Here are some closed boxes.
Here are the same boxes opened up.
This is what the empty chrysalis inside the box looks like.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Making A Chrysalis Box
Everyone made a special box for their empty chrysalis. We used origami paper and folded a bottom and a lid for the box. Then we used paper and pencil crayons to make a Painted Lady butterfly to sit on top of the box.
We also put some shiny gold paper shapes on the sides to remind us of the metallic gold spots on the outside of the chrysalis.
We also put some shiny gold paper shapes on the sides to remind us of the metallic gold spots on the outside of the chrysalis.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Reflecting On Our Research Project
We wrote about what we liked best about the research project and what we would do next time to make it even better.
Our last butterfly outside in the grass.
Our Last Day With The Butterflies
When does the butterfly squirt out the blood?
My theory is when the wings dry off.
My favourite part was releasing the butterflies because it was fun to see the butterlies fly.
I liked doing the butterfly project.
My favourite part of the project was tasting the Gatorade because it was cool that we got to taste what nectar sort of tastes like.
-The Numbers Team
The eggs have a type of food for the caterpillars to eat.
Painted Lady butterflies look like Monarh butterflies.
-- The Pokemon Team
One of the butterflies looks like it is sick because it didn't pump its wing properly. There was one caterpillar that passed away before it turned into a chrysalis. My theory is when a butterfly comes out of its chrysalis it shows its tongue. One of the butterflies had a chrysalis stuck to its wing so we took it outside and later we saw that it was gone.
Why do butterflies drink nectar?
My theory is because it is a drink that is healthy for butterflies so it can make eggs and makes more butterflies.
How does a butterfly makes eggs to be a mom?
My theory is because an egg grows inside the stomach and comes out and it hatches and eats the shell.
- The Butterfly Team
My favourite part was taking the butterflies outside and letting them free because it was fun watching them fly away.
My favourite part was when the butterflies kept landing on the cement because we got a closer look at the butterflies wing.
- The Beta Team
My favourite part was when we made the butterfly model because I never used oil pastels before and it was fun.
It is sad that we have to stop doing research because we had so much fun when we were doing research and watching our caterpillars grow into butterflies.
- The Pandas
My favourite part was when we drank Gatorade because it was sweet and sour.
My favourite part of the project was letting the butterflies and chasing them because it was so much fun to chase them and watch them go out.
- The Butterfly Twins
Are butterflies and moths related?
My theory is they are because they kind of look the same in a way.
The Painted Lady is from North America and Europe.
- The A Team
My favourite part was when we got to release the butterflies because everybody chased them and we followed where they went.
Some butterflies can only eat ants and termites. The Painted Lady is one of them.
-The Japanese Team
Caterpillars have six arms and ten legs. I got it from a book.
The largest butterfly is 28 cm. I don't know the name.
- The Spike Team
My theory is when the wings dry off.
My favourite part was releasing the butterflies because it was fun to see the butterlies fly.
I liked doing the butterfly project.
My favourite part of the project was tasting the Gatorade because it was cool that we got to taste what nectar sort of tastes like.
-The Numbers Team
The eggs have a type of food for the caterpillars to eat.
Painted Lady butterflies look like Monarh butterflies.
-- The Pokemon Team
One of the butterflies looks like it is sick because it didn't pump its wing properly. There was one caterpillar that passed away before it turned into a chrysalis. My theory is when a butterfly comes out of its chrysalis it shows its tongue. One of the butterflies had a chrysalis stuck to its wing so we took it outside and later we saw that it was gone.
Why do butterflies drink nectar?
My theory is because it is a drink that is healthy for butterflies so it can make eggs and makes more butterflies.
How does a butterfly makes eggs to be a mom?
My theory is because an egg grows inside the stomach and comes out and it hatches and eats the shell.
- The Butterfly Team
My favourite part was taking the butterflies outside and letting them free because it was fun watching them fly away.
My favourite part was when the butterflies kept landing on the cement because we got a closer look at the butterflies wing.
- The Beta Team
My favourite part was when we made the butterfly model because I never used oil pastels before and it was fun.
It is sad that we have to stop doing research because we had so much fun when we were doing research and watching our caterpillars grow into butterflies.
- The Pandas
My favourite part was when we drank Gatorade because it was sweet and sour.
My favourite part of the project was letting the butterflies and chasing them because it was so much fun to chase them and watch them go out.
- The Butterfly Twins
Are butterflies and moths related?
My theory is they are because they kind of look the same in a way.
The Painted Lady is from North America and Europe.
- The A Team
My favourite part was when we got to release the butterflies because everybody chased them and we followed where they went.
Some butterflies can only eat ants and termites. The Painted Lady is one of them.
-The Japanese Team
Caterpillars have six arms and ten legs. I got it from a book.
The largest butterfly is 28 cm. I don't know the name.
- The Spike Team
Monday, May 28, 2007
An Emerging Butterfly
This butterfly just came out of the chrysalis. One of its wings is stuck inside. We tried to get it off but part of the chrysalis was still stuck. We took it outside to see if it could still fly. When we looked after recess it was gone. I think the wind blew it away. I think it flew away.
Here are five butterflies.Sunday, May 27, 2007
Setting Free The First Ten Butterflies
In this picture the butterflies are in the cage waiting to come out. The cage is outside and it is open so the butterflies can come out. When we opened the cage the butterflies the didn't come out right away. We got them out by using a stick. We got the stick and put it in the cage and got a butterfly to crawl on the stick.
Here is a butterfly that is on a branch. It is outside the class. We put it on the stick by putting the stick in the cage and letting the butterfly crawl on. After this picture was taken it flew away. It flew away really fast and high.* The Pokemon Team
In this picture the children were chasing the butterflies to see where they were going. They are running because the butterflies were moving so fast and moving up in the air. We were surprised they went so fast when they got out of the cage because we never saw butterflies go so fast before. One of the butterflies in the cage was hiding. It looked like it didn't want to come out but it did.
- The Butterfly Team
Our Paper Butterfly Models
Here are the bright parts of the butterfly. The bright colours attract the other butterflies and that's how they show off to other animals. It was easy to make the model because we had to just draw one wing and then we folded the paper and then we cut it.It looks very cool. These are models of the Painted Lady butterflies. We used thin cardboard, glue gun, oil pastels and a chopstick. We used plastercine to stick the butterflies up. The colours look like a Monarch butterfly on the top side.
* Comments by the Butterfly Twins and The Japanese Team
Here are the undersides of the paper butterflies that we made. The colours on the underside have to be dull because on the Painted Lady butterflies are dull. The colours are grey, white, tan and black.
These models were made using thick paper, oil pastels, chopsticks and we used clay to hold the models straight up. The hardest part of making the model was cutting it up. The best part was colouring it and making it fly after we glued the chopstick on.
*Comments by The Spike Team and The A Team
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Extra Photos From Day 23
Here are three butterflies in the cage.
This shows a butterfly upside down. This is the top side of the butterfly because it has bright colours.
This picture shows the body very well. The colours make the edges of the wings look curvy.
This shows the underside of the butterfly. We know this because the colours are duller. It is upside down. The antennae look like the antennae of a car because it has something that looks like a ball on the end of it.* comments from the Butterfly Twins and The Japanese Team
More Photos of the New Butterflies
In this picture a butterfly has just come out of the chrysalis. We know this because its wings are not straightened out yet and are all crumpled up.
The photo shows the underneath of the wings. We know this because the colours are dull. You can see the antenna with what looks like an antenna on a car because it has a ball like stuff on top of the antenna.
This shows the insect blood. This comes from the butterfly after it comes out of the chrysalis. The butterfly uses this blood to straighten out its wings. It's on the side of the cage because the butterfly doesn't need this blood anymore and flushes it out of its wings.
* comments by The PandasDay 23 - Six Butterflies Have Come Out Now
Today there are six butterflies in the cage. There are many stains of blood on the netting of the cage.
The Painted Lady butterflies can walk upside down. Maybe their legs are sticky. The red blood is the butterfly's blood. The science word for Painted Lady butterfly is Vanessa cardui (Latin). Today we saw the butterfly's tongue. It looks like a spiral and there is like a slot by it's chin to put it back in.
- The Pokemon Team
Why do Painted Lady butterflies look like Monarch butterflies?
My theory is because they are a relative of the Monarch.
My butterfly came out yesterday.
I wonder if the blood in the butterflies is the same blood as in humans?
My theory is that they don't have the same blood because a human is a person and a butterfly is an insect.
Where does the blood come from that we see on the cage?
My theory is that the blood comes out from the wings.
- The Numbers Team
Some butterflies can look poisonous but they are not. I got this information from a book. The painted lady butterfly see more shades of green than people do. Male butterflies have a smaller abdomen (body) than females. The red stuff is a chemical that they get rid of. I got this information from a website.
- The A Team
Now we have four more butterflies. They are from caterpillars 8, 15, 9, and one of the extra caterpillars.
Does a butterfly keep its caterpillar body?
I think they do keep it because the butterfly body looks like a caterpillar.
The butterfly comes out of the chrysalis at night when there is no wind or rain when they are in nature. I got that fact from a book.
- The Spike Team
How many days is the butterfly has to be in the chrysalis?
I saw it took one week and and one day for our caterpillars.
Why do they call it the Painted Lady butterfly?
I think because it's kind of colourful when the sun shines on it.
I researched that a butterfly is an insect.
- The Japanese Team
I wonder why the butterfly's like sweet stuff?
I think that they like sweet stuff because it gives them more energy to fly and because they like it.
Why do they call it the Painted Lady butterfly?
I think that the Painted Lady butterfly is called that because it looks like the wings were painted.
The butterflies are very small and like to fly in the cage.
-The Butterfly Twins
Why do our butterflies pour out their blood from their bodies?
My theory is that they can't fly with that much load and so they need to get rid of that extra blood.
Did you know it takes 8 weeks for some caterpillars to turn into butterflies?
-The Pandas
There are six butterflies in the cage.
- The Beta Team
The Painted Lady butterflies can walk upside down. Maybe their legs are sticky. The red blood is the butterfly's blood. The science word for Painted Lady butterfly is Vanessa cardui (Latin). Today we saw the butterfly's tongue. It looks like a spiral and there is like a slot by it's chin to put it back in.
- The Pokemon Team
Why do Painted Lady butterflies look like Monarch butterflies?
My theory is because they are a relative of the Monarch.
My butterfly came out yesterday.
I wonder if the blood in the butterflies is the same blood as in humans?
My theory is that they don't have the same blood because a human is a person and a butterfly is an insect.
Where does the blood come from that we see on the cage?
My theory is that the blood comes out from the wings.
- The Numbers Team
Some butterflies can look poisonous but they are not. I got this information from a book. The painted lady butterfly see more shades of green than people do. Male butterflies have a smaller abdomen (body) than females. The red stuff is a chemical that they get rid of. I got this information from a website.
- The A Team
Now we have four more butterflies. They are from caterpillars 8, 15, 9, and one of the extra caterpillars.
Does a butterfly keep its caterpillar body?
I think they do keep it because the butterfly body looks like a caterpillar.
The butterfly comes out of the chrysalis at night when there is no wind or rain when they are in nature. I got that fact from a book.
- The Spike Team
How many days is the butterfly has to be in the chrysalis?
I saw it took one week and and one day for our caterpillars.
Why do they call it the Painted Lady butterfly?
I think because it's kind of colourful when the sun shines on it.
I researched that a butterfly is an insect.
- The Japanese Team
I wonder why the butterfly's like sweet stuff?
I think that they like sweet stuff because it gives them more energy to fly and because they like it.
Why do they call it the Painted Lady butterfly?
I think that the Painted Lady butterfly is called that because it looks like the wings were painted.
The butterflies are very small and like to fly in the cage.
-The Butterfly Twins
Why do our butterflies pour out their blood from their bodies?
My theory is that they can't fly with that much load and so they need to get rid of that extra blood.
Did you know it takes 8 weeks for some caterpillars to turn into butterflies?
-The Pandas
There are six butterflies in the cage.
- The Beta Team
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Butterfly Photos
Here is a butterfly. He looks like he is standing sideways on the butterfly cage. The wings are together.
Here the same butterfly but now his wings are spread out.
Here is a butterfly hanging almost upside down in the cage.
Here is a chrysalis and it is empty. The butterfly came out of the front where it wasn't attached to the lid.* These comments by The Pokemon Team
Two Butterflies Come Out!
Two of the butterflies came out of their chrysalids this morning. The are from caterpillar 10 and 17.
- The Spike Team
We looked inside the empty chrysalis and we saw a tiny bit of web in there. It was at the part where the head was. When we looked with a magnifying glass the golden spots were all white. It kind of collapsed but also kept a bit of its shape.
- The Japanese Team
The butterflies on one side look colorful and on the other side not so colourful. When the butterfly is out of the chrysalis the chrysalis is a lighter colour and lighter in weight. I looks like a Monarch butterfly because the Monarch and the Painted Lady butterfly both have black and orange on its wings.
- The Butterfly Twins
Today two butterflies came out of their chrysalids. They were number 17 and 10. We saw that there is some red stuff on the wings and the screen of the cage. My theory is that the red stuff is the blood of the butterfly.
- The Pandas
Two butterflies came out today. One butterfly was walking upside down on the top of the cage. There is some red stuff on the bottom of the cage. I think it like extra blood that they squirt out after they came out the their chrysalis.
- The Beta Team
Today two caterpillars turned into butterflies. I wonder why butterflies flap their wings when they are flying and sometimes when they are not. There is a little bit of red stuff on the butterflies wings. One of the butterflies were upside down. They are different sizes and they have a little bit different patterns. And they look like Monarch butterflies.
- The Butterfly Team
It's cool that when the butterflies get out of the chrysalis, the chrysalis looks a lighter colour (lightish yellow) than before. A butterfly was walking sideways on the butterfly cage. We saw it fly from the north part of the cage to the south part of the cage.
- The Pokemon Team
Two members of our team had butterflies come out today. My butterfly was flying up inside the cage. My butterfly was flapping without flying. I think the red stuff in the cage is butterfly blood.
- The Numbers Team
I was excited to see if my theory was true about the colours of the butterfly. I was half right because I said it was going to be blue and red and black and orange and these butterflies have no blue on them. I was surprised when I saw the butterflies come out of the chrysalids because I have never seen a butterfly come out of the chrysalis before. We think the red stuff is blood from their wings.
- The A Team
- The Spike Team
We looked inside the empty chrysalis and we saw a tiny bit of web in there. It was at the part where the head was. When we looked with a magnifying glass the golden spots were all white. It kind of collapsed but also kept a bit of its shape.
- The Japanese Team
The butterflies on one side look colorful and on the other side not so colourful. When the butterfly is out of the chrysalis the chrysalis is a lighter colour and lighter in weight. I looks like a Monarch butterfly because the Monarch and the Painted Lady butterfly both have black and orange on its wings.
- The Butterfly Twins
Today two butterflies came out of their chrysalids. They were number 17 and 10. We saw that there is some red stuff on the wings and the screen of the cage. My theory is that the red stuff is the blood of the butterfly.
- The Pandas
Two butterflies came out today. One butterfly was walking upside down on the top of the cage. There is some red stuff on the bottom of the cage. I think it like extra blood that they squirt out after they came out the their chrysalis.
- The Beta Team
Today two caterpillars turned into butterflies. I wonder why butterflies flap their wings when they are flying and sometimes when they are not. There is a little bit of red stuff on the butterflies wings. One of the butterflies were upside down. They are different sizes and they have a little bit different patterns. And they look like Monarch butterflies.
- The Butterfly Team
It's cool that when the butterflies get out of the chrysalis, the chrysalis looks a lighter colour (lightish yellow) than before. A butterfly was walking sideways on the butterfly cage. We saw it fly from the north part of the cage to the south part of the cage.
- The Pokemon Team
Two members of our team had butterflies come out today. My butterfly was flying up inside the cage. My butterfly was flapping without flying. I think the red stuff in the cage is butterfly blood.
- The Numbers Team
I was excited to see if my theory was true about the colours of the butterfly. I was half right because I said it was going to be blue and red and black and orange and these butterflies have no blue on them. I was surprised when I saw the butterflies come out of the chrysalids because I have never seen a butterfly come out of the chrysalis before. We think the red stuff is blood from their wings.
- The A Team
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Day 21 - Latin name and Gatorade observations
The Latin name for the Painted Lady butterfly is Vanessa cardui. This is the name that scientists use.
Gatorade tastes like sweet water with a grape flavour in it. We think the butterflies like it because it is sweet like nectar.
- The Numbers Team
Gatorade tastes sour and like grape. I think the grape gatorade tastes like grape juice. We think the butterflies like this because it tastes good and they can drink it because it is a liquid.
- The Butterfly Team
It tastes like grape and it is cold and really sour.
- The Butterfly Twins
The Gatorade tasted a little sour and like grape juice too. It tastes like a purple freezie and is sour and sweet at the same time.
- The Spike Team
It tastes like sugar and salt to me. It tastes really, really sour and it makes your tongue feel dry. We think that the butterflies like it because probably they like sour a lot.
- The Japanese Team
The Gatorade tastes sour and like a watery freezie. We think the butterflies like it because they might think it's nectar. They will drink the Gatorade with their long tongues.
- The Pokemon Team
It tastes sweet and a little sour. I think they like it because it kind of tastes like nectar.
- The A Team
The Gatorade tastes sour and I think that butterflies like it because to me it almost tasted like nectar would taste like. The man that we got the caterpillars from said that grape Gatorade is the most like nectar. I think it tastes sort of like watery honey and like cherry.
- The Pandas
It tastes sweet and sour. It tastes like regular juice and it is sweet. We think that the butterflies like it because it probably tastes like nectar to them.
- The Beta Team
Gatorade tastes like sweet water with a grape flavour in it. We think the butterflies like it because it is sweet like nectar.
- The Numbers Team
Gatorade tastes sour and like grape. I think the grape gatorade tastes like grape juice. We think the butterflies like this because it tastes good and they can drink it because it is a liquid.
- The Butterfly Team
It tastes like grape and it is cold and really sour.
- The Butterfly Twins
The Gatorade tasted a little sour and like grape juice too. It tastes like a purple freezie and is sour and sweet at the same time.
- The Spike Team
It tastes like sugar and salt to me. It tastes really, really sour and it makes your tongue feel dry. We think that the butterflies like it because probably they like sour a lot.
- The Japanese Team
The Gatorade tastes sour and like a watery freezie. We think the butterflies like it because they might think it's nectar. They will drink the Gatorade with their long tongues.
- The Pokemon Team
It tastes sweet and a little sour. I think they like it because it kind of tastes like nectar.
- The A Team
The Gatorade tastes sour and I think that butterflies like it because to me it almost tasted like nectar would taste like. The man that we got the caterpillars from said that grape Gatorade is the most like nectar. I think it tastes sort of like watery honey and like cherry.
- The Pandas
It tastes sweet and sour. It tastes like regular juice and it is sweet. We think that the butterflies like it because it probably tastes like nectar to them.
- The Beta Team
Friday, May 18, 2007
Chrysalis Closeup
The chrysalis has metal-gold coloured spots on the outside of it.
This shows how the chrysalis is attached to the lid of the container. Where it is stuck is really strong because the caterpillar inside the chrysalis moves around a lot when it first gets made and only one of the chrysalids fell off the lid.
Chrysalis Observations
This is a chrysalis hanging from the container lid. The furry ball on the right side is the skin of the caterpillar. The caterpillar sheds its skin for the last time and the chrysalis is inside.
This is caterpillar poop. It looks like small cylinders and is soft. The blob at the top is caterpillar skin that peeled off the caterpillar.Setting up the butterfly cage
Did you know that Painted Lady butterflies like grape Gatorade? Well, they do because it reminds them of flower nectar.
We put the gatorade in small glass bottles with a rolled up piece of a paper napkin sticking out at the top. The paper napkin soaked up the Gatorade and makes it easier for the butterflies to drink the liquid.
We added sticks to the butterfly cage so the butterflies will have somewhere to land and climb when they come out of the chrysalids.
Here a student is adding a chrysalid attached to its lid to the butterfly cage.Information about the caterpillar's blood
The blood of the caterpillar is the same blood as the blood of the butterfly. I found this information on the computer when I was at home. I also found out that inside the chrysalis the caterpillar breaks apart and the butterfly's new body is formed.
- The Pandas
- The Pandas
Day 17 - more questions and theories
How many types of butterflies are there?
One student read that there are 500 000 species in the world.
Are the caterpillar eggs hard or soft?
My theory is that they are soft because look soft.
I wonder why some of the poop is red?
I think it is red because it may be blood.
(We have left a message with this question for the
Butterfly Wrangler because we couldn't find the information in books.
- The A Team
Why do the caterpillars hang upside down to make a chrysalis?
My theory is that it hangs upside down because it has to shed it skin and the chrysalis has to hang because it is easier to shed that way.
Why does a caterpillar change in a chrysalis and not in something else?
My theory is that is the most comfortable shape for it to change into a butterfly.
- The Numbers Team
The Painted Lady butterfly likes the flowers called asters, cosmos, thistles and a button bush. I got that from the web research paper.
How does the caterpillar make its pupa?
I think that the caterpillar makes its pupa by its back tail. Something goes around it.
After a month the caterpillar is fully grown. I got that from a research book.
How long does it take for a caterpillar to be fully grown?
My Theory is that it takes a month and a half.
- Pokemon Team
Did you know that the painted lady catepillar has spots on its spikes and its body? I got that from looking at my caterpillar with a magnifying glass.
How does the caterpillar have the chrysalis in its body so when the skin is shed it is a chrysalis?
I think it grows one in its belly and when it eats grows and grows and then when it sheds it is in a chrysalis.
Some caterpillars have a orange horn to scare their enemies away. I got this fact from a book.
- The Butterfly Team
One student read that there are 500 000 species in the world.
Are the caterpillar eggs hard or soft?
My theory is that they are soft because look soft.
I wonder why some of the poop is red?
I think it is red because it may be blood.
(We have left a message with this question for the
Butterfly Wrangler because we couldn't find the information in books.
- The A Team
Why do the caterpillars hang upside down to make a chrysalis?
My theory is that it hangs upside down because it has to shed it skin and the chrysalis has to hang because it is easier to shed that way.
Why does a caterpillar change in a chrysalis and not in something else?
My theory is that is the most comfortable shape for it to change into a butterfly.
- The Numbers Team
The Painted Lady butterfly likes the flowers called asters, cosmos, thistles and a button bush. I got that from the web research paper.
How does the caterpillar make its pupa?
I think that the caterpillar makes its pupa by its back tail. Something goes around it.
After a month the caterpillar is fully grown. I got that from a research book.
How long does it take for a caterpillar to be fully grown?
My Theory is that it takes a month and a half.
- Pokemon Team
Did you know that the painted lady catepillar has spots on its spikes and its body? I got that from looking at my caterpillar with a magnifying glass.
How does the caterpillar have the chrysalis in its body so when the skin is shed it is a chrysalis?
I think it grows one in its belly and when it eats grows and grows and then when it sheds it is in a chrysalis.
Some caterpillars have a orange horn to scare their enemies away. I got this fact from a book.
- The Butterfly Team
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Our web research and new questions and theories
We found out that the painted lady butterflies are found all over the world. The egg is one mm big.
- The Beta Team
There are 500,000 species (different kinds) of butterflies. After the caterpillars are in their chrysalids they wiggle into a comfortable position.
How does the caterpillar turn into liquid inside the chrysalid?
I don't have a theory yet.
How does the liquid caterpillar turn into a solid butterfly?
no theory yet
Is the blood in the caterpillar the same blood that's in the butterfly?
I think the blood is the same.
- The Pandas
We learned that the painted lady butterfly once it is a butterfly only lives for 2 weeks.
How do the spots on the chrysalis turn from red to metal-like gold colour?
My theory is that it depends on how big the caterpillar is because when it is inside it sort of changes the colour because the caterpillar changed its colours many times when it shed its skin.
Does a caterpillar sleep?
My theory is when it is inside the chrysalis the caterpillar makes a hole inside its body and then it cracks up the chrysalis and then the wings come out.
- Butterfly Twins
Most eggs are green or yellow. When the caterpillar sheds its skin, its skin rips off from the back. The first leaf the caterpillar eats is the one it is born on. The painted lady butterfly can only live 2 weeks. When the caterpillar sheds its skin the skin becomes softer.
I wonder how big the painted lady butterfly is?
I think it will be about 10 cm across.
I wonder how the butterflies will look?
I think they will be orange and black.
-The Japanese Team
One of the caterpillars in my container is upside down and in the J shape. I predict that it will be a chrysalis by tonight. The little yellow, black and white bands on a Monarch caterpillar make it stand out.
I wonder if a different painted lady butterfly likes a different kind of plant?
I think that it just only likes one kind.
There are about 15,000 to 20,000 kinds of butterflies in the world - thats what my book said.
I wonder if the caterpillar uses its feet to taste?
I think that they do.
-The spike Team
- The Spike Team
- The Beta Team
There are 500,000 species (different kinds) of butterflies. After the caterpillars are in their chrysalids they wiggle into a comfortable position.
How does the caterpillar turn into liquid inside the chrysalid?
I don't have a theory yet.
How does the liquid caterpillar turn into a solid butterfly?
no theory yet
Is the blood in the caterpillar the same blood that's in the butterfly?
I think the blood is the same.
- The Pandas
We learned that the painted lady butterfly once it is a butterfly only lives for 2 weeks.
How do the spots on the chrysalis turn from red to metal-like gold colour?
My theory is that it depends on how big the caterpillar is because when it is inside it sort of changes the colour because the caterpillar changed its colours many times when it shed its skin.
Does a caterpillar sleep?
My theory is when it is inside the chrysalis the caterpillar makes a hole inside its body and then it cracks up the chrysalis and then the wings come out.
- Butterfly Twins
Most eggs are green or yellow. When the caterpillar sheds its skin, its skin rips off from the back. The first leaf the caterpillar eats is the one it is born on. The painted lady butterfly can only live 2 weeks. When the caterpillar sheds its skin the skin becomes softer.
I wonder how big the painted lady butterfly is?
I think it will be about 10 cm across.
I wonder how the butterflies will look?
I think they will be orange and black.
-The Japanese Team
One of the caterpillars in my container is upside down and in the J shape. I predict that it will be a chrysalis by tonight. The little yellow, black and white bands on a Monarch caterpillar make it stand out.
I wonder if a different painted lady butterfly likes a different kind of plant?
I think that it just only likes one kind.
There are about 15,000 to 20,000 kinds of butterflies in the world - thats what my book said.
I wonder if the caterpillar uses its feet to taste?
I think that they do.
-The spike Team
- The Spike Team
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Moving the chrysalids to the butterfly cage...
Today there were 13 out of 19 chrysalids. We transferred 11 of them to the butterfly cage. The other two were still too wiggly and we didn't want to hurt them.
Our Book Research Facts
We found out from reading books that:
When caterpillars hatch they start eating a lot of leaves. The special food that the caterpillars had was made out of malva plant and soy.
- The A Team
The caterpillar can stay in its chrysalis for the whole winter.
- The Pokemon Team
Some butterflies lay yellow eggs on a leaf. Some caterpillars have different designs on their bodies.
- The Butterfly Team
Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed because the caterpillars like to eat milkweed.
The caterpillar spins a silk thread from its tail to tie itself to a stalk.
-The Beta Team
When the caterpillar turns into a butterfly the scales look like dust when it rubs off on your fingers. Caterpillars make silk like webs around themselves to keep them safe from weather and predators.
- The Pandas
The eggs are the size of a pinhead.
Butterfly Twins
The size of the egg is as big as a pencil point. A few days later the egg turns black and the head of the caterpillar hatches out. The caterpillar eats the egg shell after it hatches.
- The Japanese Team
A butterfly's tongue is curled under its head. A caterpillar has 5 or 6 pairs of eyes.
- The Spike Team
Many butterflies spend the whole winter in the chrysalis part of the life cycle. If you touch a butterflies wing you will get powder on your fingers.
How does the caterpillar make so many droppings?
My theory is that a caterpillar does this because they eat a lot of food.
Do the caterpillars breathe in the chrysalis?
My theory is that they do breather because they will die if they don't breathe.
- The Numbers Team
When caterpillars hatch they start eating a lot of leaves. The special food that the caterpillars had was made out of malva plant and soy.
- The A Team
The caterpillar can stay in its chrysalis for the whole winter.
- The Pokemon Team
Some butterflies lay yellow eggs on a leaf. Some caterpillars have different designs on their bodies.
- The Butterfly Team
Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed because the caterpillars like to eat milkweed.
The caterpillar spins a silk thread from its tail to tie itself to a stalk.
-The Beta Team
When the caterpillar turns into a butterfly the scales look like dust when it rubs off on your fingers. Caterpillars make silk like webs around themselves to keep them safe from weather and predators.
- The Pandas
The eggs are the size of a pinhead.
Butterfly Twins
The size of the egg is as big as a pencil point. A few days later the egg turns black and the head of the caterpillar hatches out. The caterpillar eats the egg shell after it hatches.
- The Japanese Team
A butterfly's tongue is curled under its head. A caterpillar has 5 or 6 pairs of eyes.
- The Spike Team
Many butterflies spend the whole winter in the chrysalis part of the life cycle. If you touch a butterflies wing you will get powder on your fingers.
How does the caterpillar make so many droppings?
My theory is that a caterpillar does this because they eat a lot of food.
Do the caterpillars breathe in the chrysalis?
My theory is that they do breather because they will die if they don't breathe.
- The Numbers Team
Monday, May 14, 2007
Chrysalis Photos
These are photos of caterpillar 14 in its chrysalis. Notice how it is hanging from the lid and all the web-like stuff hanging around it.
Caterpillars and Chrysalis
Caterpillars 11 and 8 are now each in a chrysalis. The outside shows the spikes but they are a shiny gold colour. Its attached on the cover of the container and there is some white stuff that looks like glue.
- The Butterfly Team
Caterpillar 13 is still a caterpillar. It now has yellow stripes and it is bigger. I think it will be a chrysalis on Wednesday (May 16). Caterpillar 15 is not a chrysalis yet but when it stretches it gets to be about 5 cm.
- The Spike Team
Caterpillar 6 is still a caterpillar but it shed its skin a second time. It looks longer and the bottom of its spikes are white.
- The Japanese Team
Caterpillar 18 is a chrysalis and it has shiney dots on the bumps and the dots are shiney red. At the front when you go to the first side it sort of looks like a hippo when it is lying down. Caterpillar 9 is also a chrysalis and it is a light yellow beige colour. It has goldish yellow spots all over but near the bumps. I think the spikes or the legs are underneath the bumps.
- The Butterfly Twins
Caterpillar 1 and 21 are still caterpillars but now they are sort of white and black now. Caterpillar 12 is still a caterpillar but it is getting bigger and it has a green stripe on its belly that is sort of a lightish green.
- The Pandas
Caterpillar 20 is still a caterpillar but now he is bigger and he is not moving that much. He is 3 and a half cm. Caterpillar 16 is in its chrysalis and it looks like it is cracking because there is a line on the chrysalis. It is at the top of the container and is holding on with its silk.
- The Beta Team
Caterpillar 19 is a chrysalis and it looks like an egg with orange spikes on it. Caterpillar 17 is also a chrysalis and its really looking like it is flat. It is grey orange and black. Caterpillar 10 is a chrysalis and it is hanging from its web.
- The Numbers Team
Caterpillar 14 is in a chrysalis and it looks like it has a thin sleeping bag around it. The colours of the chrysalis is dark brown mixed with light brown.
- The Pokemon Team
Caterpillar 7 is a chrysalis and I noticed that there are two red blobs near the edge of the container. Its kind of light brown with a lot of gold spots on it.
- The A Team
- The Butterfly Team
Caterpillar 13 is still a caterpillar. It now has yellow stripes and it is bigger. I think it will be a chrysalis on Wednesday (May 16). Caterpillar 15 is not a chrysalis yet but when it stretches it gets to be about 5 cm.
- The Spike Team
Caterpillar 6 is still a caterpillar but it shed its skin a second time. It looks longer and the bottom of its spikes are white.
- The Japanese Team
Caterpillar 18 is a chrysalis and it has shiney dots on the bumps and the dots are shiney red. At the front when you go to the first side it sort of looks like a hippo when it is lying down. Caterpillar 9 is also a chrysalis and it is a light yellow beige colour. It has goldish yellow spots all over but near the bumps. I think the spikes or the legs are underneath the bumps.
- The Butterfly Twins
Caterpillar 1 and 21 are still caterpillars but now they are sort of white and black now. Caterpillar 12 is still a caterpillar but it is getting bigger and it has a green stripe on its belly that is sort of a lightish green.
- The Pandas
Caterpillar 20 is still a caterpillar but now he is bigger and he is not moving that much. He is 3 and a half cm. Caterpillar 16 is in its chrysalis and it looks like it is cracking because there is a line on the chrysalis. It is at the top of the container and is holding on with its silk.
- The Beta Team
Caterpillar 19 is a chrysalis and it looks like an egg with orange spikes on it. Caterpillar 17 is also a chrysalis and its really looking like it is flat. It is grey orange and black. Caterpillar 10 is a chrysalis and it is hanging from its web.
- The Numbers Team
Caterpillar 14 is in a chrysalis and it looks like it has a thin sleeping bag around it. The colours of the chrysalis is dark brown mixed with light brown.
- The Pokemon Team
Caterpillar 7 is a chrysalis and I noticed that there are two red blobs near the edge of the container. Its kind of light brown with a lot of gold spots on it.
- The A Team
Sunday, May 13, 2007
More Caterpillar Drawings
Caterpillar 13 Caterpillar 10Caterpillar 11
Caterpillar 19
Caterpillar 5
Caterpillar 7Caterpillar 15
C
Caterpillar 20
Caterpillar 20
The students did very well with their caterpillar drawings. They learned that scientists can only write down or draw exactly what they see and not what they think they should see. Here are the rest of the research drawings and the team comments.
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