Field Trip Opportunities
Overview
Classes at The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House include classroom demonstrations and a scavenger hunt in the Tropical Conservatory. The programs are designed to foster a better understanding of butterflies and their importance to the balance of life on Earth. Programs compliment classroom curricula and cover concepts outlined in both the Missouri and Illinois Science Standards.
Availability
Classes are offered Tuesday and Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. and Thursday and Friday at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. from September to June. Middle school classes are offered only on Mondays.
Required Chaperones
- Grades PK–3: 1 adult per 5 students.
- Grades 4–8: 1 adult per 8 students.
Program Fees
- Grades PK–8: $3.00 per child. Beginning with the 2007-2008 school year, the fee per child will be $3.50.
- Free for required number of chaperones.
- Extra Chaperones: $6.00 entrance fee.
Registration
All registration must be done through The Butterfly House. Programs must be requested by name when scheduling a class trip. Reservations can be made on or after Monday, May 5, 2008. For more information, call (636) 530-0076, ext. 13.
Programs
Story of a Butterfly
Preschoolers become involved in the butterfly life cycle. Our puppet-model caterpillar presents metamorphosis. Students build a butterfly of puzzle pieces. A five minute video will lead into a visit to our Tropical Conservatory to find eight basic colors on the tropical butterflies.
Grade: PK
Time: 1 hour
Limit: 35 students
Butterfliez
What are the differences between living things and non-living things? What characteristics do all animals have? Explore these questions and learn where butterflies fit in. We will discover a butterfly's five senses and let students act out the metamorphosis process. There is also a five minute video and Tropical Conservatory tour.
Grade: K
Time: 1 hour–1½ hours
Limit: 60 students
Petals and Wings
Participate in the butterfly's story, understanding what caterpillars and butterflies have in common - their need for plants. Compare the life cycles of butterflies and plants and learn how the two interact. Students also visit our butterflies in the Tropical Conservatory.
Grade: K–2
Time: 1½ hours
Limit: 60 students
Hide a Butterfly
How do butterflies hide from predators? Children answer this question by hiding a pretend-butterfly in a meadow of felt flowers. Learn about camouflage while helping "butterflies" hide from "birds". Visit our Tropical Conservatory to experience living and hidden butterflies.
Grade: K–1
Time: 1 hour
Limit: 35 students
Butterfly Biology
Butterfly Biology takes a detailed look at butterfly metamorphosis and anatomy. Our 20 minute film The Butterfly Effect leads into a conservatory-wide scavenger hunt where students search for specific behaviors and species.
Grade: 1–3
Time: 1½ hours
Limit: 60 students
Wings of Wonder
Use real butterfly eggs, caterpillars, and pupae, plus live cockroaches and butterflies, to discuss metamorphosis and anatomy. We also investigate butterfly behaviors by studying The Tropical Conservatory in the same way a scientist would.
Grade: K–3
Time: 1½ hours
Limit: 60 students
Living the Butterfly Life
Students will identify one species of butterfly using a key and locate that butterfly in the Tropical Conservatory to learn what makes it unique. Explore in detail the ways butterflies protect themselves. Study the differences between complete and incomplete metamorphosis, using our 20 minute video, The Butterfly Effect.
Grade: 3–5
Time: 1½ hours
Limit: 60 students
How Do Butterflies Fly?
What are the differences between species that determine a butterfly's flight speed? Students will be given the opportunity to make their own hypotheses to answer this question. They will then test the answers with observations and data collection, studying the butterflies in The Tropical Conservatory.
Grade: 6–8
Time: 2 hours,
Limit: 35 students
Classes are scheduled on Mondays only, at 10:00 a.m.
Faust Park Information:
There are several other Faust Park facilities available to groups on class trips. They are within walking distance from the Butterfly House.
Not all Faust Park facilites are available on Mondays, so please call in advance. These include:- The St. Louis Carousel: Phone (636) 537-0222
- The Historic Village in Faust Park: Phone (636) 532-7298
Directions to the Butterfly House:
From the intersection of I-64/40 and I-270: Take I-64/40 west to the Clarkson Rd.-Olive Blvd. Exit. Exit 19B. Turn right onto Olive Blvd. Follow Olive Blvd. about 1½ miles to the Faust Park entrance on the left.
