1. 2nd Grade Amazing Earth October
Monarchs
2nd Grade Amazing Earth
October
Please keep an eye on the clock. The presentation should take about 20 minutes to allow time for the activity and book.
There are questions posed to the students. To stay on track, you may have to limit the number of answers.
Some notes have been included for background or reference. They do not have to be shared, they are simply a tool.
Ask students to sit on the carpet.
Ask volunteers to set up the activity during the presentation.
Thank you for making Amazing Earth possible!
Updated 10/1/19

2. Monarchs Large, beautifully colored butterflies
Easily recognized by orange, black, and white markings

3. Monarch Life Cycle
A life cycle is a series of changes that happen to all living things.
ASK: what do you think are the stages of a human’s life cycle? Baby, child, adolescent/teen, adult
In one month a Monarch changes from an egg to an adult.

4. Insect Anatomy
All insects have 3 body parts

5. Butterfly Anatomy This is cool! Monarchs:
use their compound eyes to locate flowers
use their antennas to ‘smell’ the nectar
‘taste’ the flower with the bottoms of their feet!
Monarchs butterflies are insects so they have a head, thorax and abdomen.
They also have these cool features!
ADVANCE for image of compound eye.
Insects have two compound eyes with many different lenses to see out of instead of just one lens in each eye like we do. All those little tiny dots are lenses!
Each compound eye can have anywhere from 2 to 30,000 different surfaces that are very sensitive to light.
Compound eyes cannot see very much detail or things that are far away.
They can see extremely quick movements and things that are close to them, though. 
What is a compound eye?
Horsefly eye

6. What dangers do Monarchs face?
Loss of Habitat
Loss of Milkweed
Storms/Weather
Birds and Spiders
Cars and Trucks
Lawn Mowers
ASK: What types of dangers do you think Monarchs face? ADVANCE for answers.
Habitat loss, both of wintering areas in Mexico and breeding grounds in the US Midwest.
Wetter winters make it easier for them to freeze to death.
Predators and accidental death by vehicles and lawn mowers.

7. How do Monarchs protect themselves?
Monarchs eat milkweed which is poisonous to other animals.
If predators eat the monarchs, they will get sick.
The bright colors on the monarchs’ wings tell predators “don’t eat me or you’ll get sick”.
Fun fact: A large monarch caterpillar can eat an entire milkweed leaf in less than 4 minutes!

8. Where do Monarchs live? North America South America Australia
Pacific Islands
The map shows areas in yellow where monarchs live.

9. Monarch Migration
Millions of monarchs migrate every year from eastern Canada and the USA to the mountains of Mexico.
This journey can be up to 3000 miles.
They return to the same forests each year.
They cluster together to stay warm. Tens of thousands of monarchs can cluster on a single tree! 
Click here for video
See presentation notes if video doesn’t project
If the video does not project automatically, select the FUNCTION and F8 KEY TOGETHER and then select DUPLICATE.
The color strip on the left shows the months of migration. The monarchs are flying south for fall.
The monarch is the only butterfly known to make a two-way migration as birds do. Unlike other butterflies monarchs cannot survive the cold winters of northern climates.

10. Monarch Migration Game
The goal of the game is for Monarch Butterflies to successfully migrate from the USA/Canada to Mexico.
Along the way butterflies find safety or encounter dangers.
Students play the roles of either Monarch Butterflies, Safe Places (like nectar or milkweed) or dangers like (weather, predators or trucks). .
Monarch Butterflies roll the dice and advance spaces until reaching their home.
If they land on a safe place, they roll again.
If they encounter a danger, they are out.
The game is played outside. As time allows, other butterflies may be selected to play more rounds.
Can explain the game outside or while the students are still seated on the floor.
OPTIONAL reading of the Monarch book (in the activity box) for after the game.