Butterfly Fun

For yet another home school science class we captured some caterpillars and placed them in a glass jar. We made sure that the jar had holes punched in the lid. We propped the twig against the side of the jar, the chrysalis needs to hang. Next we placed some grass that was damp in the jar along with the caterpillar. Then we waited, the caterpillar created a chrysalis almost immediately. After a few days our beautiful butterflies emerged. We allowed them to adjust to flying which they did in our kitchen! Last we released them.

The Butterfly and the Caterpillar by Joseph Lauren

A butterfly, one summer morn,

Sat on a spray of blossoming thorn

And, as he sipped and drank his share

Of honey from the flowered air,

Below, upon the garden wall,

A caterpillar chanced to crawl.

Horrors! the butterfly exclaimed,

This must be stopped! I am ashamed

That such as I should have to be

In the same world with such as he.

Preserve me from such hideous things!

Disgusting shape! Where are his wings!

Fuzzy and gray! Eater of clay!

Won't someone take the worm away!

The caterpillar hunched ahead,

But, as he munched a leaf, he said,

Eight days ago, young butterfly,

You wormed about, the same as I.

Within a fortnight from today

Two wings will bear me far away

To brighter blooms and lovelier lures,

With colors that out rival yours.

So, flutter-flit, be not so proud;

Each caterpillar is endowed

With power to make him, by and by,

A blithe and brilliant butterfly.

While you, who scorn the common clay,

You, in you livery so gay

And all the gaudy moths and millers,

Are only dressed-up caterpillars.

Coloring Carnations

One of our homeschool science classes suggested coloring carnations. This helped to demonstrate how water travels upward through the stem of a plant. If you would like to try this experiment you will need the following items: glass or pint-sized jar, water, food coloring, scissors, a magnifying glass, and two or three white carnations. Fill the glass one-third full of water, and then add ten or fifteen drops of food coloring. With the scissors, trim the end of the stems before placing the flowers into the colored water. Leave the flowers in the water overnight. You will notice a change in the flowers the next day. We really enjoyed doing this experiment! It was very simple to complete!