This fall, our 4th-grade classes participated in a unique partnership connecting students and scientists across North America to track the monarch butterfly’s remarkable migration to Mexico. As the migration unfolded from September to November, students had the opportunity to learn about the mysteries of this incredible journey. They discovered how a delicate butterfly can travel hundreds of miles to find its winter home in central Mexico, and how monarchs connect people across international borders.
A special part of the program involved our students creating paper butterflies as a Symbolic Ambassador Monarch which were mailed to schools near the monarch’s overwintering sanctuaries in Mexico. These symbolic butterflies represented a shared commitment to protecting monarchs and their incredible migration while also fostering connections between students in both countries.
On December 2, 2024, we received word that our Symbolic Ambassador Monarchs had arrived at their destination—the Miguel Hidalgo School in Zirahuato Village, a small community located near the butterfly reserve. In turn, the students at Miguel Hidalgo School are now learning about John Rex Charter School and the Oklahoma City area, continuing the cycle of cross-cultural exchange sparked by this program.
This collaboration highlights the power of global connections and the importance of protecting the natural world. Through their participation, our students not only learned about the incredible migration of monarch butterflies but also contributed to a larger movement of global awareness and conservation.