[Surnetkids] Monarch Butterflies

Dear Reader,

A few weeks ago, around the time that the migrating monarch butterfly was declared endangered, my husband brought home four native milkweed plants, which we planted in our backyard. Native milkweed is the only host for monarch butterfly caterpillars, and also attracts other pollinators as well. To learn more about how you can plant milkweed to support our monarch butterfly population, here’s an article from the National Wildlife Federation: Milkweed for Monarchs.

See ya on the Net,
Barbara J. Feldman
“Surfing the Net with Kids”
https://www.surfnetkids.com

Monarch Butterflies
https://www.surfnetkids.com/resources/monarch-butterflies/

Monarch Butterflies Printable(** for Premium Members only)
https://www.surfnetkids.com/printables/files/printables-club/monarch-butterflies.pdf

In all the world, no butterflies migrate like the monarchs of North America. They travel up to three-thousand miles twice a year: south in the fall, and north in the spring. To avoid the long, cold northern winters, monarchs west of the Rocky Mountains winter along the California coast. Those east of the Rockies fly south to the mountain forests of Mexico. Unlike migrating birds and whales, however, individual monarchs only make the round-trip once. It is their great-grandchildren that return south the following fall. Due to loss of habitat, and increased use of pesticides, monarchs were recently classified as endangered. Experts estimate that the monarch butterfly population has decreased by 85% in the last thirty years.

The Butterfly Site

The Butterfly Site calls itself the “world’s oldest and largest website dedicated to butterflies and moths.” Visit for butterfly gardening tips, coloring pages, stories of how butterflies have touched people’s lives, and butterfly quotes. “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” ~~ Maya Angelou

Children’s Butterfly Site

“Despite their small size, butterflies and moths are some of the world’s most wondrous animals. Their beauty, seemingly miraculous metamorphosis, and apparently carefree flight all spark our imaginations.” Entomologist Dr. Paul Opler answers children’s questions about butterflies (“How do butterflies go to the bathroom?”) and tells the butterfly life cycle story through click-and-print coloring pages. Be sure to visit the photo gallery.

Journey North: Monarch Butterfly

The Journey North project tracks monarch migration by collecting reports of the first sightings of adult monarch butterflies and monarch eggs found on milkweed plants. Each week a migration map will be produced, showing a “live” snapshot of the migration in progress. Register now to become a “news reporter” and receive daily updates, challenge questions and online lesson plans. Registration is free, and only registered participants can report their sightings. Printed materials are available for a nominal fee.

… Click to continue to Monarch Butterflies

Printables Club Members Also Get …

Surfnetkids Printables Club Members also get the following printables to use in the classroom, the computer lab, the school library, or to send home with students:

Monarch Butterflies Printable
Printable Monarch Butterfly Word Search
Monarch Butterflies Wikipedia Printable
Monarch Butterflies Quiz and Worksheet
Insects Quiz and Worksheet
Honey Bees Printable
*** Are you curious? Get your own ten-day trial membership:
https://www.surfnetkids.com/printables-club/

Related Games

Quote of the Week

“You must want to be a butterfly so badly, you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.” ~~ Sekou Andrews, at TEDx San Diego 2011. Butterflies are masters of change, click this link to find more quotes about change at Lightafire.com.

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