Select from these activities to extend learning:
Annual Cycle Puzzle
Print the puzzle page and cut into pieces. Challenge students to sequence the events of the monarch's annual cycle.
Challenge students to showcase what monarchs do throughout the year by writing month-by-month verbs on the calendar handout. This sheet can also be used for note-taking or assessment.
After exploring the photos and text as a class, create a large timeline to showcase the month-by-month events of the monarch's annual cycle. As you track this season's migration, add your own backyard observations to the timeline. Will your observations match the expected events of the annual cycle or will you see unexpected surprises? Report observations to Journey North.
Seasonal Circle Book
Make a circle book to showcase the cyclical events by season (fall, winter, spring, summer). Encourage students to revisit the slideshow's facts and photos to construct their circle book. Display books in your school's library.
Annual Cycle Wheel
Display and discuss the sample annual cycle wheel. Give your students a design challenge: How would you showcase the significant month-by-month events of the monarch's annual cycle on a circular wheel? What words and images would you use to showcase where monarchs are and what they are doing throughout the year?
Cause-Effect Flow Charts
Sunlight drives seasonal change. Choose key events from the annual cycle and explore cause-effect relationships by creating flow charts. Draw boxes and arrows to showcase the chain of events that start with sunlight changes. Sample Chain of Events:
- Sun, Temps Warm, Monarchs Warm Enough to Fly
- Sun, Milkweed Emerges, Monarchs Can Lay Eggs
Other Showcase Challenges
Have students synthesize what they learned about the monarch's annual cycle by designing flip books, desktop calendars, lapbooks, file folder games, or accordian books.