Friday, September 18 2015-16 Symbolic Butterfly Project Begins_Longfellow 4/5th Grade Students

On Friday, fourth and fifth grade Longfellow students in Pasadena were introduced to the Symbolic Butterfly Project. I began teaching many of these students monarch life cycle, migration, milkweed studies, and related current events during their second and third grade years.

On this day students watched online videos of life in Mexico where the eastern monarchs overwinter. They then broke into collaborative groups and brainstormed about what their ambassador butterfly headed to Mexico will symbolized. Next week I plan to have students work together to create the actual artistic butterfly that will be mailed to students in Mexico. Other components to follow. Stay tuned!

While students are busy in the classroom, monarch life-cycle showing signs of slowing down due to high temperature in Pasadena ~98°. Eggs present, early instar larva present, but no sign of later 4-5 instar insight. My recent observations would lead one to expect fifth instar and adults visible. To be continued.

Tropical milkweed is thriving, aphids not taking the heat well (a good thing). Milkweed bugs present low-average numbers 1-2 per plant. Showy milkweed establishing, flowering, and producing seed in garden about 12". Kotolo milkweed sprouted and healthy, but fragile at about 6" in height in container. Narrowleaf did not take heat week. Will need to start new seedlings. No monarch life on other milkweed besides tropical. Milkweed to be started in the classrooms soon.

Posted on September 23, 2015 03:04 AM by ikristy