STC Students begin by studying the painted lady butterfly larva an learning its basic needs for air, water, food, and shelter. They watch and record their observations as the caterpillar crawls, eats food and eliminates waste, rests, hangs upside down, and sheds its skin. Their excitement grows as they see the caterpillar change into a shining chrysalis. Students have the opportunity to observe the emergence of the butterfly, which marks the beginning of the adult stage of the life cycle. While learning to care for the butterflies, students carefully observe and record their features and behavior, noting the differences and similarities between the different life cycle stages of the insect.
Students learn the concept of the animal life cycle through direct exploration.