Jennifer Coppolino, IHM Grade School/Spanish Teacher K-8

“This is the best field trip ever!”  exclaimed one of the third grade boys.  Last May, thirty-five third grade students were able to be naturalists for the day at the Wolf Creek Environmental Center in Medina County. This year, on the first staff day, one of the third grade teachers even approached me to ask if we were still planning to go on the field trip again this year.  I would say it is safe to say she felt the same as the young boy.

From the moment they step into the Spanish classroom after summer break, these students get to be Spanish-speaking scientists. They learn about the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly and then study, sing, read and act out everything about the arduous process of migrating to Mexico.

Planning all of the fun activities that I do with this unit has been helped out somewhat through the resources from Annenberg Learner website (learner.org) Journey North Symbolic Migration Program.  They have some great short videos on life in Mexico near the sanctuaries where the Monarchs stay during our lovely winters and other videos demonstrating different aspects of the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly.  Buen viaje mariposas.