The Flight of the Monarch

Grave Level: K-2nd, (Environmental Literacy) & Focus on 1st grade.

Overview: Students will learn about the Monarch butterfly's great winter migration to central Mexico. Scientists have studied over the years the phenomenon of these amazing pollinators migrating to the same location every year. It takes two to three generations of monarch butterflies to migrate north from Mexico through the U.S. up to Canada. When returning later in the year, the monarchs develop a 'Super Generation' to make the longest leg of the journey southward, for the winter migration. Students will learn how Monarch Butterflies are able to migrate south not due to parent trait but rather a natural compass internal within their body. Students will design a monarch butterfly and insert a compass. The class will learn what a compass is and how to use one to help navigate. The teacher will then guide students outside to model as the butterfly, navigating south and then north. Students will use the compass to direct its Monarch butterfly to migrate. Overall, the class as a whole will move in the same direction similar to Monarch butterflies moving to the same direction to migrate.