Home School Magic

A few weeks ago, Woody came into the kitchen with two butterflies in his hands and told me, "Look! I saw these guys come out of their cocoons! They are just born!"  And sure enough, Woody was skateboarding on the side porch and happened to notice these butterflies emerging from their cocoons.  We were all so excited by the beauty of the experience! We watched the young butterflies, their wings too weak and wet to fly, explore all over Elwood.  He stayed calm and just let them walk around on him until they were ready to fly away.  We all examined and marveled at the details in their wings and tiny bodies.  After the beauty of the morning, we spent the rest of the week learning about the life cycle of the butterfly.  Our Maracuya Vines are covered in caterpillars right now.  Honestly, I was a little disappointed that the caterpillars were demolishing all my beautiful, and apparently delicious, big green maracuya leaves.  What was once a green wall of jungle is now just vines and fat caterpillars.  However, the home school magic of that week was well worth feeding the neighborhood caterpillar population.  We learned that the final molting of the caterpillar when he forms a protective layer around himself to prepare for his metamorphosis is NOT called a cocoon (like we are led to believe in Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar) but a chrysalis.  Woody and I are now correctly informed on all the stages in the life cycle of the butterfly; and the most amazing part of all is that we have been able to WATCH every stage.  It has been magical and exciting and very educational. . . for student and teacher! haha! 

Tohi loved the butterfly. . . On Woody.  She did NOT want to hold it.  She kept her distance.  

Eggs

Tiny Catepillars
One of Woody's favorite facts was that the caterpillars first eat their nutrient rich egg they hatch out of before they start eating leaves. 

Very Hungry Caterpillars.
Kinda gross, right?
Come on guys, spread out a little

Pupa in the Chrysalis

Butterfly

Wings strong enough to spread and flap, almost strong enough to fly away

Checking the chrysalis's each morning.  We would try and figure out which one was going to "be born" that day.  I explained to Elwood how special it was that he was able to see a butterfly emerging from the chrysalis and that I would love to see it as well! Each morning we would keep an eye on the maracuya vines but each day we kept missing it! We would keep seeing the "just born" ones, their wings all wet and weak just fluttering on the vines in the wind.  

We just missed this guy coming out of his chrysalis

Caught this guy just as he pulled himself out of his chrysalis.  His wings are still curled up.  The next few pictures were taken several minutes apart and you can see his wings getting stronger and larger as he pumps fluid through them.  (Another favorite fact of Woody's) 

Finally found one just as he was starting to exit his chrysalis! We were all SO excited!

Nature is Amazing.  
Good week in the jungle home school.

We now know it is NOT called a cocoon.  It is a chrysalis.  Thanks a lot Eric Carlyle for such misleading info at such a young age.