Our summer program kids had so much fun learning about the life cycle of the caterpillar to butterfly. With the help of several St. Ann Center staff the kids gathered some caterpillars and a lot of leaves and branches put them in a large plastic container with holes punched in the top…and then they waited. Each day they checked the container and watched as the caterpillars ate the leaves and pooped…and boy did they poop. They learned to clean out the container and make sure the caterpillars had plenty to eat and someplace strong to attach themselves to so they could make their cocoons.
The caterpillars attached themselves to the top of the container and began to spin their cocoons. The children got to see the whole process. Once the cocoon was formed they waited. It turned out they waited about 12 days; that was the average wait.
Right before their eyes a magnificent monarch butterfly emerged ever so slowly from its chrysalis (also called a pupa.) The kids also learned some new words! When the butterfly’s wings were dry they took the butterfly out of the jar and took turns letting it land on their hands, or shirts and noses! When it was time, they released the beautiful butterfly outside so it could start the life cycle all over again!
It certainly didn’t take long and they were lucky enough to experience the full life cycle of the butterfly. The summer program learned many new things this summer. Our next summer program article will be about Mad Science!
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