Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, our family had the opportunity to watch caterpillars turn into butterflies at home. The pandemic caused me to get creative and look for easy and educational activities we could tackle at home. This was such a fun and exciting STEM-based activity for our whole family to participate in and experience. We’ll definitely be doing this again as an annual springtime tradition.
We ordered the Butterfly Garden kit from Insect Lore which includes a Live Cup of Caterpillars. The caterpillars start off as baby caterpillars that will grow into beautiful Painted Lady Butterflies over the course of 7-10 days. It’s was a fascinating family-friendly experience that sparked an even greater interest in nature right before my kid’s very eyes. Not only did my kids learn about the life cycles of a butterfly, but this activity also allowed them to learn more about life lessons like patience and empathy.
Once the butterflies emerged from their chrysalides, we fed them nectar and citrus fruits. After observing them in their butterfly habitat for three days, we set them free on a bright and sunny day in our backyard.
If you ever need proof that there is a higher power, try watching caterpillars turn into butterflies over the course of a few days right before your eyes. It’s truly an amazing sight to witness the whole process take place over the course of about two to three weeks total. We look forward to meeting new butterfly friends next spring!
Your turn: Have you ever tried this activity at home with your family? Feel free to share in the comments.
About Insect Lore
Insect Lore has been providing Hands-On STEM and Real-World understanding of the life-cycle of insects for over 50 years. With their immersive kits, learners get to witness the life cycles of some of nature’s most interesting insects up close and personal. With these intriguing kits, learners of all ages will get a glimpse into the fascinating world of insect metamorphosis. Insect Lore offers school kits, insect habitats and more.
Learn more about these amazing STEM-based interactive educational activities at: insectlore.com. On the website, you can also view instructional videos and more!
