Monday, May 09, 2011

Science Class!

Have you ever wondered about those Butterfly Garden kits you see at the store?  They are really excellent.  For around $20, you will receive a butterfly enclosure and coupon to redeem online for butterfly larvae.  Once you order online (you do have to pay a shipping and handling fee of less than $5), you receive your larvae pretty quickly, in about 3-5 days.  They come in a container that has everything they need nutritionally before they go into chrysalis stage.  The kids really enjoy checking on the status of the insects everyday, often checking on them multiple times a day.  

This year, we also ordered ladybug larvae.  They were pretty fun to watch too.  They look like little scorpions in their larval state.  And they change quickly into ladybugs.  What an easy way to introduce your kids to life science!  Next project for us?  The "grow your own frog" habitats!   



On release day:  each child got to hold and release a butterfly.



Ladybugs like raisins, but their habitat gets dirty pretty quickly.

Jacob said, "Aww, these ladybugs are hugging each other!"  Ummm....more like mating, I think!

Be free butterflies!