A butterfly in every classroom 4-H program

The UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County, in conjunction with St. Anastasia Catholic School, conducted a 4-H program entitled “A Butterfly in Every Classroom.” Funding provided by the Entomological Society of America was used to purchase butterfly chrysalis from Butterfly World in Coconut Creek, FL and butterfly habitat cage terrariums.  The “Butterflies in Your Classroom” 4-H curriculum, along with a butterfly chrysalis and cage terrarium, was provided to each teacher. Students in twenty-two elementary school classrooms at St. Anastasia Catholic School observed their chrysalis daily and learned butterfly biology, complete metamorphosis, and the importance of butterflies as pollinators.  Chrysalis were observed daily until butterfly emergences.  The butterflies that emerge were released in the school’s lushly landscaped campus by students and teachers. Social media was used to share the experiences with the school’s followers on Facebook and Instagram. St. Anastasia Catholic School is a PreK-8 elementary school with twenty-two classrooms located in Fort Pierce, FL. They are situated in an urban community in coastal southeast Florida. For over a decade, the UF Extension collaborated with this school to conduct 4-H school enrichment entomology programs. In total, 585 students participated in this program in March 2024.