Wordless Wednesday: A Past Release

Sophie's Monarch
Granddaughter, 8 years old

at Comedy Plus

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Happy Tuesday: Happy Release Day

Our K level class had a monarch chrysalis from the general ed teacher's father. None of us have seen any other caterpillars. So it was put in an enclosure and we waited. 

She eclosed over the weekend and was beating her wings violently against the enclosure. She had to be released immediately. There were three students in attendance this morning and we wanted them to have the experience of handling the monarch, but we could tell that she would not tolerate waiting on a finger tip. 

Of course, this was the day that I purposefully kept my bug camera at home. Rain was forecast and I didn't want to chance getting it wet. I only had my phone camera. It would have to suffice, and it did for this girl. The bug camera would not have been any better than this.

The monarch soared so high over the school,
in huge circles, that we lost sight of her
within 20 seconds.

I edited the video, slowed it down, and merged the two videos together. You still can't see much, but it's a memory of the Release Day that went all wrong! We were extremely pleased and the children experienced their first release. They also learned, after asking, that butterflies are not made of butter, and that they fly with muscles like ours. We have been studying aeronautics so they know the difference between flying, gliding, and floating. Hopefully. 

May we all have a happy Tuesday!

More happiness at 
Comedy Plus

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Monarch Butterfly Laying an Egg on Milkweed

Danaus plexippus

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