Monarchs at Hinchinbrooke PS

Judy Kennedy | Oct 06, 2011

Photo: Courtesy Cathy Reynolds.

Throughout the month of September students in the JK/SK class at Hinchinbrooke Public School have been learning about the life cycle of the monarch butterfly. In addition to reading information about monarchs, the children have also had the opportunity to witness the various stages of the life cycle first hand.  When school began. Five monarch caterpillars were living in a large cage in the classroom. Over the course of the month the students were able to witness each caterpillar's amazing transformation from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. Once each butterfly was able to fly, the class released it. This proved to be a very moving experience for the students and their teacher, Niki Putnam.

Watching these life cycle stages first hand helped the students to understand the information they were hearing in the books they were reading and songs they were singing.  They are now eagerly demonstrating their knowledge of the life cycle through drama, music, visual arts and writing activities.