PR E PA R ATORY S C HO OL
Studying Life Cycles
During Term 1, the Year 2 students studied
all things related to growing and changing.
Part of this study involved looking closely at
humans and animals and their life cycles.
Students found out that living things grow,
change and have offspring, similar to
themselves.
Early in the term the class had a visit from
some of Mrs Cooper’s family members.
They ranged in age from Ari at 4 months,
Zara at 18 months and Indiana at 4 years of
age. The class then compared Mrs Cooper’s
family to Ruby Overton, who is seven. There
were many differences and it was interesting
to see the changes over time. The children
had to draw and label different stages of
development and list their observations and
milestones or events that children reach at
certain ages.
As part of their studies the students each
made a rice baby, which each student took
home and cared for, for one night. The
students had to name the baby, read to it
and keep it safe and warm. The children
loved this activity and many students have
since made their own.
The students also studied the life cycle of
a Monarch Butterfly and a Darkling Beetle
(Mealworm). The students observed the
worms over a few weeks and noted many
changes from worm, pupa, young beetle
and then adult beetle. The worms were
then donated to Mrs Lim’s chickens, who
thought they were really delicious! Before
the butterflies arrived the students completed
a ‘Code for Caring’ activity. They realised that
they needed to respect any living animals,
search carefully in nature, be gentle when
handling living things and beware of stings
and bites.
The children carefully studied the changes
in the Monarch Butterfly life cycle from
egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and butterfly. They
also used a microscope from the Senior
School to enlarge and study the parts of
the butterfly (thank you Mrs McCaughey
- mum of Mikey for organising this). The
students looked at many different things
in the growing and changing topic, but by
far one of the most enjoyable activities was
releasing the butterfly. It was a highlight
for all the students to watch the beautiful
butterfly fluttering off into the trees near
the kindergarten classroom. Here are some
reflections from some of the Year 2 students.
Orlando Borg (2BC) – We got a butterfly
and we also got a chrysalis. One morning
we thought the butterfly was gone, but
it wasn’t. It was just hiding from us. We
were so lucky to watch two students let the
butterfly go.
Isabel Varghese (2BC) – We let a butterfly
out into nature. It landed on a tree. It was a
Monarch Butterfly. Maybe one day it will lay
eggs and the life cycle will start all over again.
Karan Jain (2BC) – The Monarch Butterfly
flew onto the tree and stayed there for a
long time until it flew away.
Ursilla Bell (2SC) – Daria Eldridge and I
released the Monarch Butterfly from the
cage and it flew onto the nearest big tree. It
spread its wings and it looked very happy.
Ishan Naidoo (2SC) – The Monarch Butterfly
was symmetrical on both sides. That means
it had the same patterns and colours on both
sides of its wings. It was black on its body
and bright orange with some black on its
wings. It also had antennae on its head.
Gemma Mars (2SC) – We were learning
about life cycles and we looked at butterflies.
When it was time, we had to let the
Monarch Butterfly free. That day we went
out close to the Library and we chose 2
people to let it go back into nature. Ursilla
and Daria put their hands into the enclosure
and it was very shy and didn’t want to come
out at first. Ursilla picked it up and she took
it out of the enclosure. She put her finger
up and the Monarch Butterfly flew up to the
nearest tree.
Mrs Barbara Cooper
Year 2 Teacher
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