Monarch Butterlies Begin Their 2,000 Mile Journey to Mexico
On a perfect October day, children and teachers from The Advent School paraded up Brimmer Street to the Public Garden where they released nine monarch butterflies to begin their 2,000 mile journey to Mexico. The students sang “Mariposa vuela ya” (Butterflies fly now) as their butterflies were released and fluttered up into a bright blue sky.
Kindergarten Teacher Yvonne Liu-Constant and students just before their releasing their butterflies.
credit: Kathy Koplik
Since September, Advent Kindergarten students have observed the metamorphosis of these amazing insects from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. The butterflies were raised from eggs collected from area backyards and hatched from chrysalides in the classrooms. Before their release, the butterflies were tagged with 9mm round polypropylene stickers, numbered specifically for this year’s tagging season. A network of researchers and volunteers from Canada to Mexico monitor the monarch’s migration and record any tagged butterflies that are found along the route.
A net full of Monarchs.
credit: Kathy Koplik
Students studied science, geography and social studies as they learned about the monarch’s amazing life cycle and the threats they face from pesticides to habitat destruction. In art class, they painted butterflies and created butterfly collages and tiny wire and paper butterfly sculptures. They composed butterfly songs in music class and learned vocabulary and a song in Spanish class.
In July, Advent Kindergarten teachers hosted a three-day summer workshop called Teaching and Learning with Monarch Butterflies run by the Monarch Teacher Network. They join a growing number of teachers from Canada and the United States who use the monarch’s inspiring story to teach science, literacy, math, the arts, and social studies while connecting students to the environment and critical global issues.
A Monarch rests before beginning the long journey to Mexico.
credit: Kathy Koplik
Each fall adult monarchs in North America begin their 4,000 kilometer/2,000 mile journey to the high mountains west of Mexico City, the longest migration of any insect in the world. In the spring their great grandchildren return to complete this annual cycle. The monarch migration is considered endangered because of the many threats these insects face. Pesticide use across North America kills monarchs and the plants they depend upon while logging in the Mexican mountains also threatens their habitat. Urban sprawl and global warming also take their toll.
The latest in nosewear for Assistant Head of School, Ms. Pandit.
credit: Neil Taylor
“At the Advent School, kids are valued as students but also as individuals. The teachers take the time to get to know us – and our differences are just part of what makes our school stronger. During my 7 years here, I’ve always felt encouraged to explore my interests (definitely Math and Science) and have received support in more challenging subjects. Advent also gives students a voice. Students speak up and participate; we are encouraged to be honest and say what we think and even if someone disagrees with an idea, they respect their peers’ opinion. The Advent community has given me an opportunity to make true friends who support me and respect who I am. The teachers have always made learning fun but have also motivated me to work on the things I didn’t want to try and wasn’t as good at – this has opened my mind to subjects and ideas I would never have known about otherwise. I’ve really enjoyed my Advent experience and will take all I’ve learned - academic and personally – with me to my next school. ~Connor Bertsch Advent School Sixth Grader ”
— Advent Sixth Grade
- Advent Art Sampler
