AHE’s Grade 1/2 class hatch butterflies

By Emily MacLeod, Amelie Delesalle and Rebecca Grabinsky
Arrow Heights Elementary School Student Reporters

The Grade 1/2 class at Arrow Heights Elementary School received 25 Painted Lady Caterpillars two weeks ago. They got these caterpillars because they are learning about the life cycles of animals in science.

About a week ago these caterpillars started forming their cocoons. Two days ago the caterpillars started emerging from their cocoons and turning into beautiful Painted Lady Butterflies. There are about half still needing to emerge. We asked a few questions of the Grade 1/2 students.

  1. What did you name your butterflies?

Isla Thompson said that she named hers Tim, Anya Wolfe-Patrick said that she named hers Butter, and Levi Maloney said that he named his Zane.

  1. What was your favourite part about the butterflies?

Maizey McGiven said that she liked watching the caterpillars turn into butterflies. Harrison Roe liked watching them go through the life cycle. Eve Brensrud said that she liked watching their tongues come out.

  1. What are some cool facts about butterflies?

Connor Ayotte said that they look a lot like monarchs, Harrison Roe said that they can flap their wings up to 70 times per second!

  1. When will you be releasing them?

Alex Stevenson said that they will be releasing them into the wild when they have all emerged.

Here are a couple of photos of photos of students examining the butterflies and cocoons:

Here are Aiden Schott, Isla Thompson, and Maizey McGiven watching the butterflies. Natalie MacLeod photo. Caption by Emily MacLeod, Amelie Delesalle, and Rebecca Grabinsky
Here are Aiden Schott, Isla Thompson, and Maizey McGiven watching the butterflies. Natalie MacLeod photo. Caption by Emily MacLeod, Amelie Delesalle, and Rebecca Grabinsky
Here are Harrison Roe and Levi Maloney observing the butterflies. Natalie MacLeod photo. Caption by Emily MacLeod, Amelie Delesalle, and Rebecca Grabinsky
Here are Harrison Roe and Levi Maloney observing the butterflies. Natalie MacLeod photo. Caption by Emily MacLeod, Amelie Delesalle, and Rebecca Grabinsky