Una aventura de aprendizaje con mariposas (de 6 a 10 años)

In this course, students will read and write about butterfly topics including how to know the difference between butterflies and moths, the life cycle of a butterfly, how butterflies fly, unique traits and struggles of the Monarch butterfly, and actions taken by environmentalists to save butterflies. An ongoing research project, a butterfly scavenger hunt, and a butterfly dictionary project will also be activities of the course that keep students interested and focused on learning. 

The course is structured to include 10 sessions over a period of five weeks. The instruction will be delivered using guided reading strategies, a PowerPoint presentation to help clarify concepts, research templates to guide students in completing a research project, word study activities, and a scavenger hunt focused on strengthening reading comprehension skills. Learners will have the opportunity to interact with the teacher through class discussions and may contact the teacher outside of instructional time through the classroom email communication system. 

Agenda Guides for Each Session 
Session One - Where Do Butterflies Live?
1. Introductions and classroom netiquette standards.
2. Interest Builder (Home School Pop video) (6 min.)
3. Scavenger hunt directions and certificate awards.
4. Research report directions and certificate awards. 
5. How to create a butterfly glossary using information on the topic: Where do Butterflies Live?
6. Assignment: Find a butterfly to research by session two. 

Session Two - Knowing the Difference Between Butterflies and Moths. 
1. Reminder to record glossary words and listen for answers to scavenger questions.
2. Review the purpose of the Venn Diagram as a tool for comparing similarities and differences between butterflies and moths. 
3. Interest builder: Online article: How can you tell the difference between a butterfly and a moth? | Library of Congress (loc.gov)     
4. Guided reading: Beautiful Butterflies and Marvelous Moths, by Guy Belleranti.  
5. Reading comprehension quiz over guided reading activity.
6. Discuss glossary words added to the Butterfly Glossary.
7. Share the butterflies selected for individual research projects. 
8. Assignment: Work on research project and scavenger hunt.

Session Three - Life Cycle of a Butterfly
1. Reminder to record glossary words and listen for answers to scavenger questions.
2. Interest Builder: 4 Stages of a Butterfly Life Cycle (smartclass4kids.com) -- Discuss the student's copy of the Life Cycle Diagram.
3. Amazing Butterfly Life Cycle word study activity. 
4. Butterfly Ballad. 
5. What are the different types of butterflies?
6. How do butterflies eat?
7. Identifying main ideas: The Viceroy Butterfly and the Buckeye Butterfly.
8. Session quiz and new glossary words.
9. Assignment: Work on research project and scavenger hunt.

Session 4 – How Butterflies Fly.  
1. Reminder to record glossary words and listen for answers to scavenger questions.
2, Updates on research work.
3. Butterfly body parts diagram.
4. Guided reading and comprehension quiz. Article: Butterflies Use Jet Propulsion for Quick Getaways, by Science News for Students. 5. Butterfly glossary update and quiz.
6.  Assignment: Work on research project and scavenger hunt.

Session 5 – Monarch Butterflies, part 1. 
1. Reminder to record glossary words and listen for answers to scavenger questions.
2. Updates on research work.
3. Guided reading and comprehension quiz. Article: Monarch Butterflies: Beautiful but Poisonous. 
4. Butterfly glossary updates. 
5. Reflections: Think of another animal species that has a special way of protecting itself from predators. Explain what the animal is and how it keeps from being hunted by predators.
6. Assignment: Work on the research project and the scavenger hunt.

Session 6 – Monarch Butterflies, part 2.
1. Reminder to record glossary words and listen for answers to scavenger questions.
2. Updates on research work.
3. Guided reading and comprehension quiz. Article: On a Wing and a Prayer: Monarchs Might Struggle to Make it to Mexico. 
4. Butterfly glossary updates and quiz. 
5. Reflections: Butterfly Thinking Question-- Why are butterflies classified as insects?
6. Assignment: Work on the research project and the scavenger hunt.

Session 7 – Saving the Butterflies, part 1. 
1. Reminder to record glossary words and listen for answers to scavenger questions.
2. Updates on research work.
3. Guided reading and comprehension quiz. Article: Helping to Save the Butterflies.
4. Butterfly glossary updates and quiz. 
5. Reflections: Butterfly Thinking Question-- Monarch butterflies don't lay their eggs on just any type of leaf. They only lay their eggs on milkweed leaves. Why?
6. Assignment: Work on the research project and the scavenger hunt.

Session 8 – Saving the Butterflies, part 2.
1. Reminder to record glossary words and listen for answers to scavenger questions.
2. Updates on research work.
3. Guided reading and comprehension quiz. Article: Good News! Some Butterfly Populations Bounced Back in 2019.
4. Butterfly glossary updates and quiz. 
5. Reflections: Butterfly Thinking Question-- What is a proboscis? What does a butterfly do with it?
6. Assignment: Work on the research project and the scavenger hunt. The research presentations are held during session 9. Volunteers will be solicited to give presentations first. Butterfly glossaries will be shared at the time when research is presented. Also, Scavenger Hunt responses are due during session 9. They will be posted to the teacher in the classroom.

Session 9 – Research presentations. 
1. Student research presentations and glossary work.
2. Students turn in scavenger hunt responses to the teacher in the classroom.
3. Reflections: Butterfly Thinking Question-- How can a caterpillar be an insect if it does not have six legs?

Session 10 – Research & Scavenger Hunt Awards and Creating a Butterfly Garden.
1. Wrap-up on unfinished research presentations and other tasks needed to be completed.
2. Research, glossary, and scavenger hunt awards.
3. Creating a Butterfly Garden. Article: How to Make a Butterfly Garden, by Jamie McIntosh. 
4. Students discuss and share ideas for creating a butterfly garden. 
4. End of the course evaluation. Most interesting information? What topics would students like to learn more about?...etc.