The upper elementary group took on the role of citizen scientists this fall in a study of local butterflies. The third, fourth and fifth grade students captured and tagged butterflies, recorded their observations, and shared their findings with Monarch Watch at the University of Kansas as well as Journeys North. Through participation in this project students learned about the importance of conserving habitats critical to the survival of the monarch butterfly and its magnificent migrations.
The students looked for butterflies in the alfalfa hay field behind the school and a small pasture of grass and milkweed nearby along Hardscrabble Road. After finding and catching a butterfly using a butterfly net, the students would carefully hold the butterfly with insect forceps, and, with a partner, take a photo with a digital camera and record information such as the species, gender and habitat preference of the butterfly. The students would then tag the butterfly in order to assist in the tracking of the insect.
Isaiah with a butterfly in the net.
Quinn with Schuyler who holds a Clouded Sulphur butterfly with insect forceps.
Lena records observations.
A Monarch is tagged.
Lena, Nadine and Xzavia watch a monarch butterfly emerge from its chrysalis in the classroom.
A butterfly emerges.
The class contacted students in the central mountainous region of Mexico, the area to which Monarch butterflies migrate for the winter. The Red Cedar students sent symbolic Monarchs and letters of appreciation to students in the Michoacan region, thanking them for protecting the remaining twelve Monarch sanctuaries. The symbolic Monarchs represent a tremendous international effort to support Monarch butterfly conservation.
At the end of the project, the students shared their learning with the rest of the school and their parents, presenting their findings through tables with recorded data, writing, photographs and oral presentation
Jez and Lena share their learning with other students.
Charlie answers questions.
Bo shares his display on the life cycle of a butterfly.
Isaiah presents his information.
An Orange Sulphur
A female Sulphur
Mourning Cloak butterfly
Data collected by students
The class with teacher Brendan Collins
The primary group does a puppet show/reader's theater performance of The Three Billy Goats Gruff.
Upper elementary students perform two stories from the northeast Native American oral tradition: The Chenoo and Keewahkwee. Charlie performs the role of Chenoo.
Upper elementary students share drawings and writing they have done in their study of pre-contact local Native Americans.
Middle school students make recommendations to the school community about how Red Cedar can become more energy efficient. They give oral and power-point presentations they have prepared.
This group talks about vermiculture and describes how a compost system could be set up in the school's basement. 
Amanda works on the puppet theater set.
Upper elementary students each recently wrote 'how-to' pieces carefully describing how to do something they knew. These were collected into a book which they gave to the primary students. Xavia is reading one of her pieces to the group.
Gabe listens and reads along as an older student reads a 'how-to' piece aloud. 
