More specifically, the butterfly lifecycle.

I didn’t plan to create a homeschool outline for the summer. E and V have the homeschool room accessible to them and are free to explore the materials to their heart’s desire–but then they came across a butterfly life cycle in this book-funny how my attempt to explain where the eggs we eat come from went in a slightly different direction. Then E found The Very Hungry Caterpillar when assisting me downstairs, so I brought out the lifecycle (an Easter gift), and then came so many questions.

As you can see, it became a whole if-you-give-a-mouse-a-cookie thing–which is awesome! That’s why I love homeschooling/unschooling, we follow the child and their interests oever they come about and whereever they should lead.

So what materials are we bringing out or introducing to fuel this interest?

-Books. We are huge readers so, of course, we had to find more books that supported this interest. Why different books that explain the same concept? Becuase they aren’t the exact same. The variation in wording or illustration can be the key to an aspect trully making sense. So if we have te books available, we read them.

Caterpillar to Butterfly–A small boardbook, from a collection containing other Britannica books, that provides real photos of metamorphosis. While other books shared the life cycle, this provided more glimps of that transfromation.

Slow Down–Like the book above, this don’t just contain a look at the butterfly lifecyle so I love having it in our personal library. The illustrations and details are stunning.

A Butterfly is Patient–I truly can’t recommned this book, as well as all the others by this writting and illustating duo, enough. I also appreciate that the lifecyle isn’t of another monarch butterfly. Don’t get me wrong, they are lovely, but hey aren’t the only butterfly to go through metamorphosis and that can be a rather diffcult concept to grasp when that’s all you are seeing.

Butterflies and Moths–A boardbook that is a little more digestible and that they are able to bring to bed during quiet time. You might find these figurines enjoayble as well.

Butterfly Color and Counting. Okay, this may not cover the lifecycle, but if it can help tie in an interest with other areas that we may wish to learn about.

Handon on materials. This provides a different way to learn and truly understnad information. Questions may arise as a child notices soemthing that they may have otherwise passed over.

“What the hand does, the mind remembers.”

Maria Montessori

Lifecycle printable bundle–Language cards, matching, and minibooks provides more than one way for a child to emerse themselves in the lifescyle concept.

Lifecyle board–While this particular model comes with various lifecycle disks, I prefer it with figurines.

Layered puzzle. T was really into puzzles and they helped a great deal with learning and helping to become interested in certain topics. E and V aren’t really into puzzles in general, but when it comes to the little bit extra puzzles, like the layers, they are much more intrigued.

Butterfly and Moth symmetry puzzles— Again, while not the lifecycle itself, that interest in butterflies could lead to learning and understanding another concept.

Play silks–This was actually E and V’s idea. They began wrapping themselves in the dinning room curtain and say, “I’m coming out now!”–“I’m a butterfly!” For safety, not wanting the rod to be pulled down, I encouraged them to use the silks they have in their room. We created wings for when they emerged from their chrysalis, using two hair ties around their wrist to hold the ends of silks. If we wanted something that was a little more convincing and that they could do independently, these wings would’ve been perfect, or even these.

Butterfly habitat–And, of course, we can’t forgot the opportunity to not only watch real-life caterpillars and the journey to becoming a butterfly, but also help in the conservation and repopulation. Let’s not forgot a place for butterflies to rest and recharge.

Again, I really didn’t plan on creating a plan as I thought we would be spending most of our time outdoors–and we do. However, rather than continuing with a theme for every weekday (we still do Music Monday) I just follow them and wait for them to bring something to me or listen for the questions as we go with the flow.

Disclosure: French Family Montessori uses affiliated links through Amazon. There is no additional cost to you, but provides a small compensation that helps support this site.  I only share products that we use, have used, or are on our wish list. There is no obligation to purchase an item through an affiliated link.  

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