On March 30th, the four-year-old students in Ms. Robyn Dodge’s Pre-K class at St. Joseph School received a special package from Insect Lore, a company that provides tools to give learners an insight into the world of insect metamorphosis. The box contained caterpillars that immediately spiked the children’s curiosity. The containers holding the caterpillars were small, clear cups that made it easy for the students to see the tiny larvae crawling around and feasting on the food at the bottom. Ms. Dodge immediately began her instruction. “The larvae will continue to eat their food and grow before your eyes,” she said as the students listened attentively. “They will shed their exoskeletons several times over the next seven to ten days.”
As she predicted, ten days later, the larvae climbed to the top of the containers and attached themselves to the undersides of the lids. There, they hung in a “J” shape, shed their exoskeletons one last time, and hardened into chrysalides. Shortly after that, Ms. Dodge moved them into a butterfly habitat. This past week, the Painted Lady Butterflies emerged from their chrysalides. Their wings appeared soft and crumpled at first, but the butterflies slowly stretched their wings and basked in the sun. They are currently enjoying a sunny spot in Ms. Dodge’s classroom and will be released very soon.
This experience allowed the Pre-K students to develop a greater understanding of the fantastic metamorphosis of butterflies through the completion of journal entries illustrating the stages they witnessed. Ms. Dodge also incorporated the butterflies into her art activities by having the students create watercolor butterflies and butterfly crowns. Another fun butterfly activity included the students naming the butterflies. Some names they selected were Rocco, Beep, Twinkle, and Cupcake. However, the butterfly metamorphosis is also the foundation of a unique Religion lesson that Ms. Dodge looks forward to teaching each year.
St. Joseph School utilizes the Loyola Press Religion Program, “God Made the World,” and within the Pre-K curriculum, there is a unit titled “God Made Butterflies.” The focus of this unit is the scripture, “God has made a home for us in Heaven,” an adaptation of 2 Corinthians 5:1. Ms. Dodge chooses to teach this lesson during the Easter Season because it also gives her students a better understanding of the resurrection of Christ. I explain to my students, “Jesus is like a caterpillar here on earth and then dies and goes into the tomb, which is like a butterfly’s chrysalis. Then, He rose from the dead just like the hatching of the butterflies. Now, Jesus has gone to Heaven! He has prepared a special place for us,” which is a fundamental concept for Pre-K children to understand. Ms. Dodge noted that her students tend to be sad when they learn about Jesus’ death. However, she explains that Jesus died to take on all the hurtful things we have done. That moment is always special when the students begin to comprehend Jesus’ love for us.
The St. Joseph School Pre-school and Pre-K programs provide a loving environment that gives children the opportunity to learn and grow emotionally, spiritually, intellectually, physically, and socially. Instructors emphasize that we are created to be unique, and the educational goal is to foster students’ talents and love of learning.
