Journey North and Monarch Migration

The Monarch butterfly migration is truly an amazing event in nature.  In the 1st grade classroom the students are busy watching the Monarch caterpillars grow and change.  In science, we're looking at different insects and their adaptations.  Watch for some of our work with caterpillar camouflage and mealworm metamorphosis.  Today we went outside to see if we could find some Monarchs on their way to Mexico.  On the  Journey North Website, schools can add their information to a migration map (see below) if they go out to find Monarchs.  That way, students can track where the butterflies are on their journey.  We didn't find any today, but we did see milkweed, other butterflies, spiders, bees and lots of flowers.  We're hopeful that when we go out again, we can find some and add our data to the migration map!

                                      Here's where the Monarchs are right now!

                                            Recording science data.

                                                 Milkweed growing outside the 1st grade classroom!

                               After seeing Crissy's "pet spider" on her window, the class goes in to her office to hear all about what Crissy has been observing over the past few weeks.  One student observed that when the spider rolls up it's prey, it's kind of like an "insect taco"!  With the second group of students we were actually able to see the spider's egg sac.  We'll definitely be keeping an eye on this spider for the next few weeks.....

                                      Recording the weather today.