Introduction
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHVa-e8HooM]
Are butterflies important to our environment? Why?
What could happen if we didn’t have butterflies?
Do you think that it is important that we conserve butterflies? Why?
Add your answers to this Google doc. Add your first name after every answer.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TJjFF4iKTaY4CfzhsIwX4hpwZLGSEWmoOAXaQzXLnd4/edit?usp=sharing
You are going to become Monarch Butterfly experts and answer our driving question:
How can we, as concerned citizens, raise public awareness of the threats to butterflies, the need to conserve the butterflies, and how to conserve the butterflies?
Task
You will work in groups of 4 to research monarch butterflies.
You will use the information to become monarch butterfly experts.
You will collaborate to create a public service announcement. A public service announcement (PSA) or public service ad, is a message in the public interest disseminated by the media without charge, with the objective of raising awareness, changing public attitudes and behavior towards a social issue.
You will collaborate to create a public service announcement informing citizens of the threats to butterflies, the need to conserve the butterflies, and how to conserve the butterflies.
Process
Job # 1
The Butterfly Expert
You job will be to learn all that you can about the Monarch butterfly. Your research should include:
* How many stages of Metamorphosis does the Monarch go through?
* What are the stages of a Monarch's life cycle?
* Describe each of these stages.
What does the egg look like?
Where can it be found?
How big is the newborn caterpillar?
What is his first meal?
How big will the caterpillar be before it begins to make its chrysalis?
How does the chrysalis change during this time?
Describe the new butterfly.
* How long does it take a Monarch to complete these four stages?
***When you have completed your research you will share your information with your group members. You will use the information to collaborate together to create a PSA (Public Service Announcement) raising public awareness of the threats to butterflies, the need to conserve the butterflies, and how to conserve the butterflies.
Websites to use for answers:
http://www.butterflybushes.com/monarch_metamorphosis.htm
http://www.monarchwatch.org/biology/index.htm
http://www.insecta-inspecta.com/butterflies/monarch/index.html
http://www.monarchwatch.org/biology/cycle1.htm
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/search/Monarch.html#Life
***You will add your research to the Google Doc found here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wZ2sDWBKG_VqiQFL5G1-irmoGtvEahfXFFdMMxNV6L0/edit?usp=sharing
Job # 2
Travel Agent
As a travel agent your job is going to be discovering where the Monarch will migrate to. You will need to map out this journey and find out information about their migration.
* What is migration?
* Where do most Monarch butterflies migrate to?
* Why does the Monarch butterfly migrate?
* How far do they fly in a day?
* What are some dangers that the Monarch may encounter on the trip?
***When you have completed your research you will share your information with your group members. You will use the information to collaborate together to create a PSA (Public Service Announcement) raising public awareness of the threats to butterflies and the need to conserve the butterflies, and how to conserve the butterflies.
Websites to use for answers:
http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/Monarch_Butterfly/documents/royal_mail/Migration.pdf
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/search/Monarch.html#Migration
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarch/AboutFall.html
http://www.insecta-inspecta.com/butterflies/monarch/index.html
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/images/graphics/monarch/monarch_mapBlankFall.gif
***You will add your research to the Google Doc found here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wZ2sDWBKG_VqiQFL5G1-irmoGtvEahfXFFdMMxNV6L0/edit?usp=sharing
Job # 3
The Botanist (Plant expert)
As the Botanist your job will be to learn all you can about the Monarch's diet. What do they eat and why?
*Where does the Monarch butterfly lay her egg?
* What plant does the Monarch caterpillar eat?
* Why does it eat this plant?
* Are there any other types of animals or insects that eat this plant?
* Are there any types of this plant growing in our area?
* What are some different types of milkweed?
* After the caterpillar becomes a butterfly, what does it eat?
* What are the Monarch's favorite types of flowers?
* If we were going to plant milkweed in a garden how would we do it?
* What conditions are best for the milkweed to grow?
***When you have completed your research you will share your information with your group members. You will use the information to collaborate together to create a PSA (Public Service Announcement) raising public awareness of the threats to butterflies and the need to conserve the butterflies, and how to conserve the butterflies.
Websites to use for answers:
http://www.monarchwatch.org/milkweed/index.htm
http://www.butterflybushes.com/milkweed_information.htm
http://www.butterflybushes.com/milkweed.htm
http://butterflywebsite.com/butterflygardening.cfm
***You will add your research to the Google Doc found here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wZ2sDWBKG_VqiQFL5G1-irmoGtvEahfXFFdMMxNV6L0/edit?usp=sharing
Job # 4
The Conservationist
As the conservationist your job is to tell us what we can do to save the Monarchs.
* Why is it important to save the Monarchs?
* What can we do to help protect them?
* Why is it important to protect milkweed?
* What can we do to protect milkweed?
* What threatens the Monarch butterflies and Monarch caterpillars?
* What is tagging?
* Why do we tag Monarch butterflies?
***When you have completed your research you will share your information with your group members. You will use the information to collaborate together to create a PSA (Public Service Announcement) raising public awareness of the threats to butterflies and the need to conserve the butterflies, and how to conserve the butterflies.
Websites to use for answers:
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/8-ways-save-monarch-butterfly/
http://www.monarchwatch.org/conserve/index.htm
http://monarchwatch.org/tagmig/tag.htm
***You will add your research to the Google Doc found here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wZ2sDWBKG_VqiQFL5G1-irmoGtvEahfXFFdMMxNV6L0/edit?usp=sharing
You will collaborate to create a public service announcement informing citizens of the threats to butterflies, the need to conserve the butterflies, and how to conserve the butterflies. Your PSA should be no longer than 3 minutes.
Think of your research and these questions to guide your PSA:
What are the threats to butterflies?
Why do we need to protect and conserve butterflies?
What are your suggestions for how people can help conserve butterflies?
Your PSA will be created using VoiceThread which can be found here:
Email: engagedlearning1@gmail.com
Password: 654321
Evaluation
PSA RUBRIC
Conclusion
Now that you are an expert on Monarch Butterflies, what other insects can you research? You are becoming an official entomologist. Do you know what that word means?
Here are some links that can help you become an insect expert!:
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/ythfacts/oldentyouth.htm
http://www.entfdn.org/
http://www.kidsolr.com/science/page18.html
What are some next steps or what other problems can you solve as an official entomologist?