Bill Arp Elementary School students have been buzzing with excitement this fall as they learn about native pollinators and the life cycle of the monarch butterfly in their Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) Lab.
With the help of their teacher, Karen Gorzynski, the students collected 16 monarch eggs from the school’s native pollinator garden and carefully observed the changes each day.
Gorzynski said the students were thrilled as tiny caterpillars hatched and munched on milkweed harvested from the garden. Day by day, they watched the caterpillars grow larger, until one by one, each formed a chrysalis.
Fascination spread across the entire school, earning the project the nickname “Monarch Madness,” Gorzynski said.
Fifteen of the 16 chrysalises opened to reveal healthy, beautiful monarch butterflies — seven males and eight females. Students learned that these butterflies will soon begin an incredible journey, flying thousands of miles to central Mexico, where they will hibernate for the winter in the mountain forests, Gorzynski said.
“Through this hands-on project, children gained not only scientific knowledge but also a sense of wonder and responsibility for the natural world,” Gorzynski said. “The monarch butterfly life cycle has truly come alive for them, making this a learning experience they will not soon forget.