Global Monarch Awareness Project, pt 1

I just finished the BEST project ever with my Kindergarten, 2nd, and 4th grades!  We took part in the Global Monarch Awareness Project.  This project was started to bring awareness to the plight of the Monarch Butterfly. Their habitat is diminishing, and butterflies are disappearing.  The students learned that the Monarch is in danger of being added to the Endangered Species list.  Through reading books and working through the life cycle stages of the Monarch butterfly, the students became aware of the plants needed to keep Monarchs off the list.

Below are the projects my students created.  Kindergarten began with a dot-to-dot activity that became the wings and body of each butterfly.

After connecting the dots with a crayon, students traced the lines with paint in a squeezy bottle.  The paper was folded in half, rubbed, and opened to reveal the butterfly image.  

These were set aside to dry.  Next class, we talked about butterfly wings and symmetry.  Students used black Sharpie to add "veins" or "cells" to the wings. 

Once that was complete, they could add white dots using Qtips to the edges.  Some students really got into the dot designs!

The final step (3rd class) was to carefully cut out the butterfly.  this allowed me to see who is comfortable with scissor skills and who may need a little help.  I can't leave any of these beauties out, so here are all of the Kindergarten butterflies.  They are currently "flying" around on my bulletin board and will "fly" home soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Next up: 2nd-grade Monarch Life cycle collages