During the first few weeks of school we were fortunate to have 2 monarch capterpillars in our classroom, which served as a springboard for our first science unit focused on the needs of living things. We watched them carefully as they grew and changed, making note of things we noticed and wondered, and thinking about what they would need to survive. Some of our observations included:

• the caterpillars were black, yellow, and white
• they eat milkweed
• they can crawl upside down
• they shed their skin
• eventually they hang in a "j" when they are ready to become chrysalises
• at first the chrysalises are green, then they darken

Earlier this week both butterflies emerged. We revisited the question of what they would need to survive after their change from caterpillar to butterfly, noting that while we could provide them with water and air, eventually it would be hard to supply them with nectar for food, and certainly the space we had for them as caterpillars was no longer adequate once they were butterflies. With good wishes for a safe trip we released them so they could begin their journey south.