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Creating A Butterfly
Garden
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Task
We're going to create a
small garden of plants that will attract
butterflies
from our Chicago area.
We
will need to find out which butterflies
frequent
our area and what plants they will
need for nectar and food.
Some of you
will become our butterfly research scientists. Some of you will become
our gardeners. Remember that you must choose plants that will grow
well in our area. Think about our temperatures and weather. *Helpful
hint - several of the plants that we consider weeds are actually butterfly
attractors.
Activity Questions
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What is the life cycle
of the butterfly from egg to adult?
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What are some differences
that separate butterflies from moths?
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Which butterflies frequent
the Chicago area?
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Which plants do these
butterflies use for nectar?
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Which plants do these
butterflies need to lay their eggs?
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What else would a garden
require to attract butterflies?
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**Extra
Credit** What happens when gardeners
use pesticides in order to kill harmful insects?
Resources 
 Museums
Academy
of Sciences - Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Reference
Books
Encarta
and/or homeroom encyclopedia
Library
books
Books
in our room
Internet library of virtual resources
Culminating
Questions
If you were to create
a butterfly garden in your backyard, which one butterfly would you most
wish to attract? What plants and other needs would this butterfly
require?
Project
Activity
in MediaSpace
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Students will visit websites in our
cybrary to answer activity questions.
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The following spokes will be available
for students to post their research results:
Spokes
*Differences between butterflies and moths - Students
post a small picture of a butterfly or a moth local to Chicagoland,
along with a difference between butterflies and moths.
*Needs of a butterfly garden - Students
will post definitions of a host plant and a nectar plant along with pictures,
if available. The students will also list what else is needed to
provide a complete garden for butterflies.
*Chicagoland butterflies - Students
will post a photo of a local butterfly. Students may also post pictures
of a caterpillar as long as they are identified.
*Pictures of a butterfly garden - Students
will post a picture drawn in KidPix (without stamps) to show their virtual
garden with all necessary butterfly needs.
Assessments
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Background
Information
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Student will demonstrate knowledge of butterfly life cycle orally or by
drawing or printout.
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Student will be able to list two differences that distinguish butterflies
from moths.
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Student will name two butterflies found in the Chicagoland area, other
than a Monarch.
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Student will define the terms host plant and nectar plant.
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Internet
Information
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Student will demonstrate ability to use the cybrary links connected to
this page.
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Student will link to a site to show the butterfly he/she has chosen to
report on.
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Presentation
Information
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Student will prepare short paper for oral presentation on one butterfly
that is found in the Chicago area with plants and garden requirements included.
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Student will draw picture of a garden to match information in his/her report.
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Student will post finished and teacher accepted work to mediaspace.
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