Created by Beth Albery at Hill Elementary School

(Idea based on a WebQuest originally created by Joyce Bourdon at Rochester Memorial School)

Hi! My name is Maggie Monarch, and I am all a flutter! I am in charge of planning this year's Annual Butterfly Family Reunion. I can't wait to see the Swallowtails, the Skippers, and all of my other cousins from all over North America who will migrate here to attend the party. But enough about them! I have a party to plan, and I need your help!

To make sure that we plan a reunion to remember, you will work in committees with other students in your class. There is so much to do and so little time, so we better get started!

Your teacher will decide the committee on which she thinks you will do the best job. For example, if you are a student who likes being on stage and performing, you might be on the Exciting Entertainment Committee. If you are one who can find places on maps when we do social studies and make graphs in math, you could be a part of the Innovative Invitation Committee. Or maybe you are an aspiring artist who likes to make creative crafts and organize team games. If so, you would be a valuable member of the Awesome Activity Committee. Last, but not least, we can't have a reunion without something to eat! For those scientists in the class, you will be a part of the Fabulous Food Committee. When you get done planning this party, I have no doubt that you will all be butterfly experts!

Don't worry if you do not get selected for the committee that you want. I trust that your teacher knows the best way for you to help me out. I'll see you at the reunion!

Your overall task is simple! You will work with other students in your class to plan one part of the party. Cooperation, teamwork, and problem-solving will be important as you do your job. Have fun as you learn all about Maggie and her beautiful butterfly family. She's counting on you!

Read the step-by-step instructions below your committee name. Some of the directions will be done with your committee members, and others are for you to complete alone. Click on the links to help you in your task.

Your task is to invite at least 3 different cousins (species) to the reunion. Then create an invitation to send off. Remember to fill out a daily evaluation sheet!

Step #1: Visit Butterflies of North America. There is a map to help locate certain species and a link to Thumbnail Photos and Facts about that species. Explore the site for what you need and choose one "cousin." Keep track of your guests by printing the Guest List Template.

Step #4: When each member of the committee has invited 3 cousins, print-out the Bar Graph Template and the United States Map Template to show the family attendance at the Butterfly Reunion. Share with each other the guests that you are all inviting. Half of your committee should use the bar graph template and color in boxes in each row to illustrate how many members of each butterfly family you are inviting. The other members of your committee need to color the United States Map template to show the states from which all of your guests will be flying in.

Step #5: You must now create an invitation. Download and print the invitation template you will be using. Be sure to include the name of the butterfly you are inviting, a picture or drawing of the butterfly, where it is coming from, and information about the party. You might need to talk with the other committees to learn more about the activities, food, and entertainment your guests will be enjoying. You will each make 3 invitations.

Your task is to plan and perform a memorable show for the reunion. Your performance needs to show others at the party the life cycle and stages of a butterfly. Some suggestions are listed below, but you can always add your own ideas. Make sure you check in with your teacher often to make sure you are on the right track. Your committee will need to practice, practice, practice!

Step #1: Go to Butterfly Songs to find songs and poems that you can choose to sing at the party. You will need to teach the class the song/s that you pick, so you should memorize the song/s or make a poster of the lyrics for the reunion guests.

Step #2: Perform a short skit or puppet show to demonstrate the lifecycle of a butterfly. First, review the lifecycle of the butterfly. You can have members of your group act-out the lifecycle stages as a play, or you can create puppets for a puppet show. Use Where Do Butterflies Come From to get instructions for a puppet to use in your performance. Tell your teacher what supplies you will need.

Step #3: This is where each group member gets to act like an actual butterfly. You will need to visit Butterflies of North America to choose the butterfly you will pretend to be. You must include at least 5 facts that you learn about your butterfly. Download and print the butterfly template to decorate and use as your mask at the reunion. (You will want to look like you fit in with Maggie and her friends at the party!) Glue a Popsicle stick to the mask after you decorate it. You will read the facts to the other guests at the reunion.

Your task is the food! After all, what is a reunion without the food? You need to locate at least 5 different flowers that attract butterflies. Then prepare attractive place settings for the party.

Step #1: Use Butterfly Gardening to select a flower that butterflies like the nectar (food) from.

Step #3: Draw your own version of the flower on a placemat provided by your teacher. Include the name of the flower and the butterfly that it attracts.

Step #4: Repeat step #3 until you have made at least 5 settings that Maggie will approve of. Remember that she expects quality work! She is a picky little butterfly who wants to really impress her family!

Step #5: Print and complete a list of the flowers you choose for your teacher to get the seeds. Then follow the instructions on the seed packet to grow a party platter of butterfly munchies. Your teacher will provide soil and containers.

Your task is to plan and design the fun for Maggie's Family. No one likes a boring reunion! Work with the other members of you committee to choose a craft and an activity to do at the party. Be sure to fill out your daily evaluation sheet.

Step #2: Make an organized list to check-off as you gather the materials necessary for everyone in the class to complete your activity. Download and print a checklist to complete and give to your teacher. You might need a calculator to determine how many you need of each material.

Step #3: Make a set of step-by-step directions for your activity on lined paper. Do a trial run with group members to make sure your directions work. If the directions are accurate, copy them onto a poster board large enough for the class to see.

Step #4: Make a sample of your craft or activity to show the class at the party.

Now all groups have something different to bring to the party! You will be responsible for setting out your goods and sharing with the rest of us. Be sure to spend a little time deciding how you and the other members of your committee will explain what you have learned. Will you show and tell, give a show, pass out plates, or give us supplies and let us make and take? You should be really clever and use some butterfly vocabulary that Maggie and all of her cousins can understand. After all, this party is for them!

You and your classmates have learned a lot by dividing up into different roles. Now's the time to put your learning into a thank you letter you'll send out for butterfly feedback. You will write a letter that contains opinions, information, and perspectives that you've gained. Here's the process:

Step # 1: Review the Parts of a Friendly Letter. Download and print the template for your friendly letter. You will need this after you attend the reunion to write to Maggie. Include the following:

Step #2: Collect all your daily self-evaluation sheets and give them to your teacher. It helps her to know how you think you did with your tasks.

Step #3: Be ready for Maggie to contact you with her opinion of your party preparations!

	Poor 1	Satisfactory 2	Good 3	Outstanding 4
Individual Tasks
Group Tasks
Quality of Final Product
Party Manners

Maggie will also give you compliments if she was pleased with your work in planning the party.

Now that you have helped Maggie and have seen for yourself how important a family reunion can be, think about your own relatives. What are their names? Where do they live? What stage of human life are they in? What do they like to do and, of course, eat? How could you tell us all about them? And wouldn't you like to have a family reunion of your own? Write about your family in your journal.

The Butterfly Family Reunion incorporates many different curricular areas. This project meets the standards and benchmarks that are contained in the Michigan Curricular Framework. Students will complete tasks in the English Language Arts, Science, and Mathematics content standards. In order to take a closer look at the framework, visit the link above.

Please send mail to Beth Albery if you would like to contact me with any questions or comments about my version of Butterfly Family Reunion.