| Keyword |
Description |
| Migration |
A long trip animals make to find safer places to live at different times of the year |
| Sanctuary |
A safe place where monarchs rest together in the winter |
| Nectar |
Sweet liquid from flowers that butterflies drink for energy |
Right now, the first waves of monarch butterflies are flying into Mexico, crossing skies over Tamaulipas, Coahuila, and Nuevo León on their way to cool, shady fir forests in Michoacán and the State of Mexico, where they rest together in sanctuaries until March. They began their migration in mid-August, and people saw them in places like Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Texas by late September.
Monarchs travel south to escape freezing weather and find the just-right mix of temperature and humidity, and while they overwinter, their bodies take a pause called “reproductive diapause.” People are helping by planting nectar flowers and milkweed, including favorites like Gregg’s blue mistflower, and by adding pollinator gardens and water stations in towns such as Gómez Farías near the El Cielo Biosphere. There’s even a Monarch Butterfly Cultural Festival in late October, which connects the butterflies to Día de Muertos traditions.
Bridging words
These words sound similar in English and Spanish: Why not practice them now?
| English |
Spanish |
| Monarch |
Monarca |
| Sanctuary |
Santuario |
| Humidity |
Humedad |
Time to discuss
- Should every school plant a small pollinator garden to help monarchs on their migration?
- How can festivals celebrate monarchs without bothering them while they rest in sanctuaries?
- What is more important for monarchs: protecting flowers along the route or protecting winter forests—and why?
Let's write
Answer the following questions in one paragraph:
- Imagine you are a monarch butterfly; write a diary entry about your first day crossing into Mexico.
- Describe the perfect kid-designed garden to feed and protect migrating monarchs.
