WebQuest by:
Shemica Turney
Introduction
| Task | Sources |
Process | Guidance
| Conclusions
In this lesson, students will explore
the life cycle of a butterfly through multi-sensory activities. The students
will discover each stage as the butterfly transforms from an egg, to a
caterpillar, then to a cocoon or chrysalis, and, finally, into a butterfly.
1. PK.1 Uses
senses to explore classroom materials and natural phenomena.
1. PK.2 Uses
tools for investigation.
1. PK.3
Makes comparisons among objects that have been observed.
1. PK.4
Seeks answers to questions through active exploration.
1. PK.5
Expresses wonder and asks questions about the natural world.
Task
Descriptions
Students
will learn to identify the four stages of a butterfly’s life cycle.
Students
will be able to put the four stages in order.
Students
will be able to create a butterfly using pasta.
The teacher
will provide the butterfly pattern. Students will use spiral pasta-caterpillar,
shell pasta-chrysalis, bow-tie pasta-butterfly, and small pasta representing an
egg.
Earth’s birthday
project. (1997). Retrieved March 21, 2008, from http://www.earthsbirthday.org/butterflies/bflys/activitykit/unit4-j.html
Mikula Web Solutions. (1995). The butterfly
website. Retrieved March 21, 2008, from http://cse.unl.edu/~scotth/moths-butterflies.html
Howard Hughes Medical Institute. (2008). Where do butterflies come from? Retrieved April 4, 2008, from http://www.hhmi.org/coolscience/butterfly/index.html
Carle, E. (2008). Museum of picture book art. Retrieved April 8, 2008, from http://www.eric-carle.com/
· Ask the students what they know about butterflies. Have they ever seen
one? Have they ever touched one? What did it look like? Was it colorful?
· Ask the students if they know what the butterfly was before it was a
butterfly?
· What do caterpillars look like? How do you think they got to be
caterpillars? What do they feel like? Are they furry? Slimy?
· How does a caterpillar turn into a butterfly?
· Discuss or show a picture of a chrysalis.
· The book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle can be used, or I
have cards depicting each stage of a butterfly.
· Chant a few times, egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly;
have a few volunteers come up and put the life cycle cards in order.
· Divide the students into groups. Explain to the students that they will
rotate to each station.
Group 1
Complete a worksheet: Cut
out the pictures and place them in order.
Group 2
The students will create
the butterfly life cycle by using pasta. They will use spiral pasta-caterpillar,
shell pasta-chrysalis, bow-tie pasta-butterfly, and small pasta representing an
egg. Have butterfly
patterns ready, and you may want to have divided them into four sections. Show
the students an example before they begin, so they are sure they know what
order to go in (left to right).
Group 3
The students will visit
the following websites and links to view different types of butterflies and the
life cycle stages.
http://cse.unl.edu/~scotth/moths-butterflies.html
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/
http://bsi.montana.edu/web/kidsbutterfly/life-cycle
|
|
|
|
|
Group 4
The students will listen to The Very Hungry
Caterpillar on tape.
Group 5
The students will paint on one side of the paper,
fold the paper over, and create a symmetric butterfly.
Whole Group
The students will complete a reflection of the
activity in a journal by drawing pictures and writing about the stages.
Reflections
Purpose: The purpose of the WebQuest is to give the students
an opportunity to learn more about the butterflies. The students learn how caterpillars
transform into butterflies. It allows them to access information on the website
and view pictures of the butterflies and their life cycle.
Preceding:
The preceding of the WebQuest, the teacher can take the students to the school
library to find books about different butterflies. The teacher will read the
story, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, the day before.
Ensuing: After the completion of the task, the students will be able to
put the life cycle stages in the correct order. The students will reflect in their
journals and provide information that they have learned.
This
WebQuest can improve learning because it gives the students hands-on
experience. It provides them with websites to learn more information about the
life cycle of butterflies.
Expansion:
To expand this WebQuest the teacher can purchase caterpillars and allow
students to observe as the caterpillars grow and change.
The students have learned about the
four life cycle stages of a butterfly. The teacher will start the lesson by asking
a variety of question about the butterfly. The teacher will show pictures of
the different stages. The teacher will introduce The Very Hungry Caterpillar, then have students
say a chant, and divide them into groups. They have created a butterfly life
cycle by using different types of pasta, completed a life cycle worksheet,
learned information about each stage by visiting the websites and links
provided, created a symmetric butterfly using different colored paint, listened
to The Hungry Caterpillar on tape, and completed a reflection in their
journals. The students completed the above activities in groups and rotated to
the different station. The teacher was there to monitor the rotation and
provided assistance when needed.