Early Literacy Technology Grant Lesson Plans Title of Lesson: Monarch Butterfly Migration Grade: Second Unit(s): Reading/LA: Reading to be informed, Writing to inform Science: The Life Cycle of Butterflies (National Science Resource Center/STC unit) Developed by: Chris Elrod, Liz Bernard, Susan Keren, Janet Houston, East Silver Spring E. Edited by: Bonny Chambers Concepts and Outcomes: Students will: • read print and electronic resources to find information about migration. • use the web site, Journey North, to track the migration of Monarch Butterflies • use graphic organizers to organize information as they read. • write a narrative from a different point of view. Materials: • The Great Migration , by Jacob Lawrence • First Connections: The Golden Book Encyclopedia CD-ROM • The Journey North Web site: <http://www.learner.org/jnorth/ • Assorted print materials about butterflies and animal migration • Graphic Organizers and data collection sheets including a US map • Clipboards (for note taking at the computers) • Research and Learning Hub computers Preassessment: To gain insight into what students already know about migration, ask them to write a sentence or draw a picture to show what they know about migration in their science journals, logs or notebooks. Use this information to help you group students in pairs for research and to identify any students who are ready to compare the migration of the monarch butterfly to that of another animal or complete an independent or extended learning project. Opening Set: Read the book, The Great Migration, by Jacob Lawrence. Discuss the book, the author's style and purpose. Talk about how the author shared information and what the author had to learn to write the book. Ask students if they can define migration now that they have heard the story. Brainstorm a list of animals that migrate. Lesson Design: Tell students they are going to learn more about migration using the web site, Journey North, the CD-ROM First Connections: The Golden Book Encyclopedia and nonfiction books. Then, they will use the information they have learned to write a newspaper article about the Monarch migration, or to write a journal entry from the point of view of a Monarch Butterfly telling about their migration experience. With the computer connected to the TV or another projection device, Model opening First Connections and locating the article about migration. Model using graphic organizer and data sheets to record information. Remind students of the purpose for their research and that they do not need to copy entire sentences, just facts and phrases that will help them with their final product. Students should work in pairs and share notes. Designate a note taker and navigator while working on the computer. Give the note taker a clipboard. Review and model reading for information from expository resources. Begin researching: One-third of the class work on the hub with the CD-ROM on research and learning hub computers, one-third use the nonfiction books; one-third work with the teacher or media specialist to view the web site to track the migration and read updates on the Monarchs journey north. At this station, model with each group the recording of a migration route on the map. Have groups rotate to each station. This might be done in a long class period, or over the course of three days, one station each day. If you spread the research over several days, be sure to review the purpose for researching and procedures briefly each day.   Synthesis and Conclusion: After research is completed students will work in cooperative groups of three or four to review, share and organize their data. Students will demonstrate their understanding of the Monarch's migration by writing a journal entry from a Monarch's point of view or a newspaper report about the migration of Monarchs.   Evaluation and Assessment Graphic organizers are complete and accurate. Journal entry or newspaper article contains detailed and complete information about the Monarch's migration north from the over-wintering site. Home/School Connection: Suggest parents and students keep a journal to record sitings of butterflies in their neighborhood. Extensions: More able students and students with a lot of background information about migration can compare the migration of the Monarch to the migration of an animal of their choice. Then, create a multimedia presentation or poster to teach others about the migration of both animals. Students can look for signs of other animals that migrate through their neighborhoods.