Bye Bye Butterflies!

As part of our insect unit in science the past couple weeks, we had the privilege to watch ants in an ant farm and caterpillars turn into chrysalises and eventually into butterflies.  It was such an amazing transformation as we watched the caterpillars slowly make their way to the top of the container they were housed in, and eventually enfolding themselves into chrysalises as they make the phenomenal change to beautiful butterflies.  About a week and a half ago, we hung the chrysalises in the butterfly house so we could watch them emerge.  Just a couple days later, we were dazed as we watched butterflies flying around...butterflies we once knew as caterpillars!  Simply wonderful!

So you can understand my sadness when I came into school Saturday afternoon to see a couple butterflies struggling to stay afloat.  They had been flying around - and we had been feeding them flowers and sugar water - for about a week, and it was time for them to fly away.  I was hoping to wait until Tuesday so they kiddos could be there to witness it, but on Saturday morning, I was so afraid that, come Tuesday, there wouldn't be anymore alive.  Two butterflies had started losing their wings and one was flipped on its back slowly kicking his legs.  This made Mrs. Barnes sad...and I had to make the executive decision that they needed to fly on.

Fortunately, I had a helper with me and we were able to videotape the butterflies encounter with freedom.  I hope you enjoy our butterflies as they (slowly) made their way to the beautiful weather we had on Saturday morning.  We let them free in the garden so they were able to find some food right away...and they seemed very happy and grateful!

Enjoy! :)