Our class participated in the Journey South. We made paper butterflies and attached letters for the children who would receive them in Mexico. We even had the letters translated so we could send them in Spanish! The letters are supposed to arrive the same time the real Monarch butterflies end their migration to Mexico.
We receive email messages once a week following the progress of the real Monarchs throughout our country on their journey south. We have maps posted showing their progress
In the spring, when the Monarchs migrate north, we will receive paper butterflies from the Mexican school children. We can't wait!
In addition we watched the metamorphosis of our own caterpillars. Here are some pictures of them before we let them start their own migration south.

The butterflies in A3-216 started out as eggs, which we didn't get to see. When they arrived they were already caterpillars.

Soon the caterpillars have changed into their pupa stage. We watched the transformation.

Finally they were butterflies. We let them go while it was still warm outside so they could migrate south.

We can't wait until the spring so we can hear from our Mexican friends!