Think of an ecosystem.
Did you think of a large area
like a forest, a lake, a desert or a meadow?
Individual plants can also
be home to many different animals. The plant can play an important role in the
survival of a single species or many different animals.
Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is a vital host
plant for several unique animals. You may pass by small stands of milkweed
growing wild, along country roads or vacant lots. Stop and carefully
examine them. You will discover that these plants are home to an abundance of
creatures.
Let's look more closely at milkweeds and some of
their inhabitants. They thrive in a
backyard habitat and along the roads winding through Central Pennsylvania.
I think you will recognize one of the most famous animals found on milkweed plants - the Monarch Butterfly. |
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Milkweed plant - Asclepias
syriaca, Asclepias tuberosa, Asclepias incarnata
Emerging milkweed plants
Flowers
Sap
Root
Pod
Seeds
Uses
Milkweed Symmetry
Watering Milkweed - Spreadsheet integration activity
Measuring - Caterpillars and
Milkweed leaves activity
Chart the classification of the Common
Milkweed (Adv)
White milkweed | Butterfly Weed
School
Habitat Garden | Home garden
Residents:
Milkweed Tiger Moth & caterpillar
Harvestmen
Slug
Spider Web
Aphids
Milkweed Bug
Ladybugs (Lady beetles)
Pillbug
Wasp family resident
Wheel Bug | Caterpillar Predator
Carpenter Bee
Monarch Butterfly & Caterpillars
Life Cycle of the Monarch Butterfly
ID Me! - identifying Monarchs activity
Measuring Caterpillars and
Milkweed leaves activity
Mid Fall Larva Mystery Challenge
Draw a Monarch Butterfly - Scientific Illustration
Home garden
Black Swallowtail Caterpillar
Host Plants Information
Do You Know a Monarch When You See One?
Resources about Monarch Butterflies and Milkweed Plants
Fields, Meadows & Fencerows Study Unit - Insects - Butterflies |

Science Activities & Investigations to hone your Citizen Scientist skills:
Caterpillars: Comparing exercise | Contrasting
exercise (beg/Int)
Compare or Contrast Butterflies (beg/Int)
Monarch Word Search pdf
(Beg/Int)
Milkweed True - False Quiz (Beg/Int)
Monarch multi-guess Quiz (Beg/Int)
Butterfly Math (Int/Adv)
Collecting Data (Int/Adv) | Variables (Adv)
Observation Skills Builders: Larvae | Cozy (Beg/Int/Adv)
Window Investigation Mystery
Science Journal entry - pdf version (Int/Adv)
Milkweed Crossword
puzzle | Milkweed Puzzle print
Prediction Challenge (Beg/Int)
Calculating surface area of milkweed leaf
Milkweed
coloring | Color a Butterfly (Beg)
Add a stanza to Over in
the Meadow (Beg)
Chart Milkweed growth (Beg/Int)
Make
a Compare/Contrast Diagram using a computer how to
Mystery Butterfly Challenge (Int/Adv)
Mystery Caterpillar Challenge
Mystery Caterpillar Challenge & IPM (Int/Adv)
Observe - Predict a Fun activity
Adaptations of monarch butterflies wksht
Chart the classification of the Monarch
Butterfly. (Adv)
Make a crossword puzzle about Milkweeds and Monarchs
Frayer Science Vocabulary Activites: 
Insect - doc. | pdf.
Insect Metamorphosis - doc. | pdf.
Butterflies - doc. | pdf.
Moths - doc. | pdf.
More Science Activities:
Butterfly & Moth Internet Hunt (Int/adv)
Observation worksheets
Investigating Interesting Insects activity (Int/Adv)
Make an Organisms
Database - How to using AW (Int/Adv)
Scientific Process (Int/Adv)
Native Plants Garden at School project (Adv)
Plant Parts Facts Activity
Using the Scientific Method activity
Science Observation Skill Builders
|

Go Green Database - lessons & activities directory @ Edutopia
Environmental Education resources
Pennsylvania Academic
Standards |
This web project received an A+
rating from Education World®
Our property is a Monarch
Waystation and a Backyard Wildlife Habitat
Monarch Butterflies are now listed as an endangered species. They are endangered, in part, due to a loss of habitat and milkweed plants. Take a look at your school yard, a local park and your home yard. Where could you plant native milkweed, asters and goldenrod to aid the monarchs in surviving? |