Life Cycles

Life Cycle of a Butterfly
This video clip was created in an early years setting with 5-year-old children. Whilst taking a walk in the school garden the children found some caterpillars. These were brought back to class and the life cycle of a butterfly was taught to the children in a real context. A digital microscope was used and each stage of the life cycle was observed and recorded. Although the children are of such a young age they were encouraged to manipulate the digital microscope which they did enthusiastically. They watched the process of a life cycle of a butterfly with great awe and amazement. Seeing these creatures magnified is a wonder and the children were given the opportunity to explore and experiment with live objects. The movements of the caterpillars and chrysalis were captured and then made into a video clip which could be viewed over and over again as young children love to do. The value was in the process of the making of this media production. The children could access the computer and the digital microscope several times during the day. They could watch the changes from a caterpillar into a chrysalis and into a butterfly. The children were working in groups and were communicating their experiences. Through active exploration, experimentation, discussion and reflection peer to peer learning was taking place.