Lesson Summary
Students compare the way a butterfly eats with the way a caterpillar eats. Students observe how the butterfly uses the proboscis to eat. Students and teachers discuss ways people and other animals eat. Discuss how the caterpillar eats the leaves. Students will discuss how they think the butterfly will eat the sugar water and then observe this when the sugar water is placed in the flight cages. Discuss the purpose of the proboscis. Make the connection that in nature the butterfly would get its food as nectar from flowers. Students will write and draw about the butterfly getting food. For assessment, ask students to compare the way a caterpillar eats with the way a butterfly eats.
Teacher Background
Different insects have different types of mouths. In metamorphosis the chewing mouth parts of the caterpillar changes to the sucking proboscis of the butterfly. A caterpillar can only chew leafy food with its laterally (side to side) moving jaws, the butterfly can only suck liquid through its straw-like proboscis.
When the butterfly is not using the proboscis, it keeps it coiled close to its head. It is almost as long as the butterfly’s body and can be easily seen. This allows the butterfly to reach deep down into a flower to sip nectar.
Set-up/Management Tips
- Mix the sugar water by adding one teaspoon of sugar with about one half cup of water. Prepare a large cup of sugar water to have handy for easy replenishing of sponges.
- It is sometimes difficult for students to view the curled proboscis on the butterfly. Use a transparency of Figure 10-1, the butterfly’s head in the teacher guide prior to observing the butterflies to help focus their observation.
- Consider putting fresh flowers or plants such as malva, pansies, thistle, or hollyhock in the butterfly cage as another food source and observation experience for students.
- Be careful to not overfill the dish with sugar water, as the butterflies can drown. You only need enough water to soak the sponge. Check the water supply daily.
Literacy Support
There are currently no VAST Mediagraphies listed for this unit.
Scientific Vocabulary
The following words are key vocabulary words that will be introduced in this lesson and reinforced throughout the unit:
|
|
