Prep: 30 mins | Activity: 30 mins
This is an elementary-level inquiry activity for students to investigate the relationship between leaf shape and the number of butterfly eggs that can be laid on a leaf. Students will build on their knowledge of the painted lady butterfly life cycle to assess which leaf shape can hold the most eggs. The activity promotes spatial thinking, proportion and scale, and measurement and may be conducted individually or in a small group. The teacher can assign every leaf shape to all students, one shape to a student, or all leaf shapes to a group of students depending on time.
Does the shape of a leaf influence the number of eggs butterflies can lay on the leaf?
Asking Questions and Defining Problems
LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
Use the hole punch to punch eggs from the soft green copy paper prior to the investigation. Each student or group needs about 100 eggs.
Laminate the paper prior to punching the holes so the eggs can be used multiple times.
Place eggs in an applesauce cup or in a resealable bag and reuse from year to year.
If it is the appropriate time of year, you may use real leaves. Make certain they are the same length.
If using real leaves, you may want to make white or yellow eggs so they show up on the leaf surface.
Showing students actual flowers adds interest. Daisies and asters are readily available.
Help students measure along the centerline of the leaf. All lengths should be the same. All measurements should be in centimeters.
Check for the placement of eggs. Students should not pile up eggs or have them overlap.
If appropriate, a class average for eggs per leaf type can be calculated.
If time permits, instruct students to place eggs on their leaf design. Hang up the leaves that have the highest egg count.
Take a nature walk and have students collect leaves. Examine the undersides for eggs. Collect leaves and determine if a leaf shape from nature matches a leaf shape that students drew.
Were the lengths of the leaves alike or different?
Alike
Which leaf held the most eggs?
Answers may vary. The hollyhock should have the most area.
Which leaf held the fewest eggs?
Lily
Look carefully at the shapes of the leaves. If the lengths are the same, why can some leaf shapes hold more eggs?
Greater width
Why do you think it is beneficial for painted lady butterflies to lay eggs on aster, daisy, and hollyhock leaves?
Large surface area and food source
Why is it not beneficial for butterflies to lay eggs on lilies?
The lily leaf is narrow (less surface area).
Draw a leaf shape that could hold many butterfly or insect eggs.
Drawings may vary. The leaf should be broad, indicating a large surface area.
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