Over two months, children at Little Hayes Nursery School experienced one of nature’s most remarkable transformations, observing caterpillars grow, form chrysalises and emerge as beautiful Painted Lady butterflies.
In mid-April, the caterpillars arrived in their special pots, initially quite inactive. Within days, the children noticed them moving, eating the special food and beginning to grow. By late April, the caterpillars had attached themselves to the lids of the pots and were beginning to form chrysalises. The children learned a new and tricky word for this magical process — metamorphosis — as they discovered that even when nothing seemed to be happening visibly, an amazing transformation was taking place inside the chrysalises.
As the days passed and the chrysalises were carefully transferred to a butterfly net, the children kept watch and waited with growing excitement. By mid-June, the first butterflies began to emerge. The children observed the butterflies closely, used information books to learn more about them, and carefully provided them with sugared water and fresh fruit. When release day finally arrived, some of the butterflies were so calm they even perched on the children’s hands before flying away into the garden. The children watched in wonder, hoping the butterflies might stay and lay eggs to continue the lifecycle they had been learning about.
This extended exploration supported children’s understanding of nature, life cycles and change, and nurtured their curiosity and sense of wonder at the natural world.