TEKS: Grade 2; Systems- (9) Living Organisms - Basic Needs
Different colored butterflies
Different colored tissue paper for camouflage
Pipe cleaners
Wiggly -eyes
Paper egg cartons
Temper paints
Red beads
Black beads
Red ribbon
Key chain ring
Paper plates
Construction paper
Glue
Sugar cookies
Vanilla icing
Red food coloring
Chocolate icing
Small chocolate chips
Newspapers
Writing paper
Beating Stick
Collecting Materials
1. Going on a Butterfly Hunt- Line students up and have
them take their net and collecting container outside with them.
Ask students where the think they will find the most butterflies?
Encourage them to think about how insects collect nectar from
flowers and other plants. In addition to butterflies, have them
use their sweep nets to collect various insects. The teachers
will demonstrate how to use a beating stick so that we will be
able to find different kinds of beetles in trees. Point out the
differences between the butterflies and beetles.
2. Where's that Butterfly?- This is an activity that is geared toward teaching the concept of camouflage. Previous to the children going outside, a teacher has placed different colored butterflies around a specific area. The students should be taken to this area and asked if they can find all of the different butterflies. Explain to them that butterflies are different colored so that they can blend in with the things around them. They do this for protection purposes. The butterflies can be placed in trees, on flowers, in the grass, or anywhere else you choose.
Adapted from Dwight Bohlmeyer's camouflage activity
3. Poem- Fuzzy Wuzzy by Lilian Schulz
Fuzzy muzzy, creepy crawly
Caterpillar funny,
You will be a butterfly
When the days are sunny.
Winging, flinging, dancing, springing
Butterfly so yellow,
You were once a caterpillar,
Wiggly, wiggly fellow.
4. Stages of a butterfly- Read A Butterfly is Born
by Melvin Berger. We will begin our discussion on metamorphosis
of a butterfly by having a page by page interactive discussion
of the book. We will discuss butterfly mouthparts and their importance
in the pollination process. This book takes students through the
journey of a butterfly's life cycle (egg, larva, pupa, and butterfly).
5. From Egg to Butterfly- By using a marshmallow to represent the egg, a paper egg carton decorated for the caterpillar, and tissue paper for a butterfly they will create for themselves the stages of a butterfly's life.
The first thing the students will do is receive a marshmallow
to represent the egg. For making the caterpillar, the students
will cut a paper egg carton into a length of 3 sections. They
can then use paint, pipe cleaners, and various other supplies
for decorating purposes. The butterfly is going to be made from
tracing a pattern on 3 sheets of tissue paper. They can choose
the colors of their liking. The body will be held together by
a clothes pin and antennae will be made from pipe cleaners.
6. Butterfly Symmetry- Give students a piece of graph paper with half of a butterfly drawn on it. Have the students figure out different ways to draw it symmetrical. Show the students different pictures of butterflies and discuss how they are symmetrical. When students have finished drawing their butterfly, have them color their butterfly.
7. Guided Imagery- A Day in the Life of a Butterfly
Let the students lay and relax in the grass. Tell them to close
their eyes and travel on the journey as teacher reads the imagery.
Have the students answer question about the trip they just took.
(Example attached)
8. Let's Read- Butterfly Alphabet Book by Kjell B. Sandved
Take time with the students to enjoy the beauty of butterflies
by pointing out their uniqueness of their wings. This book shows
letters of the alphabet hidden in the butterfly's wings. The pictures
are of actual butterflies.
9. What is the Difference- By reading these two riddles:
After reading the riddles, have students guess which is which? A butterfly or a moth. Students will be looking at a teacher prepared diagram to see the differences and similarities between moths and butterflies. Make sure they notice that both have three body part, two antennae, and two pair of wings.
They are also different in four important ways. Difference 1: When a butterfly is flying, they fly with their wings together. A moth holds its wings out flat. Difference 2: Butterfly's antennae have little knobs on the end. A moth's antennae often have feathery ends. Difference 3: A butterfly's body is thin, where as a moth's is fat. Difference 4: Butterfly's are active in the daytime and moths are active at night. While discussing the differences between the insects, students can act out the characteristics. Ask students to divide into teams, the butterflies and the moths. When you say "wings", "antennae", "day", or "night", each team acts out the appropriate motions.
You can also mention that butterflies are normally brighter colored than moths.
Adapted from Macmillan Early Science Activities
10. Introduction of Beetles- Explain the characteristics
of beetles and show various pictures of different ones. The teacher
will read the book Amazing Beetles by John Still and note
the differences between different beetles.
11. Paper Plate Ladybug Activity- Students will receive
one small paper plate, a piece of black construction paper, red
and black paint, wiggly eyes, and scissors and glue. They will
create their own ladybug. Point out the symmetry that occurs in
the ladybug.
12. Ladybug Keychain- By following a model, students will
create a keychain out of black and red beads. They will be able
to choose from two different models. The teacher should point
out that the beetles are also symmetrical.
13. How tasty is your beetle?- Students will be given a
sugar cookie to decorate as a ladybug.
14. Interview with a Beetle- Students will use all available
books on beetles to research and write a short article for the
insect newspaper. Each student picks a particular beetle to research
and become knowledgeable about. The students will then pair up
and interview each other. They will report what they have learned
in the form of a newspaper article. All student articles will
be glued into The Insect Tribune. Students can also add illustrations.
Have students write what they have learned about butterflies and beetles. List the stages of a butterfly's life. They can draw the stages if they want.
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