Lifecycles of Butterflies
Lesson 2
Caring for Caterpillars
Students learn how to care for caterpillars and record observations.
3. Lesson set up and Management
Know that most living things need food, water, and air- Observe and record that most living things need water, food and air. (Concepts and Principles 1-1.3.8)
Know that plants and animals need a place to live- observe and show organisms live in specific places and describe how animals depend on plants or animals for food. (Systems 1-1.3.10)
Caterpillars have four basic needs: air, water, food, and shelter.
3. Lesson set up and Management
Materials:
Activity Sheet 1 needs to be copied if it will be used instead of a science notebook page or if it is to be inserted in a science notebook. There is a one-ounce cup with a lid with air holes. Tissue is placed over the opening under the lid. Children should not handle the caterpillars directly as they can be easily damaged. Instead, an adult will use a clean paintbrush to snag the caterpillar and put it in the cup after caterpillar food has been added.
Procedure:
The students prepare the cups with caterpillar food. Students then use their hand lenses as well as their senses of touch and smell to observe the "mallow mush" food. The teacher or other adult uses a paintbrush to gently snag or herd the caterpillars into each student cup. Students then use the hand lenses again to observe the caterpillars. Students should not handle the caterpillars as they are easily damaged. Students should observe the caterpillar within the cup before putting the lid on.
Student Management:
It is possible to have students get their own cup, one teaspoon of caterpillar food, lid, tissue and hand lens. It is a good idea to demonstrate what one teaspoon of food looks like so that they don't get too much or too little. It is easier to add or remove food if they don't get an appropriate amount before the caterpillars are introduced.
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Mashing caterpillar food into a cup with a spoon and another cup.
After the first few students get their caterpillar food and observe it, begin to distribute the caterpillars. That way some students will be observing food, or caterpillars while others are getting their caterpillar food. This will keep all students involved in some part of the activity.
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Students observe the mallow "mush" while the teacher uses a paintbrush to "herd" caterpillars into another student's cup. |
It can be helpful to have another adult (like a parent helper) assist with disseminating the caterpillars.
There are always extra caterpillars, and a terrarium with a gapless lid is a great way to manage the extras. It is a good idea to have some small sticks and twigs in the terrarium so caterpillars have something besides the lid to attach the chrysalis to.
Background Information: The food that is shipped with the caterpillars is made from plants that are their natural food. Malva neglecta or round leaved mallow is one of these plants and it is a common weed plant that is present in most places. This mallow is a sprawling plant with rounded or heart shaped leaves that are scalloped. The butterflies prefer to lay their eggs on these leaves and this provides the newly hatched caterpillars with immediate food.
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Mallow is everywhere…even on the playground.
Writing Support:
While it is possible to use the provided Activity Sheet 1, a richer writing experience can be provided by giving the students sentence starters such as: The food feels….. The food smells….. The food looks….
Another possibility is to give the students a writing prompt such as: Describe the caterpillar food. Be sure to tell how it looks, smells and feels.
Reading Support:
No reading support for this lesson.