Monarchs are one of the few insects to migrate. The monarchs travel over 1700 miles to the Sierra Madre Mountains in Central Mexico.

monarchwatch.org

Migrating Monarch

 Its a Long Way to Mexico

C                                                G
The monarchs left in September
G                                                C
The monarchs left in September
C                                         F                       C       G       C
The monarchs left in September, on their way to Mexico
C                F                         C                 G   C
Mexico, oh Mexico, it’s a long way to Mexico

C                                                G
Sometimes they get eaten by birds
G                                                C
Sometimes they get eaten by birds
C                                         F                       C        G       C
Sometimes they get eaten by birds, on their way to Mexico
C                 F                         C                 G   C
Mexico, oh Mexico, it’s a long way to Mexico

C                                                G
They rest in trees for the night
G                                                C
They rest in trees for the night
C                                         F                       C       G       C
They rest in trees for the night, on their way to Mexico
C                 F                         C                 G   C
Mexico, oh Mexico, it’s a long way to Mexico

 C                                                G
Sometimes the wind blows too hard
G                                                C
Sometimes the wind blows too hard
C                                         F                       C       G       C
Sometimes the wind blows too hard, on the way to Mexico
C                F                         C                 G   C
Mexico, oh Mexico, it’s a long way to Mexico

 C                                                G
Sometimes its too cold to fly
G                                                C
Sometimes its too cold to fly
C                                         F                       C       G       C
Sometimes its too cold to fly, on their way to Mexico.
C                 F                         C                 G   C
Mexico, oh Mexico, it’s a long way to Mexico

 C                                                G
Finally made it to Mexico
G                                                C
Finally made it to Mexico
C                                        F                       C       G       C
Finally made it to Mexico, it’s a long way to Mexico.

Sierra Madre Mountains, Central Mexico

Life Cycle

Monarch Play:

Need a stage person, monarch, milkweed, egg, finger caterpillar, three caterpillars, stick, weaver, two in the chrysalis, newborn monarch, Question person, fact person, light person

(Class) “It was a warm sunny day”

enter the monarch

(reader) Alli the monarch is looking for a milkweed plant
(reader) chant 5 times:
(Class) “milkweed”

Fact #1:        “Female monarchs lay 700 eggs.”

enter the milkweed

(reader)  Milly the milkweed sees the monarch and says ….
(Class) “oh no not another one”

Question 1 : Why does the milkweed act like that?
Fact #2       “The eggs are laid only on the leaves of the common milkweed plant.”
(Class) Meanwhile the milkweed is “crying NO, NO, NO!”

Egg enters and huddles next to the milkweed
(class)“The egg is so small”

Question #2:  How big is the egg?

Fact #3 An egg is no larger than the head of a pin.
Fact #4 An egg will hatch in 3-14 days

Question 3: How many days should we have the egg hatch in?
(Class) “Day 1, day 2, day 3…..Day 14.
(Reader) The egg hatches
(Class) “Boing!”
Enter the little finger caterpillar

Question 4: What is the first thing the caterpillar does after it hatches?
(Class) “It eats the egg”.
(Reader) Then starts munching on the milkweed.
(Class) “ it eats day and night”.

(switch lights on and off).

(Reader) The little caterpillar sheds its skin

(Class) “first shedding”.

Enter the bigger caterpillar,

(Class) “Yum, yum I am so hungry”. (rub your tummy)
“Eating sounds: “Crunch, Crunch, Crunch”.

(Class) “second, third and fourth shedding

(Class) “That caterpillar is getting big.”

Fact 5   If a human baby were a caterpillar, it would grow to a weight of 8 tons or 16,000 pounds in two weeks.
(Class) “whoa”

(Reader) One morning, the fully grown caterpillar woke up and said,
(Class) “I am not hungry anymore”

(Reader) It crawls up on a stick and hangs upside down,
(Class) “hey this is weird”.

(Reader) Caterpillar sheds its skin for a last time exposing the green chrysalis
(chrysalis comes in – caterpillars leave).

(Class) The chrysalis is beautiful.
Question 5: What color is it?
(Class) “mostly green with some gold”.

(Reader) It is dark in the chrysalis
(lights off)
(Reader) Everyone stand up and close your eyes – pretend that you are inside of the chrysalis. When you entered the chrysalis “You were a wiggly caterpillar”. But now inside the chrysalis your body is changing. You are developing wings and antennae. Everything is different. Feel it! After 13 days the chrysalis turns clear and you can see out.

(lights on)

(Reader) On the last morning you hatch out of your chrysalis.
Enter Monarch butterfly

Question 6: “Can you fly?
Class “No, you must dry off the wings”
Drying action.
Question 7. “Now can you fly?
Class “Yes, and the butterfly takes its first flight.”