We say "Good-bye"

Today we let our 10 painted lady friends free...it was a bitter/sweet event for us.  We knew they had to go, but we have so enjoyed watching them. 

It was such a B.E.A.U.tiful day! We haven't had many of those lately!

Here is one final picture of our class with our "friends"!

 

Aren't they a bunch of lil' love muffins...can't believe in a few short weeks I'll be sending them off to the 1st grade!!!  This year has just flown by...

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

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"!

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.