Monarchs and Milkweed (3rd - 6th) | Series 8, Lesson #3

Monarchs and Milkweed

Key Topics: Metamorphosis, Symbiotic Relationships, Migration, Endangered Species, Life Cycle, Insects

Grade Level: 3rd - 6th

Lesson Bridge:

Connect this lesson (3) with Flower Power (2) by reminding students that last week we learned about the interdependence of pollinators and flowers. See if students can recall flower anatomy and which types of pollinators prefer which types of flowers. This week, we are going to learn about a particular (and very important) relationship between a certain plant and insect species.

Lesson Overview:

Students will identify and observe insects and learn about their common characteristics. They will also learn about the life cycle of Monarch butterflies and the relationship between Milkweed and Monarchs. Afterwards, they will plant a monarch habitat at their school and learn about how increasing habitat helps to protect Monarch butterflies!

Learning Objectives:

3-LS4-4 Make a claim about the merit of a solution to a problem caused when the environment changes and the types of plants and animals that live there may change.
3-LS4-3 Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.

Essential Question(s) that Connect CCCs and SEPs:

What effect has human activity had on monarch butterflies and their habitats? (Cause & Effect; Asking Questions & Defining Problems)
What problems do monarchs face? What are some solutions to these problems?(Cause & Effect; Constructing an Explanation & Designing Solutions)
What are the functions of the different parts of a butterfly's structure (E.g. Long tongue to suck nectar). (Structure & Function; Obtaining, Evaluating & Communicating Information)

Vocabulary:

Metamorphosis- The process of change that some animals go through to become adults.

Symbiotic Relationships- A close relationship between two different species or kinds of organisms.

Migration- When animals move locations on a regular cycle, or at certain times of the year.

Endangered Species- A species of plant or animal that is at risk of becoming extinct (no longer existing).

Life Cycle- A series of stages a living thing goes through during its life.

Insects- A small animal whose body is divided into three parts.

Materials:

Milkweed starts or seeds
At least 6 Trowels
Watering can(s)
Printed out Monarch Life Cycle Worksheet
Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle Document
Different Climates, Different Habitats Series Garden Journal (optional)

Prep:

Print out Monarch Life Cycle worksheets. 30+ copies per classroom
Print out one or two demonstrational copies of the Monarch Life Cycle Worksheet or draw on the board
Print out garden journals (optional)
Walk around your garden or campus, and see if you can find any cocoons, eggs, Milkweed for caterpillars.
Procure Milkweed plants or starts (note: *Very Important - make sure you are planting the correct Milkweed for your region. Refer to Save Our Monarchs for a complete guide).
Have planting stations ready to go with all Milkweed starts or seeds prepped. Because Milkweed is a perennial, we do not encourage planting within raised garden beds. Find somewhere safe in the ground and add a little compost to ensure its success!

Activity Procedure:

Engage:

What are insects? Are butterflies insects? What kind of butterflies have you seen? Do you think butterflies live in our garden? Who can name a very special type of butterfly that is becoming endangered? (Monarch)

Explore:

Pass out the Butterfly Life Stage worksheet for students to fill out along with clipboards and pencils. Walk students through the 4 stages and instruct them to label the stages on their sheets. Once everyone has filled out the worksheet, allow five minutes for students to explore the garden and see if they can locate any eggs, caterpillars, cocoons/chrysalis, and/or butterflies.

Explain:

Butterflies are amazing! They live a part of their lives crawling on the ground as caterpillars and a part of their lives flying in the air, after they metamorphosis within a cocoon. They also help the flowers in our garden by pollinating them. In order to make flower seeds so that there can be flowers next year, plants need to have pollen carried to their flowers from other flowers, and this is what butterflies do when they drink nectar. An important butterfly to learn about when living in our area is the Monarch butterfly. They are orange and black and migrate hundreds of miles every year. Using the Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle Document, talk through the Monarch life cycle. Do you think you’ve ever seen a Monarch Butterfly? There used to be more Monarch butterflies then there are now. The reason for this is habitat loss. When people build on an area or make farms they often get rid of native plants in the process. There is only one type of plant that caterpillars eat, called Milkweed (share a sample or photo of Milkweed).

Milkweed is actually poisonous to most animals but Monarch caterpillars are tolerant to the poison. When they eat it, they become poisonous too and this protects them from other animals that might want to eat them! We can help protect Monarch caterpillars by planting Milkweed in our gardens to make a habitat for them. Define the remaining vocabulary words.

Action: Milkweed planting

Review your Garden Agreements
Divide students into groups or, if you have enough seeds or plant starts, allow each student to have their own.
Demonstrate how to plant a seed or plant start in the ground.
Give each group one Milkweed start or seeds and invite them to find somewhere in the garden to plant it (you can designate good locations beforehand).
Explain that even though Milkweed is a native plant, it needs water to get established. Pass the watering can around to the groups and let each student take turns watering!

Reflect:

How does planting Milkweed in the garden help Monarch butterflies? What would happen if there was no Milkweed in the world? Who can remember the 4 life stages of a butterfly? Why are butterflies so important for our garden?

Extension Activities:

Visit the Monarch butterfly groves in Pismo
Watch this Monarchs and Milkweed video
Color in the Monarch Life Cycle Worksheet
Make a monarch butterfly life cycle booklet with a cover page and title. Color in and label pages
Raise monarch caterpillars or silk worms to observe the life cycles of butterflies.
Map butterflies and milkweed you see https://www.monarchmilkweedmapper.org/