Did You Know Butterflies Spend Part of Their Day "basking"? Http://www.butterflyschool.org

I didn't! But it makes sense, when you realize that "basking" is behavior in which the butterfly absorbs heat from the sun with their wings outstretched. Since they are cold blooded they cannot generate enough heat to stay warm so they rely on the sun for warmth. Butterflyschool.org, teaches that fact and many more through sections geared for the different individuals that might visit the site.

Through butterflyschool.org, we find this site is actually the website for The Butterfly House & Education Center (a division of the Missouri Botanical Garden) in Chesterfield, Missouri, casual online visitors will find quite a bit of interesting information about butterflies as well as information on field trips and classes for those close by the conservatory.

Butterflyschool.org is relatively elementary in nature, yet one where my son and I could both find material that we could relate to...Myself as a teacher and he as a student. Not only did it have a section for students and teachers, but one geared for scouts as well. One section was even entitled "classes and events" which gave the visitor more information on "craft Saturdays", "Butterfly plants talk and walk", "bug Dad on Father's day" and many others as well including classes, workshops and overnights...all which change as needed.

The teacher section had sub-sections such as "field trips", species identification guide (which is indispensable when trying to make the distinction between a Monarch and a Painted lady for example), classroom activities such as how to raise butterflies and moths, making your own "butterfly house", butterfly arts and crafts and others as well. The games and "big book" ideas were priceless and although designed for a classroom, could be easily adapted for home use.

One way to teach children the different parts of a butterfly is to teach them using a song. The song examples in the book are to well known tunes and have the tendency to "stick with you" well after the lesson is put away, insuring a great memory for the parts of an insect as well as having fun in the process! Another part of the "teacher section was suggested reading which listed books in areas such as storybooks, books for teachers, reference material, and non-fiction books for children. The books listed were annotated and proved very helpful in our search for more information...this time on the printed page as opposed to the internet.

The student section is filled with many areas including but not limited to "what is an invertebrae?....what is an insect?.... species identification, metamorphosis and butterfly behaviors. The information is endless and the pictures vivid with easily identifiable markings. After checking out this site, even the youngest of viewers will be able to spot many of the butterflies featured within the sections.

Also available onsite is information on booking private parties, occasions and even an area where gift giving in the form of contributions and tributes are discussed with links given, should further information be needed.

All in all, this was am interesting site in that it had so many different aspects available for the visitor. After seeing butterflyschool.org, one can easily imagine the beauty of the conservatory with the approximately 1200 butterflies in free flight all around the visitor. It is a picture that few will ever get to experience but through this site, millions can visit, if even only via the internet.