Overview

This inquiry project has been designed to be used as a collaborative tool in the Media Center and in a Kindergarten and/or 1st grade classroom.  It is designed to be used on an active board and accessed via the internet.  This project includes resources in Spanish since we are an immersion magnet.  Students will read and be read trade books, they will read from their science and reading books, they will watch videos, play games, search the internet, map migration online and keep their own butterfly journal.  The media specialist will order 33 Painted Lady larvae from InsectLore.com.   For $52.99 you get a washable and reusable two-foot tall Butterfly Pavilion habitat, the larvae, 33 vials and lids, additional special caterpillar growth food and complete instructions.

According to Dr. Lamb:  Students should have the opportunity to: 

·    build on their existing knowledge and skills (KWL in journals)

·    select topics of interest (students will write what they learn in their journals - sometimes they will chose what to write about and sometimes their writing will be guided)

·    explore a variety of resources (i.e., books, maps, primary source documents, websites, videos, audios, photographs) (Students will be using tradebooks, videos, websites, real butterflies, digital photos, games and journals).

·    select the best way to communicate their findings (students will make journals that have all they know about butterflies.  They can draw, write, glue pictures of decorate any way they chose.  My son made one in Kindergarten and still uses it.  They will also make t-shirts that promote conservation)

·    share with real-world audiences. Students will be encouraged to share their journals with other students and family members.  They will keep the butterflies for three weeks and make a small presentation before their release.  They will also periodically follow migration reports on JourneyNorth after the release.

·    be evaluated on both process and product. The teacher will base the students grade on their finished journal.

·    evaluate themselves, their peers, their resources, and their teachers.  Students will journal their thoughts about the project, what they liked about it and what they would change about it. 

This project will use controlled, modeled and guided approaches to help the students lay a foundation for independent inquiry.  Since the students are very young we will use the Super 3 inquiry model developed to make the Big6 a little easier for young children and to help them begin good habits of using learning strategies until they are capable of using the more complex models.   The lessons are designed to build on previous knowledge (scaffolding) moving the information scientist from novice to expert.  Incorporating student journals into the lessons is integral to the students learning.  When people articulate connections between new information and ideas - in addition to reading, talking and listening - they learn and understand better (Callison, p 536).  Students will be encouraged to draw in their journals as well as decoupage pictures on their journals.

Adapted for Super3:

• Plan:  Observe the life cycle of a Painted Lady butterfly.  How?  Look at books and videos*.  Observe a real larva, caterpillar, cocoon, butterfly metamorphosis.
• Do:  Do all of the above and write and draw in journal
• Review:  Talk about what our process, what we learned and discuss anything we would do differently.