Cycles and Patterns: Insects, Plants, and Caterpillars

For our insect study, each child chose an insect they wanted to research independently. The children drew a picture of their insect and labeled its parts. Finally, the children created a clay model of their insect.

We read “Diary of a Worm”, a book looking at daily life from the perspective of a worm. Each child created a diary writing daily entries from the perspective of the insect her or she was studying.

As part of the insect study, we also raised caterpillars and watched them go through the cycle of egg-caterpillar–pupa-butterfly. Each child illustrated one part of the cycle.

We also explored plants and seeds this year. We sprouted a bean in a plastic bag. We took apart a plant and looked at its parts. We also took a trip to the Carlsbad Flower Fields, a commercial flower farm. As a class, we created a poster showing the four things a plants needs to grow: water, sun, soil, and air.

Finally, we had a discussion about the parallels between the lifecycles of plants and butterflies.

They both need food. – Sara

They both need sunlight; the plants needs it to grow and the butterfly needs it to dry its wings. – J.P. and Brooklynn

They both need water. –Cole

They both need air. –Deaven

They both repeat over and over and over again. – Josiah

They both make babies – the butterfly makes a caterpillar and the plant makes a seed. –Pierce

The plant comes out of the seed shell and the butterfly comes our of the pupa shell – Casey