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Photo credit: National Geographic
Creating a Butterfly Garden at Anson Jones Elementary
4th Grade students of Anson Jones Elementary
The stem program at Anson Jones Elementary was given a goal the students to create a butterfly garden to be able to attract a variety of different species next season so that the students can learn and observe them. They would also be able to learn the different phases of the butterfly development and learn about the significance of nature.
Mrs. Ryan and her 4th grade students were the ones who worked directly on building the butterfly gardens. The students were first taught about butterfly adaptation and other main importance about the butterfly’s prior to building the butterfly gardens.
The garden base had already been built before the project took place. The first step was actually just planting the correct plants needed for the butterfly’s. First the students would fill the garden with sandy loamy soil which is what plants thrive on the best.
On the first day of planting the students placed two different seed mixes into the garden. The first mix was a mix called “Bee Happy Mix” containing species of plants like bluebonnet, american basket flower, and white prairie clover. The second mix was called “Butterfly Retreat Mix” and contained Blue Bonnet, Indian Blanket and Purple Coneflower. This mix attracts butterfly’s and gives them a proper nutrition.
The students were the able to put down a base coat of soil and then sprinkle each of these seed mixtures into the soil and then cover with more top soil. The students then analyzed the soil to see could already what could be potentially be living in the soil. This was a great observation because the the flowers were not even growing and they could be able to see live insects already thriving.
One of the most important things for the students to learn in depth about is the different ways that butterfly’s adapt to there surroundings. They would be given a butterfly silhouette that they were able to color in. Then would be able to place around the classroom in a spot that the butterfly would be camouflaged.
The Butterfly Garden should have flowers blooming by next season and in full swing with butterfly’s bee’s!
This project was pursued by Brooke Weis, Brooke Loggins, Cara Huelster, Adyson Lange, Landry Walsh, Mrs. Ryan and the 4th grade students of Anson Jones Elementary.
Other Services Site projects can be found under the past and present projects.
Written by Harley Colby