lot, alley or some over grown weedy spot to search out the anise plant, mallow and thistle. Finding these plants will lead you to caterpillars sooner or later. Look for both species between April and September.

You will need to put the rest of this unit on hold until you have located eggs or caterpillars.

Once you find an egg or caterpillar, you need to decide how you are going to house it.

You will learn how to give responsible care to your live caterpillars and butterflies.

You will learn about the behaviors of these two species.

You will observe and record the daily changes you see in the species by maintaining a time line history for each species. If you have access to a digital camera record pictorially as well.

You will celebrate a release.

You will compare the life of a caterpillar to the life of a butterfly.

Evaluation

You will be able to identify the Anise Swallowtail and Painted Lady butterfly and caterpillar.

You will be able to identify plants that support the Anise Swallowtail and Painted Lady caterpillars.

You will illustrate and label in sequence the stages of the butterfly life cycle. 

You will be able to state the differences between a caterpillar and a butterfly.

Conclusion

By the time you finish this unit you will understand metamorphosis and be able to illustrate and identify the four stages of the butterfly life cycle.

You will be able to identify and find the Anise Swallowtail and Painted Lady species and their host plants.

You will begin to feel like an expert on the care and handing of these two species.

You will never be the same after this experience because you will now be more aware of the living things in your environment that you share space with.

I hope you will catch the butterfly fever and be compelled to seek out other species native to San Diego county. A wonderful site to visit is the Monarch Butterfly Vivarium, 450 Ocean View Ave., Encinitas, Ca. Call ahead to get tour hours - 760-944-7113.

Eventually I will add more butterfly species to this unit. I also plan to add a unit for identifying and finding San Diego area moths. They are fascinating!