This story takes the reader on a journey through the life of a Black Swallowtail butterfly. Children are asked to imagine themselves inside a tiny egg that hatches into a larva. Then the book describes what it would feel like to live as a caterpillar, a chrysalis and finally the butterfly. The imaginary story is supported with factual information about gardening for butterflies. The book also has an excellent description of how to set up a terrarium to raise butterfly larvae.
This book would be a valuable addition to a science unit on the life cycle of butterflies. All of the information is provided to support a class project raising butterfly larvae. Older students could also expand on the story to learn more about the life habits of Black Swallowtail butterflies and other butterfly species native to their area. Some classes may be able to use the gardening tips from the book to assist them in planting some native flowers around their school to attract butterflies. This would encourage an appreciation for nature and teach students about habitat conservation for wildlife.
The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a grade listed below.