Love on Gassamer Wings

 
By Earlene Evans

I love being a preschool teacher. It is so enjoyable. Teaching allows me to relive positive experiences and share them with others. The year before last we planted a butterfly bush. I was told to allow two feet spacing, so I did. That gorgeous specimen grew to seven feet tall and five feet wide. It was covered with blossoms last year. The most lovely aromatic blossoms this side of lilacs.

One day the children were gathering at the window. So I looked out and counted ten different types of butterflies on our butterfly bush! All colors, shapes and sizes. It was the most magnificent site I had ever seen! I then asked the children if they would like to learn about butterflies. "Oh yes, Mrs. Earlene!" , was the unanimous answer.

So I purchased a poster of the Life cycle of butterflies, ordered baby caterpillars and we were ready for some great learning. We read "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle. We made caterpillars from egg cartons. We made baby butterfly eggs with white play doh. We painted butterfly pictures. We put on wings and pretended to fly. We smelled flowers.

Finally our caterpillars arrived. We spent hours every day watching them eat and grow, and eat and grow. It was simply amazing! Then one day they climbed to the top of the jar and they began to spin their cocoons. We placed the lid in the butterfly house. Then we waited, and waited and waited. Then we waited some more.

Suddenly it started to happen. The cocoons began to break open. Out came the butterflies. They were just hanging there. Slowly they began to unfurl their wings. Soon they waved them gently in the air to dry them. Oh what a miracle. For a few day, we fed the butterflies and gave them fresh flowers. Then came the day we released these lovely painted ladies into our flower garden.

The children's eyes began to tear as the butterflies flew away. Then slowly they began playing. Then one of the butterflies flew over and landed on a child. They laughed and danced all over the yard. Then another butterfly landed on another child's shoulder. Suddenly all the children were watching the butterflies go from the flowers to the children and back again.

It was as thought he butterflies knew the children and that they had planted all theses beautiful flowers just for them. Those little darling children danced all summer, playing with their butterflies, being careful not to touch them but always allowing the butterflies to land on them.

Yes this was a very special summer in the life of our preschool children. They learned so much about life that summer as they watched in amazement at the gossamer winged wonders.

Earlene

Dear Reader:  You can help us make this website even better!

We'd love to hear your comments about this article!  Scroll down to sound off!  All of our articles and ideas have come from our imagination and from reader submissions.  Please use this form to contact us if you have articles, crafts, activities, games, recipes, songs or poems that you would like to add to this website. Make sure to stop by our friendly forums too!  Read more articles from moms in our section devoted just to them!

Webmasters and Authors:

We are looking for more "mom authors'!  We will gladly include a link back to your site or book in exchange for sharing your content.  Just contact us!

Bookmark

Email This

Hits: 2670

Trackback(0)

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Write comment

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (Registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment Preview