The Pre-Kindergarten students at Kiptopeke Elementary School experienced a hands-on science experiment that helped them understand the life cycle of butterflies. The Northampton County Education Foundation funded the project, titled “Changes, Changes, Changes.” The grant supported the purchase of one Butterfly Life Cycle Kit for each of the four pre-kindergarten classrooms at the school. Through the project 58 four to five year olds were able to nurture butterflies from the chrysalis stage and watch them develop into butterflies ready to fly away. The children had the opportunity to observe how another living creature grows and changes over time.
Rachel Attenberger, lead Pre-Kindergarten teacher at Kiptopeke stated, “This activity enhances the children’s learning in the areas of literacy, mathematics, art and music. The children were very engaged and the project piqued much curiosity and imagination.” It took about three weeks for the butterflies to emerge from the chrysalis. Once the butterflies were ready, the school held a Butterfly Release Celebration on the school play yard for pre-kindergarten students and their families on June 10.
The mission of the Northampton County Education Foundation is to engage the community and mobilize resources to promote student performance and excellence in teaching in the county’s public schools. The Foundation offers grants to the schools and to individual teachers to support initiatives that help reshape, enhance or improve classroom education, as well as grants for special extra-curricular activities, such as field trips, speakers, and clubs and arts programs. In addition the Foundation annually provides scholarships to graduates of Northampton High School. The Foundation welcomes monetary contributions from the community to assist with its activities.
For more information and to contribute, individuals can go to the Foundation’s website, ncedufoundation.com or mail contributions to Northampton County Education Foundation, PO Box 323, Cape Charles, VA 23310.
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