Butterflies Inside
Investigating Interdependence in Nature
By Sue Kidder
W
ho doesn’t love the magic inherent others will weave a blanket of leaves, and
in a caterpillar’s metamorphosis still others will voyage underground to
into a beautiful butterfly? Though most transform. And there are good reasons
can’t name the process, every child, by why they each do it differently.
the time he or she reaches kindergarten, There are some who say that science
knows that that magic is real, having seen takes away the magic. I would argue that
it many times in storybooks, movies, science illuminates the extraordinary
greeting cards, and occasionally in their depth of that magic. The deeper we under-
own backyard. stand the interwoven fabric of our natural
world, the more wondrous it becomes.
Start with what they know
Creating habitat
Most young children know that butterfly
eggs hatch into caterpillars who eat and It was in this spirit that my K–2 class
eat, and grow and grow, and then spin embarked on an exploration of the lives
“cocoons.” Inside the cozy cocoon the cat- of butterflies and moths. Our life science
erpillar magically transforms and comes curriculum directed us to develop the
out as a beautiful butterfly. Just this much understanding that all living things have
knowledge (gleaned from fact or fiction) similar characteristics, basic needs, and
creates such a stir in children that they life cycles. We decided to create a butterfly
consistently list butterflies as one of their and moth habitat in our classroom so we
favorite insects. could explore the life cycles of both plants The butterfly pavilion: a
But our children’s infatuation with but- and animals simultaneously, while also
growing butterfly habitat,
terflies only increases when they come to investigating their ecological interdepen-
with extra lights, heaters,
know butterflies more fully and accurately
and humidifiers
in all their diversity and complexity. Natu-
rally curious, young children are fasci-
nated to discover that there are differences
between butterflies and moths, and that
each type has its own special ecological
requirements.
While moths and butterflies all go
through the magic of complete metamor-
phosis, and they all strive to reproduce, the
paths their lives take are rich and varied.
There are no generic “leaves” that caterpil-
lars munch, nor generic “flowers” that adult
butterflies and moths sip from. each has
specific requirements.
Depending on the type, a butterfly or
moth larva may spin a silken cocoon or
harden into a chrysalis to pupate. And
while some may hang from leaves or
stems, others will crawl into a woodpile or
beneath a bark shingle to transform. Some
will adhere to the eaves of buildings, while
© synergy learning • 800-769-6199 • March/april 2010 Connect • page 1