We left a swan plant in a pot outside and waited for a monarch butterfly to come and lay some eggs on it.
After a few days tiny baby caterpillars hatched out and ate up the egg shells. We brought them into the classroom so that they would be safe from predator wasps. They ate and ate until there were no leaves left on the swan plant then they found a place to hang in a j shape.
They hung quite peacefully like that for a while but then we saw them squirming and wriggling. The stripey skin split and out came a green chrysalis.
We could see the stripey skin at the top. Soon it dropped down like a pile of old clothes and that was the only sign left of the caterpillar.
After a few days tiny baby caterpillars hatched out and ate up the egg shells. We brought them into the classroom so that they would be safe from predator wasps. They ate and ate until there were no leaves left on the swan plant then they found a place to hang in a j shape.
They hung quite peacefully like that for a while but then we saw them squirming and wriggling. The stripey skin split and out came a green chrysalis.
The best part is when we let them fly free to find a swan plant to lay their eggs on and start the cycle all over again!
These are awesome photos Room 15. What a cool story book they would make.
ReplyDeleteJudy