Minds On

Helping a butterfly buddy

This learning activity connects new and existing approaches for young scientists to create positive changes in their communities.

Three young people stand in front of a presentation board, with “Our Garden” at the top of the middle board, and a few plants in front.

Let’s explore a video from TVOkids.

In the following video entitled “Butterflies”, Mo and Bebe from the Canada Crew learn how to help Meadow the Monarch find her family.

In the video, Broti helps the Canada Crew learn about migration and roosting.

What do these words mean? Answer the following questions to show what you know!

Gavin the Goose discovers many butterflies in Point Pelee Provincial Park.

The monarchs have ‘roosted’ there.

Butterflies and many birds roost before leaving on their journey south for the winter.

Let’s help some butterflies find their way!

Action

A butterfly adventure

A monarch butterfly flies through a clear blue sky.

Meadow the Monarch is trying to find her way to Mexico, but first she needs to meet up with her friends.

Using the instructions North, South, East, and West, you will help Meadow meet her family, and then travel to Mexico.

Let’s explore the following map of Meadow’s journey. It shares the position of Meadow, her family, and her destination in Mexico.

Meadow the monarch butterfly flies through the sky.

Meadow the butterfly is at F6

Meadow’s family of three monarch butterflies.

Meadow’s family is at E5

A location pinpoint icon with the label “Mexico” beside it.

Meadow and her family need to get to Mexico at D1

A map of North America shows Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Meadow and Meadow’s family of 3 monarch butterflies start their journey.

The map of Meadow’s journey

Step 1: Find her family!

Let’s try to get Meadow to her family.

Using the arrows for North (up), East (right), South (down) and West (left), record a sequence to get Meadow to her family in Point Pelee.

You can use the following Grid Map activity or complete this exercise on paper or describe how you would get Meadow to her family in an audio recording.

When you’re ready, press the ‘Answer’ button to reveal possible directions for getting Meadow to her family.

If we use the arrows to help Meadow get to her family, Meadow could go:

A down arrow. It is labelled “South.”
A left arrow. It is labelled “West.”

Or, Meadow could also go:

A left arrow. It is labelled “West.”
A down arrow. It is labelled “South.”

Step 2: Going to Mexico

Nice work! Now, let’s get Meadow and her family to Mexico!

Just like last time, use the arrows for North (up), East (right), South (down) and West (left) and record a sequence to get Meadow and her family to Mexico.

You can use the following Grid Mapping Activity or complete this exercise on paper or describe how you would get Meadow and her family to Mexico in an audio recording.

When you’re ready, press the ‘Answer’ button to reveal a possible path that Meadow and her family could take.

To get to Mexico and stay over land where they can find flowers for food and rest, the butterflies all need to go:

A left arrow labelled “West” and then four down arrows in a row, all labelled “South”. This shows the path butterflies need to go to Mexico.

This isn’t the only path! There are other ways that Meadow and her family could get to Mexico. Your path may have been different.

Consolidation

The journey home

Now that it is spring, all of the Monarchs are ready to come back to Canada.

The butterflies don’t travel in one long trip. They stop along the way and have baby caterpillars.

These caterpillars grow into butterflies and these butterflies travel further north.

It can take up to 4 generations to get back to Canada!

Step 1: Baby caterpillars

Let’s help the butterflies one more time! This time, we will help them get home to Canada.

The monarch starts in Mexico (D1) but it needs to get to its first stop so it can lay eggs that will turn into caterpillars.

The butterfly is going towards the caterpillar at D3.

Just like last time, use the arrows for North (up), East (right), South (down) and West (left), record a sequence to get the butterfly to the caterpillar.

You can use the following Grid Map activity or complete this exercise on paper or describe how you would get the butterfly to the caterpillar in an audio recording.

When you’re ready, press the ‘Answer’ button to reveal a possible path that the butterfly could take to get to the caterpillar.

An up arrow. It is labelled “North.”
An up arrow. It is labelled “North.”

Step 2: More milkweed!

After that caterpillar turns into a butterfly and travels back to Canada, it will need nectar from milkweed flowers to eat. It will also need to rest and lay eggs. More caterpillars will hatch from the eggs, turn into butterflies, and continue the journey.

On the following Grid Map, there is some milkweed at the square F4. The butterfly wants to get to the milkweed so it can eat, rest, and lay eggs.

Just like last time, use the arrows for North (up), East (right), South (down) and West (left), record a sequence to get the butterfly to the milkweed.

You can use the following Grid Mapping Activity or complete this exercise on paper or describe how you would get the butterfly to the milkweed in an audio recording.

When you’re ready, press the ‘Answer’ button to reveal a possible path that the butterfly could take.

An up arrow labelled “North” and then two right arrows in a row, each labelled “East”. This shows a path a butterfly could take to Canada.

Step 3: Back to Canada

This is the last step!

After the butterflies eat, rest, and lay their eggs, it is time to go back to Canada.

On the following Grid Map, the butterfly is trying to get back home at F6.

Just like last time, use the arrows for North (up), East (right), South (down) and West (left), record a sequence to get the butterfly to Canada.

You can use the following Grid Map activity or complete this exercise on paper or describe how you would get the butterfly to Canada in an audio recording.

When you’re ready, press the ‘Answer’ button to reveal a possible path that the butterfly could take to get to Canada.

An up arrow. It is labelled “North.”
An up arrow. It is labelled “North.”

What a Grade 2 student can do

Grade 2 students can help animals along their migration route by:

  • planting wildflowers for butterflies to use when the need to stop and eat and rest
  • leaving out seed for birds when they return after the winter

Reflection

How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel…

Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.