Butterflies at the Library!

Summer is a great time to add some temporary Language Rich Activities in your library. This summer we are raising butterflies! We bought five caterpillars and a butterfly house and then set up a great experience for our youngest customers.   The Butterfly Center includes caterpillars, a butterfly house, magnifying glasses, observation forms, some butterfly decorations, signage with butterfly facts and books from the collection about butterflies.  When kids come into the library they can observe the caterpillars, chrysalis, or butterflies — depending on the stage of metamorphosis. Then a natural opportunity arises for parents/caregivers to talk to kids about the process so that they understand what is happening.  After they have made their observations and talked about facts and process they can draw or write about what they see and post their observations on the wall for others to read. This center is different each time the kid comes in since the butterflies are progressing through their metamorphosis.  Once all of our caterpillars have become Butterflies we will invite customers to their release into the wild. The Butterfly Center creates a sense of wonder and discovery in children. It offers kids and caregivers the chance to talk and learn new words like chrysalis and metamorphosis, write or draw what they see and read to learn more about butterflies.