| Teachers'
Guide for September 8, 2006 |
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| This
Week |
|  Inquiry
Skills: Observing Patterns
In the update, students pondered what would happen if monarchs flew
directly south. Now ask, What if monarchs simply
followed the sun? Give the class a chance to explore the concept
by observing the sun's position in the sky at different times of
day. Here's how:
- Go
outside on a sunny day. Have the class stand in a line and face
south.
- Draw
a straight line on the ground in front of the class to represent
the horizon. Label the lefthand end of the line east
and the righthand end, west.
- Have
students point toward the sun. Mark its approximate position by
drawing another line that begins in the middle of your "horizon."
Mark the time of day on the line.
- Do
the same thing several times during the day.
- After
making several measurements, ask again, What would happen
if monarchs simply followed the sun? Would they likely get to
Mexico? Why or why not?
|
Navigation
Challenge
Students should begin to grasp the idea that a combination of factors
enable monarchs to fly in the general direction of their
winter grounds in Mexico. But how useful is that?
- Ask
a student to point in the direction of his or her house.
- Ask
another student whether he or she could find that house on the
basis of that information. Ask, What other types of information
would you need? (They might mention streets and other landmarks.)
- Use
the map activities below to help students dig deeper into the
monarch's migratory landscape!
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 |
Map
Interpretation: Explore these two images of the Earth to
give children a global view of monarch butterfly migration.
Journal Question
- After
traveling to the monarchs' home, which geographic features do
you think might help them navigate? Explain your thinking.
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| Every
Week: |
Try
these activities regularly:
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Other
News |
- The
Symbolic Monarch Migration is about to begin! >>
Send a monarch to Mexico. Don't miss the trip. Deadline for migrating
monarchs is October 13, 2006
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