TEKS :
K (5) Properties and Patterns – Organisms, Objects and Events
b. : Observe and identify patterns
Overview :
· Learn symmetry of a butterfly
· Create a butterfly T-shirt
· Make a symmetrical sandwich
· Start a Painted Lady Butterfly culture
· Make a Lady Bug paper weight
· Collect insects
Materials :
Hula Hoop Flat rocks Wiggly eyes
T-shirts Graham crackers Skittles
Icing Live caterpillar larva Artificial Media
Condiment Container with lids
Assorted acrylic paint
Book : The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
Activities:
Activity 1 : Concept
Review from the Previous Day
Read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. At the end of the book, review the parts of an insect, and the stages of a butterfly. Now ask the students when looking at the butterfly, can they see any similarities in the butterfly (looking at each wing). Use this as an introduction into symmetry.
Activity 2 : Introducing Symmetry
* Symmetry is defined as : having two parts (cut by an imaginary line) that are exactly the same.
Introduce symmetry by putting a piece of masking tape from a student’s forehead down the middle. Then discuss the symmetry example (an eye on each side for example). Other examples of showing symmetry would be by showing the symmetry of dividing letters of the alphabet, magazine pictures of insects, using a mirror to show imagery reflection, etc.
Activity 3 : Butterfly T-shirt
Child will make a butterfly T-shirt with his or her own hand and foot print.
The child's foot will be center of butterfly with hand prints on both sides as the wings. The antennae will be drawn on with fabric marker.
A poem will be written on the back of the shirt with fabric marker:
They flit. They fly. They flutter by.
Each one is different ...
a butterfly!
Activity 4 : Symmetrical Butterfly Craft
Using precut butterfly patterns, the students will use large size sequins to make the butterfly wings symmetrical on both sides, add pipe cleaners as antennae’s. Then, they will glue the butterfly to a clothes pin. They will glue a magnetic strip on the other side of the clothes pin.
Activity 5 : Symmetrical Sandwich
After the child has finished his or her beautiful butterfly, a table will be set up for this edible experience. The child will go to the table and get a graham cracker. He or she will snap it in half so the cracker is symmetrical. The child will spread white icing on both pieces of the graham cracker. With various Skittles, the child will decorate his or her edible insect... making sure it is symmetrical. YUM! YUM!
Activity 6 : Butterfly Culture
Fill the condiment container half full with premixed artificial media. Then add the caterpillar using fine paintbrush being careful not to harm the caterpillar. Allow the students to observe their caterpillar over the next few weeks.
* A Family Science Letter will be sent home with further instructions for rearing the caterpillar. (see attached)
* See the following website for more information :
Activity 7 : Helpful Insects
Read The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle.
“Now was the grouchy ladybug a helpful insect? Does anyone know what a helpful insect is? “
Then discuss helpful insects. For example : pollinators (help pollinate plants), scavengers (eat the remains of organisms), predators (eat harmful insects), and parasites (kill unwanted organisms). Some insects produce things that are helpful. Bees produce honey and beeswax. From the cochneal insect, we get red dye. If Band-Aids are not available, whip out the web !! (spiderwebs as used in folk medicine) In some countries, insects are considered an important food source.
* 95% of all insects are helpful or harmless.
Activity 8 : Hula-Hoop Estimation
Now that we know that there are helpful insects, we are going to go outside and see how many we can find. Show the students a hula hoop. Let the students estimate how many insects they will find in the ring. Go outside and let the teacher demonstrate how to complete the activity. The teacher will throw the hula hoop onto a grassy area. The group will gather around the hula hoop and collect as many insects as possible (inside the hula hoop). Then, as a group, we will count all of the collected insects and review the estimates each child made to see who was the closest.
Activity 9 : “Lady Bug Rock”
Tune: " the Brady Bunch theme"
By: Wendy Garrett, Cedric Wesley and Toni Carsarez
Here's a story of Ladybug
That was sitting on a green blade of grass
She has four wings and 2 antennae
But she was all alone
Until one day when she met a fella
Who was sitting on little green leaf
He said, "hey girl- come over here"
And share my lunch with me.
Children will be given a rock and they will be allowed to paint it like a ladybug.
Activity 10 : Lady
Bug Paper Weight
Children will be given a large flat rock and will paint it to resemble a lady bug.
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