Bugs Night Out: Butterfly Day
Home School Day
Today was the second series of our Home School Days at the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory.
I could easily rave about this program and it's enthusiastic team of facilitators!
The theme was "Bugs Night Out".
There was a focus on Day of the Dead festivities and symbolism surrounding the festival in Mexico. Specifically how monarch butterflies are considered to carry the souls of ancestors, in folklore.
Day of the Dead
The theme coincided with our upcoming Samhain (All Hallow's Eve!).
Facilitators begin the introduction with the large group, then split the children into two groups (Bats & Pumpkins); one for station studies and the other for outdoor activity (role-playing the butterflies journey from Canada to Mexico and possible obstacles).
Wooly Bears
During Station Rotation, children were allowed to explore a collection of Wooly Bear Caterpillars, followed by entering them in a race!
Caterpillar Race!
Another station was set-up to decorate a Day of the Dead skull mask.
And finally the children were welcomed into the conservatory for a Scavenger Hunt!
O was extremely intent to complete this, since there was promise of a prize.
As a rule, we don't offer incentives as parents (stickers, treats, excessive praise etc), but I saw the magic of incentives at work today, as O completed her entire worksheet and completely ignored the amazing butterflies floating around the conservatory!
