INTRODUCTION
In recent years, the population of the monarch butterfly has significantly decreased and is considered an endangered species. After becoming aware of this fact, our second graders commonly ask, "Why is this happening? How are monarchs becoming endangered? What can we do to help monarchs survive?" Our Monarch Expedition gives our students the opportunity to research and investigate the causes and be part of the solution. Furthermore, this expedition is driven by the NGSS standards (LS2.A, ETS1.B) and we wanted students to understand the interdependence of all living things, specifically focusing on the interdependence of the monarch butterflies and milkweed.
As an EL Education (Expeditionary Learning) school, we believe that all students have the ability to be the vehicles of change in our communities even at a very young age. This expedition promotes purposeful learning and through it, second graders are inspired to make a difference in the world.
Mastery of Knowledge and Skills
Second grade teachers are very proud of how this expedition makes standards come alive and captivates our students in a compelling topic connected to a real community issue. As our students engage in our "Monarch Mania" expedition, they experience learning that is challenging, collaborative, reflective, inquiry based and meaningful. It is comprised of case studies (similar to medical case studies) where students seek to find answers to guiding questions such as "How does the Monarch butterfly survive? and "Why is it important for us to be Monarch conservationists?" They engage in research and investigations, work alongside experts in the field, use resources from multiple perspectives, and close read complex texts, to become monarch experts and "Get smart to do good." Moreover, this expedition's design fosters critical thinking, collaboration and problem solving skills that results in higher levels of reading, writing, and speaking.
"We need to help people make the choice not to kill milkweed. All kids should know about this and spread the word. Spraying herbicides and pesticides affect our whole environment, especially milkweed AND the monarch butterfly."- Gilberto
CASE STUDIES
To begin our expedition, students become entomologists and discover that the monarch butterfly is vanishing from our community. They begin to feel compelled to figure out the "why" and dive deep into investigating the problem. As entomologists, they research the life cycle, behaviors, and environmental needs of the monarch.
In the second case study, students connect with nature and develop a sense of service as they grow milkweed and flowers to support the local monarch population.
In the 3rd case study, they become active citizens, by bringing awareness about the endangered monarch by distributing informative brochures, creating informative public presentations and provide milkweed and flowers to the community. Our students take pride in being advocates for the monarch and educating others to make a difference for monarch butterflies.
Field Work and Experts
Every expedition incorporates field work so students can experience authentic scientific work and understand how natural environments function . Also, field work is an extension of the classroom where students collaborate with experts in the field to collect data, gather information and connect their findings to their own research in the classroom. Our community partnership with the Safari Park Hidden Jungle, Butterfly Farms and the Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park, San Diego help students continuously grow in their knowledge.
"I love going on field work because I feel like I discover new things and all the things I read in class seem to make more sense to me." -Diego
"When we went to the Butterfly Farm and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, it was so fun to see how the butterflies behave. I felt like a real entomologist." -Carlos
EXPERTS
In addition to field work, experts join our classroom and share their professional work and knowledge. Their expertise supports students in making real world connections to their classroom work and brings additional perspectives to our students' research.
"We need to try our best to save the monarch because it will effect us in the future. It will be very disappointing if they don't exist anymore. I think the President of the United States should make it the law to save the monarch." -Brianna
CONNECTING TO THE NATURAL WORLD
Each week our second graders engage in research at our Conway Butterfly Garden, which enriches the learning process. This time allows students to do what scientists do. They think, talk and wonder about how things work in the natural and physical world. It is an opportunity for scientific inquiry and discovery.
"I really like going to the garden to observe the life cycle of the monarch. It's way better to see it in real life than just reading about it in a book!" -Seth
"I felt proud to be able to find an egg on the milkweed we planted in our garden. I felt happy because our garden is helping the monarchs." - Cruz
Exended Discourse and Collaboration
To prepare our students for college and career, deliberate opportunities to collaborate and have extended discourse are planned in the expedition. Students learn to communicate clearly, increase language skills, build on each other's ideas, critically think to justify their claims and build necessary social and emotional skills necessary to be productive citizens. Furthermore, it invites our students to value different insights and perspectives.
Character and High Quality Work
At Conway, teachers have high expectations for our students and believe that each and every student is capable of producing high quality work. Habits of character such as excellence and perseverance ground the expectations of high quality work which is made up of 3 attributes: Complexity, Authenticity, and Craftsmanship.
In our expedition, students generate culminating products that go beyond the classroom, are worthy of public presentation and replicate real world professional formats. These products (eg. keynote presentations and published books) require students to persevere as they respond to peer and teacher feedback and make multiple revisions. They must have integrity as they advocate for the survival of the monarch butterfly and its environment. They must exhibit excellence as they publicly share their knowledge and products throughout the community. This work engenders self-directed actions that contribute positively to our students' lives academically, socially, and in the larger world.
Better World Day
Better World Day is EL Education's (Expeditionary Learning) national event that spotlights students making a positive difference in their community. Second grade students created bumper stickers to share with our community to bring awareness about the plight of the monarch and how to help.