Third grade has recently wrapped up our study on Monarch butterflies.  During Module 6 students were asked to complete the following performance task:

Monarch Migration– Monarch butterflies travel south to warmer locations such as Mexico and Baja, California so they can survive the cold winters. The migration trip is what helps them survive and feed their families. But, as the human population increases along these migration routes, there are new challenges for these butterflies. There are actions that communities can do that will help to make sure that monarch butterflies can continue to migrate. Our third graders will pretend to naturalists who study animals, such as insects, in their homes or habitats.  Many naturalists are worried that the habitats of monarch butterflies are changing and therefore the butterflies then disappearing. Our goal is to inform people about the monarch butterfly life cycles and migration habits and give our opinion or make an argument to convince them about the best actions the public can take to ensure monarch butterflies survive. People who live in the towns or cities that are located along the flight path need to know more about what they can do to make sure the monarch butterfly can survive their journey.

This learning inspired our students to plant our very own Butterfly Garden at Brecknock.  The Butterfly Garden is located in the Memorial Garden courtyard underneath the third grade classroom windows.  It includes a variety of annual flowers which will provide nectar to adult butterflies. Each student planted one. We also scattered seeds to grow perennials including milkweed (a necessity for Monarch caterpillars). The students in Mrs. Muhr’s Language Arts class also created some informational fact cards to help inform visitors about Monarch butterflies. We hope you’ll stop by the garden and check it out!