Title of Project : Animals - Insects - Grade One
Lesson 2: From Caterpillar to Butterfly
Objectives:
Students will:
- use the characteristics identified in Lesson 1 to determine if butterfly is an insect.
- investigate the changes in a butterfly from egg to adult.
- learn to use the printer as a way of obtaining information (also the location of printer - if it is not in the classroom)
-use the computer as a tool for communication
Instructional Methods:
- concept formation, concept attainment, discussion
Materials Needed:
- computer
- printer
- colored markers
- Internet site bookmarked - Butterfly and Moth Life Cycle
(http://bsi.montana.edu/web/kidsbutterfly/life-cycle)
Activities Prior to Computer:
- Review the characteristics of insects and determine if the butterfly can be classified as an insect.
Activities While at the Computer:
- Click on the title of the Internet site below:(already bookmarked)
Butterfly and Moth Life Cycle
- Work in small groups with at least one reader or an adult to read and discuss the four stages of butterflies' and moths' lifecycle 
- Click on the small inline images to view full-sized images. Print these out. 
- Have the students collect the four pages from the printer
Activities For After Using the Computer:
- In a teacher directed discussion with the whole class, determine a sentence or heading for each picture. 
- Have each student print or label  their own picture
- Color
- Place pictures in correct sequence and staple into a booklet
Student Assessment:
- Select 4-6 students to observe. Talk with these children while they are working on their lifecyle sheets. Make anecdotal notes on sticky notes or make a chart to fill in.  For each child, note things such as:
* Did the student use the computer with some assistance to print and retrieve the lifecycle pages?
* Was the student able to recall three insect characteristics?
* Can the student describe the four stages of a butterfly's development?
Optional Activity:
Write an Expert - Help the students to make plans to write an expert, Dr. Paul Opler (paulevi@webaccess.net), about butterflies. Brainstorm a list of questions the students would like to ask and write these on chart paper.  Discuss how to word the questions clearly so the reader will understand what information is wanted.  Review punctuation for questions.  Make the necessary revisions to the students' questions.  Use a shared writing approach to write a letter  (collaborative activity) that includes one or two of the students' questions.  You may wish to have the students work with the basic letter format such as the following:
^address and date
^greeting (Dear Dr. Opler)
^opening sentences (1 or 2)
^ questions (2 or 3)
^ending (Thank you.  Hope to hear soon)
^sign off (Your friend)
^writer's name
Children can each write their own letter to Dr. Opler, following the pattern of the shared letter.  They can work in partners to check their letters for meaning and punctuation. The teacher or another adult can email the letters to Dr. Opler at his email address paulevi@webaccess.net 
Optional Student Assessment:
 Collect and assess the students' letters, using questions such as the following:
- Can the student think of appropriate questions?
- Can the student write questions and punctuate them correctly?
- Can the student follow the suggested letter format?
Store the assessments and letters in the students' portfolios.
Additional Resources:
All About Butterflies (http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/
Tropical Butterflies (http://www.butterflies.org/tropicalbutterflies.cfm)
Butterfly Photo Gallery (http://www.butterflyfarm.co.cr/ed/images/gallery/adults/index.htm)
The Children's Butterfly Site (http://bsi.montana.edu/web/kidsbutterfly/)
Gander Academy - Insects Resource Page
(http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/ccgeneral.htm)
Moth and Butterfly Calendar (http://www.enchantedlearning.com/calendar/butterfly/)

back to Grade One - Animal Project Page