In a multiage classroom, it's all about identifying the big ideas. We are currently focusing on life cycles; animal and plant life cycles. We have already launched this unit by observing the milkweed patch on our school campus. We harvested monarch eggs and are observing their life cycle. Students are learning about the important role of the milkweed plant and how it is adapted to meet its own needs. We will participate in Monarch Watch through Kansas University because our monarchs will be tagged when released for their migration to Mexico. Through this work, students are also learning how to observe closely, draw like a scientist, record data, and ask questions. These are necessary skills in the field of science, but can also be transferred to other content areas.