Butterfly Action!

Isn't nature just amazing? I am sure you have heard about all the excitement in 1/2 Y the past few weeks! I have throughly enjoyed this unit! (as you can probably tell)... and I think the kids may have as well! :)
We have been amazed to see the lifecycle of the monarch take place right before our very eyes. I have been learning just as much as the kids! We have seen our caterpillars getting bigger by the day by munching on milkweed. Once they are ready to turn into a butterfly they hang into a j shape as they prepared to make their chrysalis. Although we were at recess when they started to transform we loved seeing it on video. Each day we have arrived, we have been eager to check out our butterfly habitat to see if there were any changes overnight. We learned that when the monarch is ready to emerge their chrysalis goes from green to black and then becomes translucent. This stage takes about 10-14 days before the butterfly is ready to hatch. Unfortunately our butterfly friends decided to spring into action while we were at recess- both times! Today we had to say goodbye to our butterflies- we were filled with mixed emotions. We said "adios" as they flew off on their long journey to Mexico. Did you know that butterflies migrate about 3,000 miles each fall to a warmer climate for winter?!? Amazing!