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Background

Two of the most important scientific skills are making detailed measurements and keeping careful, organized records of these measurements. As your students rear their larvae, they will learn a great deal if they practice these skills. We have developed data sheets and measurement techniques that will help them to do this.

• Monarch Daily Observation sheets (student handout - 2 pages, 1 per student or student group; data for each larva are kept on a separate sheet)
• Rulers with mm marks clearly visible; clear plastic ones work best
• Balance accurate to the nearest mg is highly desirable; you may be able to borrow one from a high school or other source
• All of the materials required to rear larvae
• Monarch Class Data Sheet (student handout page: you can keep a single copy for the entire class, and when it is complete, copy it for individual students or groups of students)

Procedure 

1. Tell students they will keep detailed records of the growth and development of their larvae. Hand out Monarch Daily Observations charts and monarch eggs or larvae. Do the first observations together. If you do not have an accurate balance for weighing larvae, just record their lengths.
2. Have students fill in their Monarch Daily Observations chart daily or every other day during the larval stage, and every 4-5 days during the pupa stage. At the end of each stage, fill in the summary section for that stage. 
3. If desired, have students try to determine the sex of their monarchs during the pupa stage. See Monarch Butterfly Rearing and Observing Techniques in the HOW TO'S section for directions on how to do this.
4. When butterflies emerge, summarize all data on the Class Data Sheet.
5. Make copies of the completed Class Data Sheet and give one to each student (or pair of students). Have each student choose one of the questions listed below or think of another question that interests them. For some of the questions they will need to use their own and other students' individual data sheets.

• Do large caterpillars produce large butterflies?
• Which are larger, females or males?
• Do males or females emerge sooner from the chrysalis?
• Do larger caterpillars take longer to pupate?
• What was the average length of time spent as a larva (or pupa)?
• How much growth (either mass or length) occurs in a single day in the larval period?
• How does the rate of growth change over the larval period?

6. Have students write reports to answer the questions they choose. Each report should include the following components:

• Data table
• Graph
• Conclusion that summarizes your findings
• Discussion of how the data do and/or do not answer your question

Worksheets

The following are examples of the worksheets necessary for this lesson.   You may print them directly from the site.  If you experience problems, please email us at webadmin@monarchlab.org

• Monarch Daily Observations worksheet
• Daily Observations worksheet Page 2
• Monarch Class Data Sheet

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