Below you will find an excellent and easy fall science project using plentiful common milkweed.
Also, there is a fun winter plant science project starting tropical milkweed from seed. This provides the caterpillar food for the spring science project raising monarch butterflies.
Each of these butterfly science projects has step by step instructions, tips and information to make these easy science projects successful.
Fall Butterfly Science Project
Fall is when the last batch of monarch butterflies emerge. These are the monarchs that migrate to Mexico.
As soon as school starts you can raise monarch butterflies. Make it your first fall elementary science project, especially in the Northern states, so that your Monarch butterflies can migrate safely before the weather gets too cold.
Monarch Caterpillar - LarvaeThe first step is to order monarch caterpillars . You can either order one caterpillar for each student (upper grades possibly) or order several caterpillars to raise as a class.
You will need a container to keep the caterpillars safe in the classroom. Here are some butterfly cages in various sizes....the jumbo “castle” is great if you are raising several caterpillars as a class....or make your own with plastic buckets. Make sure and sterilize all equipment (with bleach and water solution) if you are reusing it from year to year.
The caterpillars usually do not wander off until they are ready to pupate, so you might consider taking the caterpillars out of the cage during class so the students can get an up-close view of this miraculous process.
Milkweed – Monarch FoodThere is usually an abundance of common milkweed in the fall, but you should “scout” around your area to make sure you will have enough food for the hungry caterpillars - they eat lots of milkweed leaves. You could assign students to bring in milkweed, collect it as a class or bring it in yourself.
If you are in the southern states, you might be able to get or find tropical milkweed or other kinds of milkweed locally.
I have a friend whose daughter’s 7th grade science class raised monarchs as a middle school science project. They each received a caterpillar from the teacher and had to bring it home and raise it, make observations and record the process and growth. They had to find and provide the caterpillars with milkweed for food. She said that she refrigerated the separate leaves in plastic bags with damp paper towels.
Tip: I prefer to cut a branch off of the common milkweed and wrap a damp paper towel around the cut stem. I re-cut the stem before I put it in a narrow neck (don’t want caterpillars to end up in water) vase or bottle with water at home. This seems “healthier” for the caterpillar. If you just put leaves in the bottom of a container, the caterpillar will be crawling around in its frass (waste).
Make sure and keep the cage or area around your set-up clean. Throw away the caterpillar “frass” (droppings) every day – placing a paper towel or newspaper in the bottom of the cage or area will make this easier.
Monarch Chrysalis - Pupae
When it is time for the caterpillar to pupate, it needs to find a place to attach itself which it does by spinning a fine, silk button. In a cage or container, they will usually go to the top and attach themselves. You can also put a couple of small sticks with side branches in the vase for it to attach or sometimes it attaches to the bottom of a milkweed leaf if you have milkweed stems in vase.
Monarch Butterfly Emerges!
This is the moment everyone is anticipating! The chrysalis begins to get darker and turns almost black and translucent....you will be able to see the butterfly wings inside. The next morning is usually when the butterfly will emerge. Let the wings dry a couple of hours and the butterflies can be released outside to fly to Mexico! monarch migration route
Tip: Check out more detailed information and photos of the life cycle of the monarch butterfly. As a compliment to this elementary school science project on the monarch butterfly here are some school bulletin board ideas, butterfly lesson plans and classroom butterfly kits .
Butterfly Science Project Grade Level Tips
3rd grade science
Middle School Science
Winter Plant Science Project
Growing Tropical MilkweedThis is an excellent plant science project and provides the caterpillar food necessary for an elementary school science project of raising Monarch butterflies in the classroom in Spring. Or the students can bring home their plants at the end of the year, put them in their garden and raise monarchs at home.