They're Emerging!!!! "Wait...what's that red stuff?"

Today was our first day back after our four day Spring/Easter Break and mMy lil' love muffins were sooooo excited to see me!  They had missed me so much...or at least that is what I thought!  But to my surprise (O.K. maybe I knew) some of our Painted Lady butterflies had emerged from their chrysalises!  There were even a couple that emerged during the day while we weren't looking (actually while we were out of the classroom).  We decided we were probably too noisy.  It was a very exciting day in Ms. Schatz's Kindergarten!!!

"What's that red stuff?"  "Are the butterflies bleeding?"
Those are two questions that my Kindergarteners just HAD to know the answer to!  You may be wondering, too.  That "red stuff" is called meconium.  It's left over coloring from the butterfly's wings.

Since we didn't get to see the butterflies emerging, I went to youtube (one of my teaching "BFF's")and found an awesome video clip of a painted lady emerging from it's chrysalis.  The kids LOVED it!

Painted Lady Butterfly Emergence

Surprise Egg Toss

Today, Mrs. Morgan (one of my Kindergarten teaching buddies) surprised our classes with an egg toss!  The students had a great time!  Thank you, Mrs. Morgan 

A New Home

Today we moved our chrysalides from the plastic cups to our butterfly pavilion.  Hopefully in about 7 days we will have 10 painted lady butterflies.  I'm also hoping (and praying) that they do not emerge before we get back from our "spring break"!

GREAT Idea I've Just Got to SHARE...wish I'd found it sooner!!!

O.K. so I was doing my usually blogstalking this evening and I came across Mrs. Kimbrell's Kindergarten Kids...I'll be adding her to my frequently stalked blog list...anywho, she and her students are having ABC Days to end the school year.  I mean, really, how what better way to end Kindergarten then to celebrate the alphabet one letter at a time?!?!  I am DEFINITELY going to do this with my class and hope that my partners in crime teaching partners will want to participate, too!  Couple things: 1. Convince my partners this is going to be F.U.N.  2. Give my parents a little notice (Easter break should be good).  So we'll start on Tuesday...that leaves only 18 days (and some of them are special days-Reading Counts Party, Field Day, End of School Outing) so we'll have to double up some days, but it is still TOTALLY doable!

If you L.O.V.E. this idea as much as I do, head on over to Mrs. Kimbrell's Kindergarten Kids and check it out!  I can't wait to participate...I'm already planning my crazy hair and mismatched clothes!  What an awesome way to end an AWESOME year!!!  Thanks Mrs. Kimbrell

Mrs. Kimbrell's Kindergarten



Monday Morning Surprise!

My love muffins were all kinds of excited this morning when they went over to our caterpillars and saw our caterpillars hanging from the top of the cup (except for one late bloomer who was still crawling around).  A few had already formed their chrysalis and the rest were hanging in the "j" shape.  Student butterfly journals were awesome this morning!!!  Their excitement definitely transferred into their writing!  I was also very surprised to see that a few of the students even edited their work w/out any encouragement from me!  I just love Monday Surprises!!!

Obervation Station

I LOVE the excitement my muffins are showing toward our growing caterpillars!  I was bombarded with students wanting me too see how much they have grown...OVERNIGHT!!!  They are even excited to journal about what they are observing...even my more reluctant writers!  During the "observation station" students are using magnifying glasses to get a better look at what's going on inside the cups.  Student groups are asking great questions and lots of converstations about the life cycle they are watching!

The pics below are of a few students using magnifying glasses to get "a better look" at our caterpillars.  I love how they put the glass right up to their eye.  So cute!!!

Our Caterpillars Have Arrived!

Yesterday afternoon our Painted Lady caterpillars arrived this afternoon! (A week early, but I'll just have to make it work.)  Anywho, my lil love muffins are very excited and can't wait until I officially introduce them.  This is one of my favorite units to teach.  You can do so much with the life cycle of butterflies.  The students LOVE learning about and watching the life cycle.

Hello Blogging World!

This is my first official post on my very own blog!  While I am not new to blogs, I must admit...I'm a blog stalker and have many favorite blogs that I visit DAILY, but this will my first attempt at creating my own blog!  I am very excited to get a classroom blog started.  I want to use it to connect w/my students' families and with fellow educators!