When preschool students at Crescent Academy International witness the wonder of beautiful winged creatures emerging from cocoons each spring, more than the butterflies undergo a metamorphosis. The students themselves are transformed, learning a valuable life lesson about the importance of protecting Allah’s creatures until they are strong enough to fly on their own.

Each spring, students in Crescent’s Montessori program are taught the life cycle of a butterfly from caterpillar to remarkable flying insect, helping them understand the world around them and connecting them with Allah (swt) and his creations. This year’s lesson culminated on a sunny day in early May, when 10 Painted Lady butterflies were gently released – encircled by two dozen preschoolers sitting on the grass, watching in awe as the creatures took flight.

"I always relish the moment when my students watch the amazing, delicate complete cycle,” said Mahasen Lutfi, Montessori administrator and teacher who organizes the annual Butterfly Project with fellow Montessori teacher Nazma Ansari.

Each teacher starts the unit with five butterfly caterpillars nestled in cups on a special table in the classroom. Students learn that the caterpillars came from eggs that Allah (swt) created, and now they must watch over the gentle creatures until they change into butterflies, when Allah (swt) will take care of them.

“I always relish the moment when my students watch the amazing, delicate complete cycle.” -- Mahasen Lutfi, Crescent Montessori administrator and teacher

The students’ interest grows as the four- to five-week cycle progresses from the egg stage, to the caterpillars hatching, to the larva stage, to the pupa stage where the tiny creature transforms into a butterfly. In the final stage, the students witness the butterflies coming out of the pupa. The butterflies are kept safely in a net for a few days and fed nectar, as students observe how the insects taste through their feet and breathe through their bodies. Instructional models are an excellent educational source, allowing for additional visualization and understanding toward the butterfly life process. The students, ages 3-5, learn that Allah loves beauty and butterflies are one of his creations.

“The children were in awe by experiencing such an amazing transformation in nature,” Ansari said. “They enjoyed observing the progress every day and were excited to watch the caterpillars grow into butterflies. It provides a great opportunity for them to observe and appreciate the beautiful creation of Allah (swt).”

Ansari added: “At this time of year, we are thoroughly enjoying our children’s independence and confidence. We begin to see a clear transformation. Their love for each other, making friends,  resolving their issues, respecting differences among each other, admiring the world around them and becoming leaders of their learning environments.”

The Butterfly Project aligns with Crescent’s theme for the 2020-21 school year, “Protective Friend,” which has taken on added significance in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A child connecting with a creature comes with many questions; when they watch and live this experience, they themselves have the answers, not from a book but from their experience,” Lutfi said. “God created these creatures; they don’t belong to us. We have to take care of them when they are with us; when we release them, then they are in Allah’s hands.”

A key theme of the Montessori curriculum is spiritual literacy, which focuses on “God, the world and me.” This theme is reinforced in other science projects, in which students learn about trees changing color with the seasons, the life cycle of a frog, and the beauty of color in nature.

“One of the main goals of Islamic education at Crescent is to nurture the soul, which represents the connection of each child to Allah (swt),” Lutfi said.