So cool, Nora! I know what you mean about release day being a little bit sad… You’ve taken such good care of them and watched them constantly for several weeks and then you’re setting them free and hoping they thrive out there in the big world all by themselves. It’s happy and sad all at once. :)

Thanks, Leah! No, I didn’t really follow a specific book or program when teaching my Kindergarten kids about butterflies… I’ve always been more of a create my own hands-on lessons kind of teacher (hence my very few hours of sleep while teaching – hah!) Scholastic does have some great butterfly resources though, so check them out. Evan-Moor also has some great life cycle resources – many of which are available as instant download e-books. :) As for Gracen, we read a lot of books. Fiction books like Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Scholastic’s Caterpillar to Butterfly and Butterfly Life Cycle all do a great job at introducing the topic. But as with my students, I find the best learning takes place simply by observing the process that’s unfolding in our house and talking about it along the way. I bet your nephew would LOVE it! :)

Hah! Fun, right Carolyn?! With this particular kit, you can keep them in the container they’re shipped in until they form chrysalises, but we chose to separate them each into their own container as I’ve done in the past (you can see that process here: https://mamapapabubba.com/2013/05/09/gracen-raises-butterflies-the-caterpillar-transfer/). Once they are in their chrysalises, you take them out of the container and hang them in a butterfly hut (our DIY version coming soon!) They emerge as butterflies and fly around in the hut until you let them free. :)