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Description
For teachers interested in a habitat conservation project that will provide students with a wide range of outdoor learning opportunities, butterfly gardening is definitely something to consider. In addition to being among our most beautiful and exquisite creatures, butterflies play an essential ecological role as pollinators. It is for this reason that ecologists world-wide are very concerned about population declines in many of our butterfly species. Because the single biggest cause of these declines is habitat loss, planting for butterflies is a key conservation strategy. Participation in this project will also allow students to make a meaningful and lasting improvement to their school environment.
The resource provides an easy to follow step by step set of instructions with all of the background information needed to support the project and ensure success.
Early spring is a great time to launch these activities as the butterflies are just now leaving their wintering grounds and headed home. There should be ample time to select seeds, get them started indoors, prepare the site and transplant the seedlings before the influx of adults in late May or Early June.
Additional information and supplementary plant lists are available from Monarch Watch
General Assessment
Recommendation of how and where to use it
Butterfly gardening has meaningful application across the curriculum. It provides students with authentic opportunities to act on what they have learned in courses such as Science 3 (plant growth), Science 4, 7 and 10 (Habitat / Conservation), Environmental Science & Geography (Human-Environment interractions / Sustainability). The ecological and aesthetic benefits of student's actions will be readily observable.
Relevant Curriculum Units
The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.
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- Alberta
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 9
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- Environmental Science
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- Environment and Outdoor Education: Commitment to Action
- Environment and Outdoor Education: Environmental Investigations
- Science
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- Biological Diversity
- British Columbia
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- Grade 11
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- Environmental Science 11:Humans can play a role in stewardship and restoration of ecosystems
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- Growth and Changes in Plants
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- Senior 2 Science: Dynamics of Ecosystems
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- Science
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- Our Local Environment : Learning and Living Sustainably
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- Advanced Environmental Science 120: Earth Systems
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- Life Systems: Growth and Changes in Plants
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- Science
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- Life Systems: Diversity of Living Things
- Ontario
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- Science & Technology
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- Life Systems: Growth & Changes in Plants
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- Life Systems: Biodiversity
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- Grade 9
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- Environmental Science (Univ/College Prep.) Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry
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- World Issues: A Geographic Analysis (College Prep.):Sustainability and Stewardship
- World Issues: A Geographic Analysis (Univ. Prep.):Sustainability and Stewardship
- Prince Edward Island
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- Plant Growth & Changes
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- Habitats
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- Diversity of Life
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- Environmental Science
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- Environmental Science 621A: Ecological Principles
- Quebec
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- Living Things
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- Saskatchewan
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- Habitats and Communities
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- Science
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- Science 6: Life Science: Diversity of Living Things
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- Science 7: Life Science: Interactions within Ecosystems
- Grade 10
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- Science
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- Science 10: Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics
- Yukon Territory
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 11
- Step 3Select a subject
- Environmental Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Environmental Science 11:Humans can play a role in stewardship and restoration of ecosystems
Themes Addressed
Citizenship (1)
- Community-Building and Participation
Ecosystems (2)
- Appreciating the Natural World
- Habitat Loss
Land Use & Natural Resources (2)
- Habitat Restoration
- Planting Native Species
