The Monarch Butterfly and Climate Change

• Science
• Primary Education

The Monarch Butterfly and Climate Change

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The Monarch Butterfly and Climate Change

In this lesson you will...

Learn about Monarch Butterflies and their habitat

Learn about extinction and endangered species

Explore how climate change is affecting plants and animals

Use what you already know 

Learn some new facts

Get ready to take part

Reflect on what you have learned

When you see this symbol...

Before we start, there are two things we need to know...

What are 'species'?

A 'species' is a group of similar living things that can reproduce and are descended from the same ancestors.

For example, dogs are a species, and humans are a different species.

What is a 'habitat'?

A habitat is an animal or plant’s home, with everything it needs to survive, including food and shelter. 

Habitats often consist of a community of animals and plants along with water and oxygen.

Different living things have different habitats, ranging from deserts to oceans.

Introducing the Monarch Butterfly 

Introducing...

Do you know what this is?

 

Answer

It’s a Monarch Butterfly – also known as a Milkweed Butterfly.

They are recognisable by their colours and their pattern.

Introducing the Monarch Butterfly 

Where did the Monarch Butterfly come from?

Native Species

Native species are those that occur naturally in a geographical area.

They originally come from this area and have adapted to the habitats found there.

But you can now find them in Western Europe, North, South and Central America, Australia, some Pacific Islands and India.

The Monarch Butterfly isn't a native species to Europe. 

They come originally from North America

Introducing the Monarch Butterfly 

How did they get to Europe?

That's over 3,600 miles away! 

(Or at least 6 hours in an airplane).

How do you think the butterflies got here? 

If you've ever been to North America you will know it's pretty far away, all the way across the Atlantic Ocean.

Answer

Although the Monarch can fly 100 miles in a day, they are thought to have been blown all the way over, back in 1995.

Encourage class discussion and thinking 

Introducing the Monarch Butterfly 

Butterflies in Space

Monarch Butterflies have not only made their way to Europe, but they’ve also been to space!

Space Butterfly. Source: NASA/JPL-Caltech

In 2009, Monarch Butterflies were reared on the International Space Station. 

Introducing the Monarch Butterfly 

Butterflies in Culture

Not only are they international jet setters, but these beautiful butterflies have also inspired events and celebrations across the world.

Including the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) festival in Mexico, where people even dress up as the Monarch Butterfly.

 

Many people believe when they see a Monarch Butterfly, a loved one is checking in on them.

Introducing the Monarch Butterfly 

Click on the hotspots to find out what these words mean.

We've established that the Monarch Butterfly is a fascinating insect, but there's a problem...

They’re facing extinction worldwide and are on the list of endangered species.

Extinction

Extinction

'Extinction' occurs when there are no remaining individuals of a species alive.

Endangered

'Endangered' means a species is in danger of becoming extinct. 

Can you name any other animals that have gone extinct?

The list of extinct animals is extensive, but some answers are included below:

Giant Irish deer

Northern white rhinoceros

Dodo

Dinosaurs

Passenger pigeon

Quagga (a species of zebra from South Africa

Golden toad

Tasmanian tiger (or thylacine)

Giant ground sloth

Woolly mammoth

Sabre-toothed cats

Moa (or elephant bird)

Introducing the Monarch Butterfly 

Extinct Animals

99% of species to ever have lived on Earth are estimated to have gone extinct. In modern times, human activity is pushing species to extinction at a much faster rate than usual.

Extinct species include the woolly mammoth, sabre-toothed cats, the woolly rhinoceros, dinosaurs, the tasmanian tiger and the dodo. 

Introducing the Monarch Butterfly 

Why are they going extinct?

Extinction can be caused by many different things

Including:

- Changes to habitats

- Diseases

- Competition with other species

- Availability of food

For the Monarch, availability of food is a big concern!

Introducing the Monarch Butterfly 

Climate change

Extreme temperatures caused by climate change are affecting the milkweed's growth, as well as impacting the Monarch Butterfly's life cycle. 

This factor, along with other severe weather caused by climate change, is putting the Monarch Butterfly population in danger. 

What is 'Climate Change'?

'Climate Change', causes changes to normal weather conditions (like temperature and rain) in a certain area over a period of time.

This is a direct result of changes in Earth’s atmosphere (the layer of gas that surrounds Earth), heavily impacted by human activities (like driving cars, and cutting down trees).

The Monarch caterpillars feed on the nectar of milkweed flowers.

Discuss with class what they know about climate change already. 

This is also a good point to play the 'climate change would you rather...?' using the cards provided in the resource notes. Feel free to come up with your own questions. 

Recap

Drag and drop to match the word to its definition.

A group of similar living things that can reproduce and are descended from the same ancestors.

An animal or plant’s home.

Animals or plants that occur naturally in a geographical area.

Occurs when there are no remaining individuals of a species alive.

When a species is at risk of disappearing forever. 

Extinction

Endangered

Habitat

Native

Species

Endangered means...

Recap

1. When a species is at risk of disappearing forever.
2. Animals or plants that occur naturally in a geographical area.

A species is...

Recap

1. Animals or plants that occur naturally in a geographical area.
2. A group of similar living things that can reproduce and are descended from the same ancestors.

A habitat is...

Recap

1. An animal or plant’s home
2. When a species is at risk of disappearing forever.

What was the most interesting thing you learned?

What did you think of this lesson?

😒🙁😐🙂😃

Next Steps

- Visit the Ulster Museum to learn more and to see the butterfly collection. 

- Visit Seaforde Gardens & Tropical Butterfly House. 

- Use Butterfly Conservation’s online tool to identify butterflies in the garden or local park:

https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/identify-a-butterfly