Walker Early Learning Center students see butterfly releases via technology

     Admittedly, it was not quite the same for the preschool and kindergarten students to see their classroom butterflies released from their teachers’ yards on ClassDojo this semester. However, the teachers made it as special as possible for the annual event that the children look forward to each year. Usually the children gather in the outdoor classroom for the releases at school.

       There were some beautiful photos and videos taken by the teachers to make it as real and as exciting as it always proves to be.  In fact, some of the scenes were quite breathtaking that the teachers had managed to capture. The bursts of spring in full bloom were very uplifting and particularly welcome. Preschool Teacher Sharon Lowe's purple scented vine that climbs up the corner of her barn made an absolutely beautiful place for a butterflies first landing. 

      “We got the butterflies right after the children were sent home for the COVID-19. So all the teachers’ took their larvae home. I thought our kiddos would be back by the sixth, but that didn’t happen. They went into their chrysalis here at my house,” explained Preschool Teacher Sharlene Prince.

      “When the butterflies started emerging I posted pictures on Dojo to share the experience with my students. My grandchildren released the butterflies and I posted that as well,” said Prince.

      Normally, the young children learn the life cycle of Monarch butterflies before they leave the chrysalis. The teachers explain to their students that one day, the caterpillar stops eating, hangs upside down from a twig or leaf and spins itself a silky cocoon or molts into a shiny chrysalis. Inside its protective casing, the caterpillar radically transforms its body, eventually emerging as a butterfly or moth.

        Each classroom had a specially made netted cage for the occasion as the students’ monitor the scientific progress. Since the students could not observe the process in their classrooms, they still got to see the butterflies emerge through technology in a memorable way to nail the concept. They had been working on related lessons coordinated with this event in their NTI packets.

PRESCHOOL CLASSES SHARE THE BUTTERFLY EXPERIENCE

Walker Early Learning Center Teacher Sharon Lowe found a beautiful landing for her preschool class' butterfly

Sharon Lowe's beautiful purple scented vine near the corner of her barn provided a safe haven for the monarch butterfly

Beautiful butterfly landing complete with sweet aroma

Preschool Teacher Whitney Burks shared her butterfly release

Whitney Burks' students saw their butterfly sunning as it tried to dry off its wing

Preschool Teacher Sharlene Prince shared her butterflies while still in netted cage

Preschool Teacher Sharlene Prince shared her butterflies while still in their netted cage enjoying the nectar from some dandelions

Sharlene Prince had three butterflies develop inside their net

Sharlene Prince's granddaughter, Chloe Prince helped with the release. She named her butterfly "Pineapple".

Sharlene Prince's grandson, three-year-old Lyric Prince was happy to participate in the release

Lyric Prince named his butterfly Buddy 

Preschool Teacher Nicki Prince showed her students the stages of development while inside the net cage

Preschool Teacher Nicki Prince shared her butterflies in the cocoon stage inside their cage

Preschool Teacher Shannon Shelton's classroom butterfly landed on a dandelion and stayed there for a long time before moving on at her release.