The Metamorphosis and Migration of the Monarch Butterfly

As part of the lesson introduction, the students observed the growth of caterpillars as they gorged on milkweed in the classroom and eagerly awaited their fascinating metamorphosis into the adult stage. As the monarchs emerged, students learned that these are the "super generation" that will fly thousands of miles to the forests of central Mexico for the winter.

Mrs. Davies shared with the class that scientists can study this migration with the help of community scientists as butterflies are tagged with an individually numbered sticker. The hope is that they will be re-caught along their journey. As the class was set to send off their monarch butterfly, each student one-by-one got to touch and feel the butterfly before its departure into the wild.

Students have also decorated mini paper monarchs that will be sent to schools near the butterflies' overwintering areas through a project called Symbolic Monarch Migration.

“This is a wonderful way to connect these Connecticut first graders to Mexican kids as they all are swept up in the miraculous life of these incredible insects,” said Mrs. Davies.