Kindergarten Students Release Butterflies

By Kate Merritt
JTD Kindergarteners recently culminated their Planet Earth unit by releasing their painted lady butterflies into JTD garden. Students have been studying changes in the world around them--weather changes, the change of seasons, and life cycle changes. To accompany this unit of study, three weeks ago, Lower School science teachers Greg Dunbar and Molly Meek introduced the children to the new class pets--baby caterpillars!
Each day in science, students would make observations, watching them grow bigger and creating caterpillar artwork to showcase their knowledge. In the days that followed, students observed that there was a change in the caterpillars' habitats--the caterpillars were no longer there, but there were a number of chrysalides in their place! The kindergarteners were amazed to watch this process up close, and each student designed and colored their own chrysalis which was hung in the outdoor classroom.

"Every time there was a lifecycle change, the students replicated that change with an art project," explains Mr. Dunbar. "This hands-on experience served to reinforce the students' learning." 

So when then painted lady butterflies emerged early last week, students watched in awe as they grew stronger, and created their own tissue paper butterflies. On Wednesday, the kindergarten classes gathered outside in the JTD garden to release the butterflies. 

The shrieks of joy and chants of encouragement as the butterflies flew off truly said it all! 

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The John Thomas Dye School


11414 Chalon Road
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Phone: (310) 476-2811
The John Thomas Dye School admits students of any race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs.

Located In Los Angeles, CA, John Thomas Dye is an independent school for grades K-6. Students benefit from a challenging academic program, fine arts, competitive athletics, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.