Caterpillars & Butterflies. Oh! My!

I love spring! It’s a fact. Every year I
take my student’s
to the Zoo. We are lucky enough to be with in a 45-minute trip to the wonderful
Columbus Zoo. They have school rates so it is a way for my students to be able
to enjoy the zoo and see all sorts of exotic animals when they normally would
not get that chance.

It
is usually the big capper to my animals unit. They have loved it.

This
year, due to budget restrictions, we weren’t allowed to rent a school bus to
take us. I was quite bummed.
After racking my brain for a while I decided that I could still do it, and
instead of taking them to the zoo, I would bring a little bit of the zoo to
them. Well, the insect part, at least. If you know me, you know I am NOT a fan
of creepy crawlies, anything icky sticky, or wonderfully weird, UNLESS it is
kept far away in a cage, or some other sort of contraption, which lets it not
get to me. Especially Birds. I dislike them. I refuse to go into the open bird
sanctuary at the Zoo. I’m terrified. For Real. But enough about that…

So
I stopped by the Franklin Park Conservatory and purchased two caterpillars. You
can buy them online too. They are just cheaper to find them at a local
conservatory. (Don’t have to pay for shipping)

So
any who, I bought two. I figured that way we would have a 50/50 chance of at
least one of the making in to be a butterfly.

I
have pictures to share of Course!

(Side Note: Don’t judge me and my messy desk. I said I like being organized, not that I am actually organized!)

I’m
happy to say they are still both alive a week later. They are there little
caterpillar selves. One of them even survived being thrown…. (Yes. He was thrown. Not by me. By a student. We
occasionally have behaviors, and well if you are going to have students
complete a caterpillar observation journal when they HATE fine motor work,
well, you may have a few behaviors now and then.) We try not to harm them.
We’ve learned how to handle the vials that they come in, so here’s hoping that
on Monday they have changed into a chrysalis. Fingers Crossed. =

Here
is a link to my TPT Packet on Butterflies.

Look
at it! It’s pretty cool, if I do say so myself.

Now,
Here is a wonderful handwriting freebie. I have a paid Version of this in my store which includes 100 sentences of handwriting practice. 

But
here is a sample for free. This is recommended by Occupational Therapists for
students who need help with letter writing. I hope you check it out!

Have
a Happy Spring Weekend!