Western Monarch Day
DEEP END LEARNING I February 5th
Embrace the beauty and importance of conservation with “Western Monarch Day” on February 5th. This day is dedicated to raising awareness and celebrating the majestic journey of the Western Monarch butterflies. Discover engaging activities, educational resources, and inspiring ways to participate in preserving these vital pollinators.
Today is a great day to plant milkweed! Encourage butterflies to stop at your home, while also helping to conserve and support their future.
Planting Milkweed not only supports butterfly conservation on a global scale but also ensures the survival and prosperity of these crucial pollinators within our ecosystems.
Fun Trivia
Unlike their eastern counterparts, Western monarch butterflies do not migrate all the way to Mexico. Instead, they spend the winter in a state of semi-hibernation in coastal California, particularly within cozy fir trees and other suitable habitats along the coast.
Additional Activities
- Butterfly Garden Visit: If possible, visit a local butterfly garden or nature center where children can see monarch butterflies in their natural habitat.
- Search for Eggs: In Florida monarch butterflies lay eggs on milkweed as early as February. Grab a microscope, head outdoors, identify some milkweed and see if you can find any eggs.
- Monarch Tagging Demonstration: Attend a monarch tagging event or watch a video online to learn how scientists tag and track monarch butterflies on their migration journey.
- Butterfly Dance: Put on some upbeat music and have a butterfly dance party! Encourage your child to move their bodies like a butterfly flapping its wings and flying around the room.
Books
Celebrate Western Monarch Day with these colorful children’s books. Each one offers insights into the lives of monarch butterflies, highlighting their importance and the need for conservation. These selections are perfect for educating kids in a fun and interactive way.
“Monarch Butterflies: Explore the Life Journey of One of the Winged Wonders of the World” by Ann Hobbie: This book provides young readers with detailed information about monarch butterflies’ life cycle, anatomy, and migration. It’s packed with colorful illustrations and offers ways for kids to help conserve these butterflies.
- “Monarchs and Milkweed” by Anurag Agrawal: This book delves into the fascinating evolutionary relationship between monarch butterflies and the milkweed plant. It’s an excellent choice for older kids interested in science and nature.
Gotta Go! Gotta Go!” by Sam Swope and Sue Riddle: This is a charming story about a caterpillar who knows she must make the long journey to Mexico, despite not knowing why or how. It’s a wonderful introduction to the monarch migration.
“Waiting for Wings” by Lois Ehlert: A beautifully illustrated book that unfolds the life cycle of a butterfly. It’s perfect for younger readers and provides an engaging way to learn about monarch butterflies.
“Flight of the Butterflies” by Roberta Edwards: This book tells the true story of the discovery of the monarch butterflies’ migration and winter home in Mexico.
“Where Butterflies Grow” by Joanne Ryder and Lynne Cherry: In this story, children can follow the life cycle of butterflies, with a focus on the lush, green world where butterflies grow.
“The Butterfly Alphabet Book” by Jerry Pallotta and Brian Cassie: This book is great for learning not just about monarchs, but also about a wide variety of other butterflies.
“A Butterfly Is Patient” by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long: An introduction to the world of butterflies, including the monarch, this book combines lovely illustrations with interesting facts.
- “Butterfly Park” by Elly MacKay: Though not exclusively about monarchs, this book is a delightful tale about the joy of butterflies and the importance of community in creating natural habitats for wildlife.
Videos/Documentaries
Here are a couple of videos for kids about the Western Monarch Butterfly:
- Western Monarch Butterfly: Threats by Oceano Dunes District – CA State Parks
- Unraveling the Great Butterfly Migration Mystery by Be Smart
Music for the Day
Recipe
Butterfly Shaped Tea Sandwiches
Turn snack time into a fun activity with these adorable butterfly tea sandwiches that kids will love both making and eating. Easy and delicious, these sandwiches are perfect for little hands and big imaginations.
Ingredients:
- Soft sandwich bread (white or whole wheat)
- Cream cheese or peanut butter (choose based on preference and allergies)
- Strawberry or grape jelly (for a sweet version)
- Thinly sliced cucumbers (for a savory version)
Instructions:
Cut Out Butterfly Shapes:
- Use a butterfly-shaped cookie cutter to cut out butterfly shapes from your bread slices. No cookie cutter? No problem! You can draw a butterfly on a piece of paper, cut it out, place it on the bread, and cut around it with a knife.
Spread the Base:
- Spread a layer of cream cheese or peanut butter on one side of the butterfly bread shapes.
Add Toppings:
- For a sweet sandwich, add a thin layer of jelly over the cream cheese or peanut butter.
- For a savory sandwich, place thinly sliced cucumbers over the cream cheese.
Assemble the Sandwich:
- If you’re making open-faced sandwiches, you’re done! For closed sandwiches, place another butterfly-shaped bread slice on top.
Final Touch:
- You can use pretzel sticks or thinly sliced veggies to create the body and antennae of the butterfly, placing them in the middle of your sandwich.
Letterboard Quote
Spread your wings and fly!
More Resource
Check out this curated selection of butterfly crafts that are perfect to celebrate Western Monarch Day.
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