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Module One: Introduction
Through the eyes of a butterfly...
The warmth of the Mexican sun kisses my orange-and-black wings as I cling to a swaying Oyamel fir tree high in the mountains of Michoacán. The air is crisp but comforting, thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. I have spent the winter here with millions of my kin, but now, an urge as old as time itself stirs within me. It is time to go north.
I take flight, my wings beating steadily as I glide over rolling hills and farmland. The air hums with promise, but even as I revel in the freedom of the open sky, I see trouble below. Fields stretch endlessly, but something is missing—milkweed. The very plant that will one day nourish my offspring has been stripped away by chemicals humans spray over the land. I press on, hoping that somewhere, patches of green still remain.
Crossing into Texas, I find a rare haven—wildflowers swaying under the sun. I land on a blossom, sipping sweet nectar, my energy restored. But danger lurks. A vast, gray ribbon cuts through the land, teeming with giant metal beasts that roar past in a blur of speed. I hesitate, then push forward, dodging the chaos below. Some of my kin are not so lucky, their wings torn and broken on the asphalt.
As I continue northward, I see scars upon the land—blackened earth where wildfires have raged, consuming the forests that once provided rest and shelter. The air is thick with the memory of smoke. The land will heal, but not quickly. I search for safety in pockets of greenery that remain untouched, finding refuge wherever I can.
The Mississippi River gleams beneath me, a silver ribbon winding through the heart of the land. But the air carries a strange bitterness, the scent of chemicals and waste carried from upstream. I land on a tree branch, my wings feeling heavy. The world is not as it was. Still, I must go on.
I reach the Great Lakes, the vast waters stretching out like a shimmering sea. The wind is strong here, pushing against me as I fight to stay on course. Along the shores, I see the land crumbling into the waves—coastal erosion stealing away the earth bit by bit. I find shelter in a patch of tall grass, the wind finally easing as night falls.
At last, I reach the northernmost point of my journey—Canada’s summer fields. Here, milkweed thrives, and I lay my eggs, knowing my part in the cycle is complete. I will not make the journey back. Instead, my children will continue the voyage southward, just as their children will after them.
As I take one final flight, the golden sun sinking behind the horizon, I wonder: will the land be kind to them? Will the sky remain open, the flowers plentiful? Or will the world continue to change, forcing them to fight harder with each passing year?
The wind lifts me one last time, carrying me gently as I surrender to the dusk. My journey ends, but the Monarch’s flight will go on—so long as there is a path to follow.
Key Concepts:
Water: Importance in shaping ecosystems through the water cycle (evaporation, precipitation, infiltration), its role in supporting plant and animal life, and the creation of habitats such as wetlands.
Earth: Geology, soil composition, and the role of the land in providing essential resources like minerals and nutrients.
Wind: Influence on weather patterns, pollination, seed dispersal, and migration patterns. Wind as a natural force that affects Monarch butterfly migration.
Through the Eyes of Butterflies: The Four Keepers of the Monarch
The wind whispered through my wings as I soared over the land, carried by an ancient force I could not see but had always known. My journey as a Monarch butterfly was long and uncertain, yet I trusted the world to guide me. I did not know the names of the great forces that shaped my existence, but I felt them in every beat of my wings.
One evening, as the golden sun dipped below the horizon, I landed on a branch to rest. There, the elements spoke to me—not in words, but in the deep knowing of all things.
Water, the Lifebringer
I first heard the voice of Water in the gentle rhythm of a nearby stream. “I am the keeper of life,” it murmured, swirling beneath me. “Without me, there would be no nectar to drink, no milkweed for your young, no green places for you to rest.”
I remembered the rains that had nourished the flowers along my path, the morning dew that clung to petals and leaves, the lakes and rivers that had shaped the land. Yet, I had also seen poisoned waters, choked with waste and chemicals, making the flowers sick and the air heavy with despair.
“Water must be clean,” it warned. “Or the world will thirst, and so will you.”
Earth, the Provider
Then, the ground beneath me hummed with quiet strength. “I am Earth,” it said. “From my soil, the milkweed grows. I cradle the forests where you rest and the fields where you feed. I give you a place to land, a place to be.”
I thought of the vast farmlands I had seen, stretching endlessly, yet missing the flowers I needed. I thought of the blackened forests left behind by fire, the cracked earth where no green things grew.
“If I am stripped bare, you will have nowhere to go,” Earth whispered. “Take care of me, and I will take care of you.”
Wind, the Guide
A sudden gust lifted me into the sky, wrapping around me like an invisible hand. “I am Wind,” it laughed, carrying me forward. “I am your guide, your wings when you are weary. Without me, how would you travel so far?”
I thought of the way the wind had pushed me north when I was strong, how it had carried me gently when I was tired. But I also remembered the storms, the sudden gales that had tossed me like a leaf, the hurricanes that had torn apart the land.
“I can be kind, but I can also be cruel,” Wind admitted. “Respect my power, and I will show you the way.”
Fire, the Transformer
Then, I felt the warmth of the sun on my wings, and Fire spoke in its flickering voice. “I am the spark of change,” it said. “I give you the warmth you need to fly, the sun that feeds the plants, the seasons that guide your journey.”
I knew Fire was both friend and foe. Without the sun, I could not move, and the flowers could not bloom. But I had also seen wildfires consume entire forests, leaving nothing but ash.
“I bring both destruction and renewal,” Fire admitted. “From the ashes, new life will grow—if the land is given time to heal.”
The Balance of All Things
As the elements’ voices faded, I understood: Water, Earth, Wind, and Fire were not separate. They worked together, holding the world in balance. When one was harmed, all suffered.
I opened my wings and lifted into the sky once more, my heart full of wonder and worry. I was small, but my journey was great, and the elements carried me forward.
And so, I flew—not just for myself, but for the world that made my flight possible.
Activities:
Visit the interactive animation of the water cycle. Click on each of the topics in the boxes from "ice clouds" all the way down the page to "groundwater storage", so that you can familiarize yourself with the water cycle.Â
Watch a video about human impacts on the water cycle.
Watch a video that explains the role of wind and soil in shaping ecosystems, including the infamous Santa Ana winds
Review examples of how soil erosion and degradation alter landscapes and ecosystems (e.g., desertification, agriculture, and forest ecosystems).
Discussion Post:Â
Visit our Class Chat page. Answer the question: How do these elements support biodiversity, particularly the Monarch butterfly?Â
Objective:
Investigate the Monarch butterfly’s role within ecosystems and understand the impact of habitat loss on its population. Participants will explore how water, earth, wind, and fire influence the Monarch butterfly’s survival and migration.
Key Concepts:
The Monarch Butterfly’s Role: Pollination, food chain interactions, and migration. Monarchs are a keystone species in certain ecosystems, helping to maintain plant diversity.
Impact of Habitat Loss: Urbanization, agricultural practices, and deforestation lead to declining milkweed and other pollinator-friendly plants.
Climate Change: How climate shifts influence the availability of food, migration patterns, and breeding grounds for Monarch butterflies.
Activities:
Interactive Ecology Game: Participants will play an interactive simulation where they create an ecosystemÂ
Case Study: Review a case study on the decline of Monarch butterfly populations due to habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change.
Discussion: Debate the causes and potential solutions for Monarch habitat loss.
Objective:
Understand how prescribed fire can be used to restore habitats, remove invasive species, and promote biodiversity in ecosystems like those that support Monarch butterflies.
Key Concepts:
Prescribed Fire: A tool used by the indigenous peoples and modern ecologists to restore native habitats by reducing the buildup of fuel (dead plants, brush) and encouraging new plant growth.
Fire and Biodiversity: Fire’s role in maintaining grasslands, promoting biodiversity, and preventing the dominance of invasive species.
Monarch Butterfly Habitats: Grasslands, prairies, and meadows—important Monarch habitats—are supported by periodic fires that keep the ecosystem healthy and diverse.
Watch:
Read
Fireworks Educational Program to discover resources for your students, specifically How and Why the Pikunii (Blackfeet) People Carried Fire
Indigenous Fire Practices Shape Our Lands, such as the use of controlled burns by Native American tribes. They will then compare this to modern fire management techniques (e.g., the role of fire in preventing wildfires).
Objective:
Help participants design classroom projects that engage students in environmental inquiry through data collection. participants will develop skills to assess environmental conditions that affect Monarch butterfly habitats, including the use of fire as a management tool.
Key Concepts:
Scientific Inquiry: The process of asking questions, forming hypotheses, collecting data, and drawing conclusions.
Data Collection Methods: Tools and techniques for collecting environmental data (e.g., water quality, soil health, biodiversity indices).
Applying Inquiry to Monarch Conservation: Participants will learn how to collect data on the health of Monarch habitats, track fire impacts, and assess habitat restoration efforts.
Activities:
Design an inquiry-based classroom project that involves data collection on a local environmental issue affecting Monarch butterflies (e.g., measuring the impact of soil erosion, water quality, or fire management on butterfly habitat).
Interactive Data Review using real data from a local area, participants will analyze environmental trends over time and assess the potential impact on Monarch populations.
Citizen Science Projects to learn how students can contribute to local and national Monarch butterfly monitoring efforts, using citizen science platforms (e.g., Monarch Watch).
Deliverable:
Create a detailed project plan for an inquiry-based science experiment for students focused on Monarch butterfly habitat restoration and conservation.
Objective:
Provide participants with hands-on experience in planning and executing a prescribed fire as a tool for habitat restoration at Monarch Park Way Station. Participants will learn fire safety, best practices in ecological burning, and the ecological benefits of fire in Monarch butterfly habitat restoration.
Timed Agenda:
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM: Registration & Welcome
Objective: Provide time for participants to arrive, sign in, and get settled.
Activities:
Welcome by facilitators.
Overview of the day's schedule.
Introduction to Monarch Park butterfly Way Station and its role in Monarch butterfly conservation.
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Fire Management Best Practices
Objective: Educate participants on the best practices for conducting a controlled burn.
Activities:
Discuss the ecological goals of prescribed fire (e.g., habitat restoration, invasive species control, promoting biodiversity).
Explore the logistics involved in conducting a burn: team roles, equipment, and communication.
Discussion of fire safety protocols and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Overview of the prescribed fire planning process: determining timing, weather conditions, and firebreaks.
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Site Evaluation and Habitat Assessment
Objective: Participants assess the burn site and identify areas needing restoration.
Activities:
On-site evaluation of Monarch Park: participants will walk the area and evaluate plant species, soil conditions, and invasive species.
Participants will identify key areas in need of restoration and discuss how fire could be used to improve these areas for Monarch butterfly habitat.
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Planning the Prescribed Fire
Objective: Participants will work together to plan the prescribed burn.
Activities:
Break into small groups to plan specific elements of the prescribed fire, such as:
Determining the fire perimeter (firebreaks).
Choosing the timing and conditions for the burn (weather, wind, humidity).
Developing communication and safety protocols.
Groups will present their plans, and facilitators will guide discussion and provide feedback on best practices.
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM: Lunch Break (time does not count toward credit hours)
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM: Execute the Controlled Burn
Objective: Carry out the prescribed burn while closely following safety protocols.
Activities:
Facilitators will lead the group in executing the burn at Monarch Park, with participants taking active roles in fire management under supervision.
Participants will observe and assist with various tasks, including:
Setting firebreaks.
Monitoring fire behavior.
Coordinating the team to ensure safety.
Participants will be encouraged to ask questions and take notes on the process.
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM: Post-Burn Assessment
Objective: Evaluate the outcomes of the controlled burn and assess its impact on Monarch butterfly habitat.
Activities:
Walk through the burn site to observe immediate effects (e.g., burned vegetation, new growth, and overall site condition).
Discuss how the burn will benefit Monarch butterfly habitat, such as encouraging milkweed growth and reducing invasive species.
Review monitoring strategies for assessing long-term restoration success.
Discuss potential challenges in fire management and how to overcome them.
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Reflection and Debrief
Objective: Reflect on the day's activities and how to integrate knowledge gained into lesson plans.
Activities:
Group discussion of the prescribed burn experience: what went well, what could be improved, and key takeaways.
Participants will reflect on how they can apply the lessons learned to their own classrooms, such as designing inquiry-based projects on fire ecology and habitat restoration.
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM: Wrap-Up and Closing Remarks
Objective: Summarize the key learning points of the workshop and provide additional resources.
Activities:
Review the objectives of the workshop and how each session met those goals.
Distribute resource materials (e.g., fire management plans, Monarch butterfly habitat restoration guides, safety protocols).
Closing remarks and feedback collection.
Safety First: Throughout the day, safety will be emphasized, especially during the prescribed burn. participants will be provided with personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, masks, and fire-resistant clothing, and will be briefed on fire safety.
Weather Considerations: If weather conditions (e.g., wind speed or humidity) are not suitable for a controlled burn on the day of the workshop, an alternative demonstration (such as video or simulation) will be used to ensure participants still receive valuable learning.
Reflection & Assessment: Participants will be encouraged to submit a short reflection on how they will integrate the experience of planning and executing a prescribed fire into their teaching practices and use it as a tool for educating students about ecological restoration and the role of fire in nature.