Conservation Tales
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Identify a Butterfly
​Inquiry Activity
​
A learning activity by Tom J. McConnell & Ashley Owens
Ball State University. 

Produced for Conservation Tales: Monarch Butterflies (2021)
Picture
You've read about monarch butterflies, and you've seen them in your neighborhood or at the local nature center. But can you tell which monarch butterflies are males and which are females?

Some naturalists and volunteer scientists take part in a citizen science project that helps researchers track the movement of monarchs. In this project, volunteers put tags on some butterflies that has an ID number. The volunteers then put that number and information about where the butterfly was tagged into a database shared with scientists across North America. One piece of information volunteers need to record is whether the butterfly is male or female. 

But how can you tell? In this module, you'll compare photos of both male and female butterflies to help you see a simple way to tell them apart! Once you observe the samples, it's time to have you look at some "Unknown" photos to test your skills! 

Once you learn to tell the difference, you will ready to help identify male and female monarch butterflies that you see in your own community!
Sample Photos
Female Monarchs:
Look for marks that are different from the males! 
(You can click "pause" on each slideshow if you move your mouse over the images.)
Male Monarchs:
Look for marks that are different from the females!
​(You can click "pause" on each slideshow if you move your mouse over the images.)
What differences did you notice? To find out what the experts look for to tell if a monarch is male or female, click the "DIscuss the Differences" button.  To take a quiz to see if you can tell the differences, click on "Quiz!"
Discuss the Differences
Butterfly ID Quiz
Picture

For the Teacher
Grade Level: 3-5
Class Periods: 1-2

NGSS Standards
Performance Expectations
  • 2-LS1-2
​Practices 
  • Developing & Using Models
  • Analyzing and Interpreting Data
​Disciplinary Core Ideas
  • LS1.D
​Croscutting Concepts
  • Patterns
  • ​System & System Models
​









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  • Home
    • About the project
  • Books
    • Cerulean Warbler
    • Bats
    • Salamanders
    • Bees
    • Sea Turtles
    • Seahorses
    • Manatees
    • Elephants
    • Giraffes
    • Orangutans
    • Tigers
    • Monarch
    • Carp
    • Macaws
    • Sloths
    • Conservation Tales Junior
  • ELearning
  • eStore
    • Bookstore
    • Gift Shop
    • EdSales
  • Meet the Team
    • Current Team
    • Central America Team
    • Midwest II series
    • Asia Series Team
    • Midwest Series Team
    • Gulf Coast Series Team
    • Africa Series Team
    • CT Junior Series
    • Sponsors
    • Conservation Partners
  • Events
  • Extras
    • Photo Credits
    • Project Achievements
  • Activities
    • FeatherDetective >
      • At My Feeder
      • MW Fields & Woods
      • Let's Travel!
    • ButterflyCardGame
    • Turtle Detectives
    • What's Your Footprint?
    • manateeid
    • Manatee Eye in the Sky
    • BeeHouse
    • ElephantID >
      • ElephantPhotos
    • Wildlife Watch
    • Guided Reading
  • ButterflyID
  • BflyIDDiscuss
  • ButterflyIDQuiz