As you might know, butterflies have significance aside from that of an interesting and beautiful insect. To some, butterflies symbolize rebirth, change, and transformation. There are so many ways to incorporate this into the school year. For us this year, we began the year by using the butterfly to discuss the differences among those in our learning community. By reading the book, The Wings of Epoh by Gerda Weissmann Klein (and a related video I'm Here by Peter H. Reynolds/Fablevision), we were able to reference the butterfly and the caterpillar to connect to what children might be feeling, how to appreciate and understand differences (the obvious and unnoticed), how wonderful each of us is in a unique way, and how we can help others feel like they belong. We used the activities in the accompanying Wings of Epoh/I'm Here teaching guide to help the children talk to one another, get to know one another, and to have a chance to explore what it means to feel different.
Then, somewhere in my online exploring, I happened to find another butterfly reference that added not only to our idea of the butterfly but also to two other themes that ran through our classroom this year. The first theme was that of recycling and using up "trash" for other projects. The second was to learn about those who have made a difference in the world and to think about how we can make a difference in our school, community, families, and in the world. The butterfly this time came in the form of another book, entitled, I Never Saw Another Butterfly, a collection of poetry and artwork of children from the Terezin Concentration Camp in Czechoslovakia. One artist/teacher in particular, Friedl Dicker-Brandeis, helped the children learn to draw and express their feelings, and many of their work was saved after the war. Years later, the work was discovered and exhibited. It creates a story of young children who were taken away from their homes, their families, and everything they loved during the time of WWII and the Holocaust. Because of the background the children had in learning about those who had made a difference, we could reference some qualities of those who helped others, those who were cruel to others, and how it feels to be treated unjustly as well as with kindness. The children spent many months this year learning about such people as George Washington, Jackie Robinson, and Milton Hershey. They even read a book, as part of an author study, about Queen Esther, and I remember how shocked they were to discovered that in our history (a while after learning about the time in history of Jackie Robinson) there was yet another entire group of people who were treated unjustly. This was a great time to return to some of the lessons that took place with Wings of Epoh and I'm Here to discuss with the children how those who are different can become the target of teasing, exclusion, or unfairness, even in school. We talked about how they can be the ones who help make a difference, even for one person.
So now, I carefully thought about the words to use to explain the history linked to our new butterfly project, but, fortunately, I was able to call on one of my students to help share this story. Coincidentally, her dance school had used this story as the theme for their dance production, which was performed just a week or so before I was presenting it to the class. She was eager to explain the story and did so in a way that was perfect for this age group. Other children shared connections they had, such as information they had learned about the Holocaust or of family members who fought in WWII.
After some discussion, the children each received a poem from the book (carefully chosen for this age). They read it silently and then some of the children volunteered to share their poem and their thoughts about it. It was astonishing to hear their readings and to listen to their thoughts on these emotional poems - they seemed so grown up! Although I am sure they were not coming from the same place that an older child or adult with more knowledge of history, they were definitely touched by and connected to the children and their words.
What came next was their chance to connect to a project being created by the Holocaust Museum Houston, which has created The Butterfly Project. The web site says,
I asked the children to create a butterfly that represented the child who wrote the poem and the feelings they could connect to the poem. As it was the very end of the school year, we would use "leftover" materials to create the butterflies. These butterflies would be sent to the museum to become part of their display. One thing that was certain was that the children took great care in planning and creating their butterflies."1,500,000 innocent children perished in the Holocaust. In an effort to remember them, Holocaust Museum Houston is collecting 1.5 million handmade butterflies.The butterflies will eventually comprise a breath-taking exhibition, currently scheduled for Spring 2013, for all to remember. The Museum has already collected an estimated 400,000 butterflies."
As this was our last week of school, I had lots of work to get finished and cleaning up to do. But, I found myself enjoying being an observer in this special moment. I had a group of young children who, for the most part, worked as a team to create these butterflies. And then there were a few who truly enjoyed finding a quiet corner to work alone - and that was great too! They didn't ask me for much help, but they helped each other. I put a huge pile of materials on the floor, and they sat with the materials and shared, gave suggestions, and commented on the good work of their peers. At one point there was a silence that I don't think I will ever hear again with a craft project during the last week of school - just children cutting, gluing, passing things around. Amazing! It wasn't so much about the theme of the holocaust or the power of the poetry as it was about a group of children who had spent a year learning to respect one another, to enjoy learning, to appreciate the value in cooperation, and who really did seem to understand they were part of something outside their classroom. It was a perfect butterfly symbol - a group of children who had transformed into an amazing learning team!
(If you would like to be a part of The Butterfly Project, the deadline is not until June 2012, so you actually can do this for two years. There are guidelines and lesson plans on the web site. You will have to use your judgment as to the appropriateness of the lessons for your age group - to me, they are quite powerful and emotional. I struggled all year as to how I would make this work, but it somehow came together, albeit at the last minute, in a way that was perfect for young children. Another interesting connection is that the author of The Wings of Epoh is herself a Holocaust survivor.)
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