Monarchs, Mexico and Maps
First
grade continues to keep track of the migration of the Monarch butterflies. As we get updates from Journey North, we were thrilled to hear they have begun entering towns and forests in
Mexico, resting in the Oyamel Forests where they will spend the winter. Below is a picture of children in Michoacàn, Mexico, eagerly awaiting their arrival!
First
graders have enjoyed learning about geography and the countries and states involved in the monarch migration. Their maps of North America show one possible journey
of a monarch from Canada to central Mexico. They show where some monarchs
began, near Lake Ontario, Canada and one path they may take to travel south. One of their favorite sites
was the Okefenokee Swamp near the boarder of Georgia and Florida. From there,
they show how the monarchs change their direction and head west into Texas and
then south again crossing the Rio Grande, into Mexico. They mark the end of their journey once they reach central Mexico and the sanctuary in the forests of Michoacàn. Zaria and Hart's maps pictured below are an example of one activity created in the map unit we explore in first grade.
Below is also a photo of our classroom map where each student contributed a necessary part of our town. They continue to develop it and play with it when they have free choice!
This is our town map named Smallville.
Next is a photo of the Butterfly forest and then one of a few friends driving around town!
El Rosario Butterfly Sanctuary is one of Mexico’s monarch colonies protected by the UNESCO Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Michoacán in central Mexico. There, millions of Monarch butterflies begin to cover the many thousands of fir trees in the mountain forests, escaping the cold until March, when they migrate north and continue their journey and life cycle.
In our Monarchs and Mexico research, through videos and picture books, we have been exploring some of the culture of
Mexico. Last week we learned about a beautiful craft called Papel Picado and
enjoyed making our own to decorate our classrooms!
We look forward to continuing our exploration of Mexico, noticing what things we have in common while gaining an appreciation and respect for what is unique and beautiful in some of the towns and cities the monarchs pass through on their journey south.
Below is a link to video we enjoyed in our research and exploration of Monarchs and Mexico:
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