Monarch Butterfly Migration: A Breathtaking Journey!
Lesson Description
Video Resource
Key Concepts
- Migration
- Habitat
- Adaptation
- Hibernation (clustering to conserve warmth)
Learning Objectives
- Students will be able to define migration and explain why monarch butterflies migrate.
- Students will be able to identify the monarch butterfly's winter habitat in Mexico.
- Students will be able to describe how monarch butterflies stay warm in the winter.
- Students will be able to understand that animals live in different habitats and have different needs to survive
Educator Instructions
- Introduction (5 mins)
Begin by asking students if they know what a monarch butterfly is and if they know anything special about them. Introduce the concept of migration in simple terms (traveling from one place to another). Explain that they will watch a video about monarch butterflies and their amazing journey. - Video Viewing (5 mins)
Play the "Watch a Breathtaking Monarch Butterfly Swarm" video from Nature on PBS (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWOySU_hAz0). Encourage students to pay attention to where the butterflies go and what they do. - Discussion (10 mins)
After the video, facilitate a discussion using the discussion questions below. Focus on reinforcing the key concepts. - Interactive Activity: Butterfly Life Cycle Model (15 mins)
Have students create a simple model of the butterfly life cycle using construction paper, cotton balls, and markers. This activity helps reinforce understanding of the butterfly's life and relates to the pollination discussion from the model standard. - Assessment: Quizzes (5 mins)
Administer the multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank quizzes to assess student understanding.
Interactive Exercises
- Butterfly Life Cycle Model
Students will create a visual representation of the butterfly life cycle (egg, caterpillar, pupa/chrysalis, butterfly) using craft supplies. This will reinforce their understanding of the butterfly's growth and change.
Discussion Questions
- Where did the monarch butterflies travel to in the video?
- Why do you think the butterflies traveled to Mexico?
- How do the butterflies keep warm?
- What did the 'spy hummingbird' do?
- Did the Hummingbird hurt the butterflies?
Skills Developed
- Observation
- Critical Thinking
- Information Recall
- Understanding of Migration patterns
Multiple Choice Questions
Question 1:
Where do the monarch butterflies go for the winter?
Correct Answer: Mexico
Question 2:
Why do the butterflies fly to a warmer place?
Correct Answer: To escape the cold
Question 3:
What helps the butterflies stay warm when they are resting?
Correct Answer: Clustering together
Question 4:
What did the 'spy hummingbird' do in the video?
Correct Answer: Watched the butterflies
Question 5:
What do butterflies eat?
Correct Answer: Nectar
Question 6:
What animal appears to spy on the Monarchs in the video?
Correct Answer: Hummingbird
Question 7:
What is the first stage of the butterfly's life?
Correct Answer: Egg
Question 8:
When butterflies are resting, they are...
Correct Answer: Clustered
Question 9:
What does it mean when something migrates?
Correct Answer: Travels far
Question 10:
From which country did the Monarch butterflies travel?
Correct Answer: Canada
Fill in the Blank Questions
Question 1:
The butterflies travel from Canada to _______ for the winter.
Correct Answer: Mexico
Question 2:
The butterflies _______ together to stay warm.
Correct Answer: cluster
Question 3:
The butterfly is able to _______ on the spy hummingbird.
Correct Answer: land
Question 4:
The butterflies in the video eat ________.
Correct Answer: nectar
Question 5:
Monarch butterflies are a kind of ________.
Correct Answer: insect
Question 6:
The butterfly has a ________.
Correct Answer: wing
Question 7:
Butterflies hatch from an _______.
Correct Answer: egg
Question 8:
The spy in the wild is a robotic _______.
Correct Answer: Hummingbird
Question 9:
The butterflies spend the whole _______ in Mexico
Correct Answer: winter
Question 10:
The Butterflies like it when it's 50 _______.
Correct Answer: degrees
Educational Standards
Teaching Materials
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