Infants observe fluttering butterflies in their spring garden….
April showers bring May flowers – and who loves flowers more than the fluttering butterflies that come to enjoy their sweet nectar? During the last couple of weeks, our class has had the wonderful opportunity of witnessing the metamorphosis of four dainty, crawly caterpillars into beautiful monarch butterflies. It was such a treat getting to see the children’s eyes widen with wild curiosity when we first introduced them to our new caterpillar friends in their jar habitat. A chorus of “Ohs” with mouths agape instantly filled the room. Some of the children came close to observe, noses pressed against the small jar. “Ca-pilla,” Jaxson enunciated. Siena pointed at the jar and smiled. Kingston chimed in with his signature, “Whoa, cool!” Wyatt peeked inside the jar, pointed and said, “That!” The younger children were equally as curious, although they observed from afar.
As the days wore on, our caterpillars did what they do best: transform into the magnificent butterflies they were meant to be. The children helped us move them to their mesh habitat and checked in on their development daily, curious eyes observing the little changes that happened. When they finally turned into butterflies, everyone was surprised and excited. We discussed how the little caterpillars formed their cocoons and changed themselves into the fluttering butterflies that were now in the habitat. The children also helped in feeding the butterflies, adding some nectar into their feeder every day. Our butterflies are all now ready to be set free into the wild where they belong, to roam free against the wind and explore the flowers that spring has brought us. Maybe they will visit us and fly through the flowers that we have planted in our garden. It was such a pleasure to witness one of nature’s greatest mechanisms – the transformation of the caterpillar. It serves as a great reminder of the growth that our children will go through as the days pass by; a foreshadowing of changes to come.
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