Webb’s Wondrous Tales Book 2—Butterfly Lesson Plan
Program/Lesson 3 for “Webb’s Wondrous Tales Series”
Science Focus
Ages: Grades 5 and up
Materials Required:
Book – “Webb’s Wondrous Tales Book 2” by Mack H. Webb, Jr.
Writing Utensils
Paper
Chalk and Chalkboard or Marker and Butcher Block Paper or Computer and Projector with screen
Access to a library and/or the INTERNET
Student Preparation:
Read “Webb’s Wondrous Tales Book 2” by Mack H. Webb, Jr.
Objectives: (Language Arts and Science)
Students will:
Define lepidopterist and lepidopteron.
Identify the insects included in the order of lepidopteron.
Collect pictures of 10 insects belonging to the order of lepidopteron.
Identify each insect by common and scientific name.
Identify the habitat of each of the insects including the type of environment and plant required to sustain the insect’s lifecycle.
Create a display showing the lifecycle of one of the insects.
Overview: This lesson focuses on the science of butterflies and moths. Butterflies are often used in stories to symbolize a profound change that can occur during a life. This lesson guides students into thinking like a scientist in terms of cataloguing the subject of study and understanding the lifecycle of butterflies and moths.
Set Up: For the discussion section below, arrange chairs in a circle to allow for better communication between students. Use butcher block paper on an easel or a Powerpoint slide display to display the question being discussed and to jot down major discussion points.
For the activity section, provide students individual workspace at a table or desk which includes writing and craft materials or assign the project as homework.
Methodology:
1. Students are to prepare for this program by reading “Webb’s Wondrous Tales Book 2” prior to the start of the session. In particular, have them read “The Lucky Lepidopterist”.
2. Define lepidopterist and lepidopteron: Begin by discussing the story “The Lucky Lepidopterist”. Have the students discuss the definitions of “lepidopterist” and “lepidopteron”. This story is set in the Amazon jungle. Discuss where on earth butterflies and moths are found. Where are they NOT found? Have students volunteer answers. Note the ideas on your chalkboard. At the conclusion of the discussion, codify the definitions and places where lepidopteron are found so they are clear to all. Some of the points you will want to see emerge include:
- A lepidopterist is a scientist or dedicated amateur who studies butterflies and moths.
- Lepidopteron comes from the Greek words Lepido meaning scaly and pteron meaning wing.
- The order of Lepidopteron includes butterflies and moths.
- Butterflies and moths feed on the nectar of flowers.
- Caterpillars eat leaves of plants.
- The polar regions which are covered in ice and support no flowering plants cannot support butterflies and moths.
- Some plants require specific butterflies and moths to complete their pollination and some butterflies and moths can feed only from a limited set of plants. (Example: milkweed and swallowtails)
3. In “The Lucky Lepidopterist” the lepidopterist spots the Blue Morpho. Have the students research that butterfly. What does it look like? Where does it live? What does its caterpillar look like? What does it eat as a caterpillar and then as an adult?
4. Activity: Assign each student or small groups of students to be lepidopterists and have them research 10 insects of the order of Lepidopteron. They can select butterflies or moths or a combination of the two.
Have the students create a poster displaying the lifecycle of the ten butterflies and moths they researched. Hang the posters around the classroom for all the students to see and discuss.
5. Conclusion: This lesson examined the order of lepidopteron and their lifecycle.
