Skip to main content

Bringing a Sense of Wonder to the Classroom With Butterflies

Bringing a Sense of Wonder to the Classroom With Butterflies



The Monarch Teacher Network recently held a two day workshop in Meaford. Teachers from several Ontario school boards gathered at St Vincent Euphrasia Elementary to learn all about the Monarch Butterfly, a spectacular species at risk pollinator, and how to bring a sense of wonder into their classroom this September.
With support from the Toronto Region Conservation Authority and the TD Friends of the Environment, the Monarch Teachers Network volunteers brought together the story of the Monarch and education.
Participants learned about the life cycle, the scientific history of the search for Monarch over wintering sites and the proper techniques for rearing Monarchs through out their life cycle. Monarch Teacher Network was able to provide participants with the opportunity to tag Monarchs (with small specially developed stickers that have a specific identification number on them) which will allow the butterfly to be tracked through the Monarch Watch organization.
The workshop included many large scope environmental aspects such as habitat loss in Canada, the United States and Mexico, the removal of milkweed (the main diet for Monarch caterpillars) from the Ontario noxious weed list, natural predators to the Monarch, the effects of invasive species and human factors which are linked to the declining Monarch populations.
It was a great opportunity to also showcase the environmental stewardship that teachers at SVE have been leading for several years. Participants were able to release tagged butterflies into the well established butterfly garden behind the school as well as head to the back yard natural area of the school property to hunt for milkweed and caterpillars.
Workshop organizers stated that although there is a noticeable increase in the Monarch population this year, last year's decline is indicative of a worrisome trend in decreasing insect populations. The need to educate on environmental stewardship, habitat protection and climate change is extremely important. Building on the natural curiosity of children and adults is the best way to increase awareness and educate people of environmental issues on a local and a global scale.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Eradicating fatal sleeping sickness by killing off the tsetse fly

A professor of biology has lent his expertise in understanding insect movement to help shape a UN-sanctioned eradication effort of the tsetse fly -- a creature that passes the fatal African sleeping sickness to humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. The tsetse fly is the main vector for Human African Trypanosomiasis (aka sleeping sickness), and spreads the disease by biting humans or animals. The disease affects the central nervous system and is fatal if untreated. For some forms of the disease, victims can reach the terminal stage before symptoms even start to show. View the Original article
Post a Comment
Read more

YMCA campers learn to conserve Monarch butterflies

YMCA campers learn to conserve Monarch butterflies Devin Bartolotta Aug 22, 2014 9:06 p.m.    ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) - Monarch butterfly populations have been in trouble in recent years as their habitats have been destroyed by commercialization. This summer, campers at the Rochester YMCA are learning about butterflies and how they can make sure the insects are still around when they are grown ups. "You have to extend the proboscis onto the cotton ball, and if it drinks, it drinks," said camper Veronika Voss. Class is in session at the Rochester YMCA. "The kids are picking up really well with the butterflies, and the scientific processes that go into them," said camp director Patrick Franko. The kids are getting hands-on experience feeding the butterflies and making sure they're well taken care of. "This is keeping the education alive in the summer and emphasizing and encouraging their curiosity," said Monarch butterfly instructor De Cansl...
Post a Comment
Read more