Butterflies in Space

Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive
The Butterflies in Space Teacher's Guide uses "life in space" to encourage learners to conduct their own open-ended scientific investigations. The guide provides information about the Butterflies in Space experiment conducted aboard the International Space Station and instructions on how to build a habitat and conduct open-ended experiments. The experiment instructions begin on page 11 of the PDF. Learners can build a "Clamshell Habitat" or a "Box Habitat" to raise Painted Lady butterflies.

Quick Guide

Learning Time:
1 to 4 weeks
Estimated Materials Cost:
Over $20 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 6 - 18
Resource Types:
Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan
Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)

  • Painted Lady butterfly eggs and/or larvae
  • Butterfly food
  • Adult Butterfly Nectar (1 ounce sugar, 4 ounces water, and 2 pinches of salt)
  • Cotton balls
  • Pot and stove or hot pot for boiling nectar
  • Small paintbrush
  • Standard fluorescent bulb in a
  • Clear plastic box (item number 079-C)
  • Clear or white 7-day medicine organizer, 6 in. x 1.25 in. (available at most pharmacies)
  • Drill (or nail and pair of pliers)
  • Red permanent marker
  • Clear, hinged
  • 4 clean individual portion cups and 2 lids
  • Distilled water
  • Hot glue gun and glue
  • Pair of scissors
  • Plastic report cover
  • Sheet of cardboard
  • Student sheets (pp. 20-24)
  • Measuring tools
  • Camera (optional)

Keywords

Subjects

  • Earth and Space Science
    • Astronomy
      • Probes, Satellites and Spacecraft
  • Engineering and Technology
    • Engineering
      • Aerospace Engineering
  • Life Sciences
    • Diversity of Life
      • Animals
    • Ecology
      • Ecosystems
  • Mathematics
    • Data Analysis and Probability
      • Data Analysis
      • Data Collection
      • Data Representation
  • Physical Sciences
    • Motion and Forces
      • Gravity
    • Structure and Properties of Matter
      • Volume and Density
  • The Nature of Science
    • Science and Society
    • The Scientific Process
      • The Scientific Worldview
      • About Inquiry
      • Asking Questions
      • Conducting Investigations
      • Gathering Data
      • Formulating Explanations
      • Communicating Results
  • The Nature of Technology
    • The Design Process
      • Research and Development

Informal Categories

  • Animals
  • Nature and Environment

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • read
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves teamwork and communication skills
  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Components that are part of this resource:

Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

  • Vogt, Gregory L. ; Moreno, Nancy P. ; Countryman, Stefanie

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, Baylor College of Medicine, 2009

Funding Sources:

  • NASA, NCC 9-58
  • Houston Endowment Inc.
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute