Last week Rooms 5 and 6 visited the Otago museum as part of our inquiry study - A Bug's Life. The butterfly haven was really cool - actually, cool isn't the right word because it was really hot in there. Some of us had to pop out and cool down.
The butterflies were amazing. I didn't know that there were so many different sorts. At first I found it quite scary when they landed on me but I got used to it. When they landed on my finger I could feel their scratchy legs grip as they tried not to fall off. Some people had more than one on them. Shaniia seemed very popular.
A lot of the butterflies had damaged wings and there were quite a few lying
dead. They don't live for very long. Most of the plants in the butterfly haven have been planted especially as food for the different butterflies. Each type of butterfly prefers a special plant.Did you know that there are turtles in the butterfly haven as well? They are very cute but if a butterfly flies too closed the turtle will sometimes snap it in it's jaws.
As well as looking at the butterflies, we also learnt about them in the 'classroom'. One of our class dressed up and pretended they were turning from a chrysalis into a butterfly. It was fun when we had to try and drink through a straw using lenses that made it similar to what a butterfly would see. I'm glad I'm not a butterfly,
it was really confusing. We learnt about the life cycle and what butterflies like to eat. It was a good day. I might go back one day.
PS playing in Discovery World was fun too.
