Studying the process of metamorphosis by monarch butterflies has been part of an integrated Lower School curriculum for more than 30 years. In September, Grade 3 students observed this extraordinary transformation and released the butterflies into the wilds of Stuyvesant Square. Like the butterflies, students have embarked on a journey of their own.
As scientists, they learned patience and how to record their observations. Grade 3 teacher Courtney Retzler comments, “They are seeing something that many people don’t get to see or take the time to see. It is a chance for them to make their own discoveries.”
Students compared the anatomy of the caterpillar and butterfly to the Walking Stick insects in their classrooms. They studied maps to understand their migratory path and learned the difference between natural and political boundaries. Their butterflies have been tagged as part of the University of Kansas Monarch Watch Program, which has given them exposure to the role of technology in protecting nature.
Students are also participating in the Symbolic Migration. Courtney explains, “More than 25,000 students decorate and mail paper Monarch Butterflies to students in Mexico that are mailed back in the Spring, as a metaphorical migration. It’s a wonderful cross-cultural connection, one that helps to maintain our interest throughout the year,”
Through an extensive collection of books, students are also learning how non-fiction differs from fiction. Grade 3 teacher John Behling comments, “It’s an exciting curriculum that brings students together in profound ways. At the same time, it's rigorous and sets the stage for higher expectations with multiple pathways for students to participate and succeed.”
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