Objective:
The students will write math equations.

Materials

• Butterfly Numbers Worksheet

• Manipulatives, such as counting bears, pennies, etc.  (10 per student, if desired)

• Pictures of butterflies and their different parts from a book or web site.  See the Butterfly Home Page for suggestions.

Procedure

1. Discuss the parts of butterflies and the numbers related to those parts.  Specifically mention the following:
   - Butterflies have 6 legs like all insects
   - Butterflies' wings have 4 parts, 2 in the front and 2 in the back
   - Butterflies have 3 body parts - head, thorax, abdomen
   - Butterflies have 2 antennae, which they use for touching and smelling

2. Discuss with the students what is involved in writing a number sentence.  The depth of the discussion will depend on the background knowledge of the students. 

3. Pass out the Butterfly Numbers Worksheet and the manipulatives (if desired).  Have the students complete the worksheets individually or in pairs.  The difficulty of the number sentences will depend on the level of the students.  Older students may use subtraction as well as addition problems.

4. Have the students share their equations with the rest of the class.

Other Lesson Ideas

1. Use the Butterfly Web Site to find information on different types of butterflies and their wing spans.  Have the students measure pieces of paper or string to these widths.  Label the paper (or string) with the name of the butterfly and it's width.  Arrange the butterflies from smallest to largest.  

2. Butterfly wings are symmetrical.  Have a lesson on symmetry.  The students may go on a hunt to find objects which are symmetrical and objects which are asymmetrical.