Life Cycles and Metamorphosis

Children have been developing an understanding of lifecycles. 
We had a delivery of some tiny caterpillars: children observed them carefully and gently transferred them into pots with food.
Over coming days we watched with excitement as the caterpillars became much bigger: children shared talk and showed great respect by handling the pots gently. 
During this time, we shared information books about caterpillars and their journey to become butterflies. 
When the caterpillars were ready they built a cocoon around themselves and slept inside for more than 5 days.  We transferred the cocoons to a larger net. 
Each day children came to nursery and excitedly checked whether there had been any further changes. 
Slowly they emerged as beautiful butterflies finally. 
They needed a few days for their wings to dry and they enjoyed eating juicy oranges in their net.
After this, we gathered in the garden on the hillock to say goodbye to our butterflies.
We counted 10 in the morning and 16 in the afternoon. 
Ellie knew that meant we had released 26 butterflies in total! Wow what a calculation!
Children were exposed to vocabulary such as egg, caterpillar, cocoon, chrysalis, observe, change, metamorphosis, butterfly.
Look out for the 26 butterflies when you are in the park: hopefully they will lay their eggs on some leaves nearby and the whole process will start again!