Activity
Butterflies part 2: Butterfly life cycle
Accessible butterfly life cycle science and tech activities and concept building with tactile graphics.
The goal of these butterfly series is to help TSVIs support lessons that are being taught in the classroom. A student who is blind or low vision often learns the facts taught in the lesson and can repeat word-for-word the details, but did the student build real concepts and is the student able to expand on and apply what was learned? Even if the student can describe with words the animal/object (in this case the butterflies’ life cycles) and can the student recognize the real or tactile images of these real objects?
The Concept Development Through Tactile Graphics: Duck Example post discussed the issue of students who struggle understanding the terminology used in descriptions or incorrectly applying knowledge. In this post, three students could repeat the verbal description of a duck but were unable to recognize distinguishing characteristics of a duck and had misconceptions about ducks. These students thought that since ducks can swim, they must have gills and fins.
Let’s review the progression of how to introduce tactile graphics introduced in the Building Concept Development post:
Real Objects > Models of Real Objects > Tactile Graphics Representing Real Objects or Symbols (including braille or print words) Representing Real Objects > 2D/Raised Line Outline. Students should also create their own tactile graphics using various mediums.
If possible, start by introducing models of real objects before moving to raised line outlines.
The butterflies part 1: Caterpillars post used tactile graphic images of a caterpillar as they learned about caterpillars. This post will continue to the lesson by expanding to cover the butterfly life cycle. Remember the caterpillar poems in the first post which introduce the butterfly life cycle? Pair The Fuzzy Littler Caterpillar Poem with the related tactile images. The images below can be printed and used with a tactile graphics machine or can be used as a template for educators to create hand-made tactile graphics.
Image1: Butterfly eggs
Download leaf with butterfly eggs image here.
The caterpillar is the larva stage of development, occurring after hatching and before the adult form (butterfly) is reached.
Image 2: Detailed caterpillar image
Download the detailed caterpillar image here.
A chrysalis is the form a caterpillar takes before it emerges from its cocoon as a fully formed moth or butterfly. The chrysalis has a hard skin that protects the caterpillar; the chrysalis hangs from a branch or twig. When inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar/butterfly is called a pupa.
Image 2: Chrysalis
Download the chrysalis image here.
Image 4: Simple butterfly
Download the simple butterfly image here.
Image 5: Detailed butterfly
Download the detailed butterfly image here.
Butterfly life cycle activities
Use smaller versions of the tactile graphics above or use the butterfly life cycle image here, which has four similar images on one page. Using slightly different images helps the student to identify the distinguishing characteristics and apply this knowledge to a slightly different tactile graphic.
Sequencing activity
Using the tactile butterfly life cycle images, place the tactile graphics in order in the circular life cycle layout. Add braille labels. Now move the images in a list format. Provide students with a digital copy of the images – make sure that the images are labeled! Within a word document, ask students to copy and paste the images in order in a list format.
Butterfly life cycle crafts
Part of the tactile graphic rich environment goal is for students to be given opportunities to create their own tactile graphics.
- Provide the student with various tactile materials and encourage the student to create one or more of the images in the butterfly life cycle. Use your imagination! If desired, prompt the student by providing an tactile image (such as the simply butterfly made out of cardboard. Then provide a variety of a small foam shapes, gems, pompoms, pipe stem cleaners, etc. and ask the student to decorate the butterfly. Encourage the student to add antennas.
Create a butterfly life cycle image using pasta.
- Eggs: Green construction paper in the shape of a leaf with 5 or 6 pieces of rice
- Caterpillar (Larva): Green construction paper in the shape of a leaf with a “bite” taken out of it and a rotini pasta (twisted)
- Chrysalis (pupa): Brown construction paper (or rough material) in the shape of a forked branch and a shell macaroni
- Butterfly: Bow-tie shaped pasta (farfalle)
- Place the pasta images in the correct sequence on a white paper plate. Use braille labels for each stage and a braille label “Butterfly Life Cycle) in the center. Raised line arrows are optional.
Image: Pasta butterfly life cycle with print labels.
Create an edible butterfly life cycle using snack food.
- Eggs: Lettuce leaf with miniature marshmellows
- Caterpillar: Lettuce leaf with a gummy worm
- Chrysalis: Pretzel stick (or brown construction paper in the shape of a forked branch) and a green grape
- Butterfly: Butterfly-shaped crackers
Place on a white paper plate and use braille labels.
Slide presentation
Create a slide presentation of the butterfly life cycle. Use the digital images from the previous activity or take pictures of the pasta images and embed these images into the slide presentation. For older students, create a slide for each stage and add at least 2 pieces of information about that stage.
The picture is a student’s drawing of a butterfly with a written list of butterfly information:
- four wings
- are insects
- drink nectar
- are colorful
- lay eggs
- can fly
- have antennae
- taste with their feet
- are pretty
Note taking or screen reader speed activities
The first post included reading a paragraph about caterpillars. This paragraph was used to practice note taking or to work on increasing the student’s screen reader listening speed. Students learn best by repeating activities, so here is a paragraph about the butterfly life cycle that can be used to practice note taking or increasing screen reader speed!
A butterfly lays eggs on the leaves of a plant. These eggs hatch and young ones called larvae or caterpillars come out of the eggs. The caterpillar starts feeding on the leaves and starts to grow. It sheds its skin several times so that it can grow. Once the caterpillar is big enough, it stops eating. It then forms a protective layer around itself. This stage is called chrysalis or pupa. The caterpillar remains motionless in the cocoon for about 10-15 days. Inside the cocoon, the caterpillar undergoes a series of changes. After about 15 days, a beautiful adult butterfly emerges out of the cocoon. These series of changes in the life cycle of a butterfly is called metamorphosis.
Additional thought
Maybe you are working with an older student who has already learned about the butterfly life cycle, but who is reading a book in class about butterflies. Add a tactile image of a butterfly to the book!
- Creating PIAF tactile images: Graphic book cover Why should braille students have tactile book covers and how do you make them?
Note: Images and ideas were found online – authors are unknown.
Resources
- Butterflies part 1: Caterpillars
- Butterflies part 3: Note taking from videos
- Butterflies part 4: Books and writing activities
By Diane Brauner
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