Signs of Spring in Warren
Warren Township Schools
Grade 2 Mt. Horeb Gators recently finished a unit of study on the butterfly lifecycle. Students from Mrs. Lindsay Rosenberg’s, Ms. Kathleen Haydu’s, and Mrs. Catherine Maguire’s classes received butterfly kits donated by the Mt. Horeb Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).
Upon receiving the kits, the students and teachers observed the tiny caterpillars in their larvae stage. According to Rosenberg, “We were able to watch the caterpillars eat the mushed mallow and couldn’t believe how big they grew. We observed the caterpillars molt four times and then transition into j-form. This meant they were about to molt into their chrysalis or the pupa stage!”
After about one week, the butterflies emerged from their chrysalises in their adult stage. The students loved monitoring their progress. On a beautiful day in early May, the lovely butterflies were ready to be released into their natural habitat.
Students sat in a large circle on the blacktop and eagerly awaited as Haydu opened the butterfly net. The three teachers were able to gently pick up the butterflies so the students could have a closer look. Some students were lucky enough to have a butterfly in their hands or even land on their shirts. It was a magical moment for all!
After about 15 minutes the butterflies became acclimated to their new environment and began to fly away. The students were excited to watch and run with the graceful insects until they were out of reach.
Thank you to the Mt. Horeb PTO for supplying the students with the appropriate materials for a wonderful learning experience.
