
A
third-grade
class
at
Cedar
Point
Elementary
School
brought
virtual
learning
to
life
using
GoPro
cameras
to
capture
caterpillars'
metamorphosis
on
screen.
Stephanie
Reeder,
third
grade
teacher
at
Cedar
Point
Elementary,
explained,
"Teaching
goes
beyond
just
the
basic
details
of
classwork.
We
learn
better
by
being
able
to
experience
the
world
around
us
and
apply
things
we've
learned
to
bring
those
new
ideas
to
life.
Since
the
caterpillar
goes
through
two
extreme
changes,
once
when
turning
into
a
chrysalis,
and
then
again
when
metamorphosing
into
a
butterfly,
I
thought
it
would
be
great
to
capture
both
of
these
events
using
time-lapse
photography
using
my
GoPro
Camera."
Reeder
used
the
life
cycle
of
Monarch
butterflies
to
integrate
mathematics,
language
arts,
science,
and
other
subjects
to
motivate
students
to
learn
through
observation.
For
the
past
decade,
at
the
end
of
the
summer
season,
Reeder
has
walked
to
the
milkweed
plants
in
her
neighborhood
in
search
of
what
she
calls,
"little
teaching
subjects,
Monarch
caterpillars."
The
milkweed
serves
as
both
a
home
and
source
of
food
for
the
caterpillars.
This
year,
she
collected
seven
caterpillars
to
share
with
her
class.
Having
the
caterpillars
as
live
subjects
the
students
could
observe
had
a
great
impact
on
learning
and
building
their
classroom
community.
Over
the
next
couple
of
weeks,
the
students
began
each
school
day
following
the
progress
of
the
caterpillars,
making
a
note
of
the
changes,
and
documenting
their
results.
The
class
watched
several
science
videos
and
read
books
about
the
life
cycle
of
caterpillars
and
their
metamorphosis.
The
class
measured
the
caterpillars
in
standard
and
non-standard
units,
looked
at
the
migration
patterns
of
butterflies
on
maps,
and
even
wrote
fiction
stories
about
a
caterpillar
that
temporarily
went
missing.
"The
caterpillar/butterfly
theme
has
taken
on
a
life
of
its
own,"
said
Reeder.
"Students
have
drawn
pictures,
worn
t-shirts
that
show
the
caterpillar
life
cycle,
and
even
parents
and
siblings
have
popped
into
our
morning
meetings
for
a
caterpillar
update."
Thanks
to
Reeder's
innovation,
she
created
an
adventure
for
her
students,
and
a
positive
virtual
learning
experience
for
everyone.
Through
the
recordings
the
class
will
be
able
to
witness
the
amazing
transformation
repeatedly.