April 25, 2024
SEMO Christian students’ lesson on butterfly’s life cycle comes full circle
SIKESTON — Preschool students at SEMO Christian Academy in Sikeston spent the month learning about the butterfly’s life cycle — from a tiny egg to a winged wonder. On Wednesday, April 24 the students’ lesson came full circle as they released their nine Painted Lady butterflies into nature from the playground of their school...
By Leonna Heuring~Standard Democrat
SIKESTON — Preschool students at SEMO Christian Academy in Sikeston spent the month learning about the butterfly’s life cycle — from a tiny egg to a winged wonder.
On Wednesday, April 24 the students’ lesson came full circle as they released their nine Painted Lady butterflies into nature from the playground of their school.
While preschool teacher Karen Colvett went into the school to retrieve the butterflies for releasing, the 32 students ranging in ages from 3 to 5 years old gathered in an open green space and sat in a circle with fellow preschool teacher Penny Nicholson and director Jeanie Price.
“Does everybody know what today is?” Nicholson asked the students.
“Yes! Butterfly day!” the children shouted
“What are we going to do with the butterflies? Nicholson asked.
“Release them!” one child shouted.
“They’ll fly!” another yelled.
Nicholson nodded.
“They’re going to fly away. They’re going to fly away. They’re going to have a new home,” Nicholson told the students.
Price then reminded the children the butterflies might land on their finger or sit on their arm when they come up out of their nest, but it’s important they don’t hurt or touch the butterflies to keep them safe.
Holding a mesh cylinder container of nine butterflies, Colvett emerged from the school building and made her way to the middle of the circle before sitting down with all eyes on her.
“Look at them. They’re excited to be outside,” Price said.
Colvett agreed.
“They are. Look at that,” Colvett told the children.
The students were reminded by their teacher the butterflies have never seen the sunshine before; they’ve only seen the light in their classroom.
“Let’s see what happens when she unzips it,” Price told the children as Colvett unzipped the mesh container.
The children watched.
“Let’s see if they fly out,” their teacher said. “Come on butterflies, come on.”
The preschoolers started to repeat their teacher, “Come on butterflies, come on.”
And out flew a butterfly.
“There goes another!” someone said. “Wow! It really flew away!”
The children screamed with delight.
At one time, one butterfly sat on Colvett’s finger while another rested on her leg.
One by one, they flew away until just two were left.
The last butterfly lingered for a bit before flying up into the air.
“Come back, butterfly!” one student yelled.
And just like that, all nine butterflies were on their new journey.
The students continued their celebration and were treated to mini donuts, which had been arranged in the shape of a caterpillar.
Colvett, who is in her first year teaching at SEMO Christian Academy, said on multiple occasions when her now 25-year-old daughter was a child, they used to raise butterflies through their life cycles — from eggs to caterpillar to chrysalis to and butterfly. She decided to try the experiment with her students.
“We’ve been studying the stages and they’ve really liked it. They’ve come in and looked at them every day,” Colvett said.
The students started the project with four caterpillars in one plastic jar and five in another as they were able to witness every stage of the butterfly.
“They are learning with fun,” Colvett said.
The children also played with Colvett’s plastic figurines representing the stages: a leaf, eggs, caterpillar, chrysalis and the butterfly.
Preschooler Charlotte Reeves said she had fun with the butterfly lesson and proceeded to explain the stages.
“They turn into chrysalis after they get to the top of the roof,” she said. “They start out as caterpillars and then butterflies!”
Charlotte said she was both happy and sad following their release on Wednesday. She was happy for the butterflies they’d found new homes but she and her classmates will miss them.
“It has been fun,” Colvett said. “The kids have talked about it. They went home and told their parents about it. The parents have come in and looked at it so it has been enjoyable.”
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