The students at the Cooke school were excited to see a large fish tank in the front entry way of the school. But much to their surprise, there weren’t any fish inside, instead it was filled with caterpillars. Not just any caterpillars — they were monarch caterpillars. Every morning the students were able to see the progress of the monarch caterpillars. They saw them as they formed the “J” as they were getting ready to start their chrysalis and as they emerged from the chrysalis to spread their wings to dry.
Sept. 24 was a big day — teachers brought their students out into courtyard to release all of the butterflies that had emerged from their chrysalis. The students were in awe seeing the Monarch butterflies firsthand fly from the teachers hand as they carefully took them out of the classroom butterfly garden habitat.
Thanks to kindergarten teacher April Rutledge for getting and bringing in the free fish tank as well as finding all of the Monarch caterpillars and milk weed in a field and bringing them in for the students to watch the progress.