Students tagged and released 125 butterflies last fall for the Monarch Watch tracking project, sponsored by the University of Kansas. Nature study stimulates interest in learning, of course, but may also promote life skills and self-esteem. Wilbratte's students include special education and adaptive behavior students. They become very dedicated to caterpillars. One student kissed his caterpillar so much that I thought that the caterpillar might die.
Students have their own best moments.
I hope we have a lot of butterflies in the new house. Last fall's project taught students about life cycles, teacher Julie Wakser said. Emerging butterflies danced above first-graders' heads inside the netting that stretched across the ceiling of her classroom. But Wakser observed other positive effects. I now have Spanish-language students reading everything they can and writing about butterflies.