3rd Grade Butterfly Observation (3) (Distinguishing Males and Females)

1. How Butterflies Grow

I wrote "How Butterflies Grow" on the blackboard.

I had the students copy the "How They Grow" section from their textbooks into their notebooks.

(1) Egg
(2) Larva
(3) Pupa
(4) Adult

The larva we were raising had turned into a pupa, so I showed it to everyone.

"Wow!"

Everyone was surprised. The real thing is always better.

2. Tracing Paper

The textbook shows illustrations of the pupa from two directions:

- A view from below
- A view from the side

It shows these two perspectives.

First, I let them choose whichever one they liked and had them trace it.

They had 10 minutes.

For students who finished early, I had them try the other one as well.

The shape of a pupa is surprisingly complex.

By tracing it, their eyes are naturally drawn to fine details they wouldn't notice just by looking.

3. Determining the Sex of Larvae

I used a PowerPoint presentation I created to explain how to tell the difference between male and female larvae.

In male cabbage white butterfly larvae, a pair of testes can sometimes be seen through the skin on their backs.

Knowing this makes it easier to give names to the larvae they are raising.

After the explanation, we observed the larvae we are actually raising.

Then, we discovered one male.

The children

“There it is!”
“You're right!”

and were absorbed in searching for them.