Central Message - Worksheet 3

One spring morning, Ms. Green's class walked out to the school garden for their science lesson. While the students explored, a boy named Leo spotted something amazing on a milkweed leaf. Tiny striped caterpillars were crawling along the stems. The whole class gathered around to watch the little creatures munch on the leaves. Ms. Green explained that these were monarch caterpillars and that the class could watch them grow. She helped the students set up a butterfly house in their classroom. They placed fresh milkweed leaves inside and gently moved the caterpillars into their new home. Every morning, the students took turns checking on the caterpillars and drawing pictures in their science journals. After about two weeks, something surprising happened. The caterpillars stopped eating and attached themselves to the top of the butterfly house. Each one formed a smooth green cocoon around its body. Some students were worried. Ms. Green reassured them that this was called the chrysalis stage and that something wonderful was happening inside. The class waited patiently, checking the cocoons every day. Ten days later, the class arrived to find the cocoons had cracked open. Beautiful orange and black monarch butterflies were drying their wings inside the butterfly house. The students cheered with excitement. That afternoon, the class walked to the garden. One by one, they opened the butterfly house and watched the monarchs fly away into the sunny sky. "We helped them grow," Leo whispered proudly as the last butterfly floated over the fence.