Is it possible to buy eggs and 'farm' butterflies in the classroom?

[Shitemum]

DD1s nursery class (4yo) are studying butterflies. Do the eggs need special conditions to hatch? I mean could we buy some eggs on the net and hatch them in the classroom? Has anyone done this?
Thanks!

[BeauLocks]

Caterpillars....?

[SoupDragon]

DS2 did this at nursery. I can't remember if they started with eggs or caterpillars - it was a kit though.

[SoupDragon]

Caterpillars

[Mummywannabe]

Insectlore (canot find catalogue but google it and you can order online ) - you can buy eggs to hatch into caterpillars really cheaply and they are easy to do! They also do other creepy crawlies to hatch! Fab resource - we get these each year.

[Glammama]

Another vote for Insectlore. We did this at home and were sent caterpillars in the post. It was very exciting. Can only be done late spring/summer though but worth looking into now.

[mrz]

Better than Insectlore the butterflies are native British species and can safely be released once hatched.

www.greengardener.co.uk/butterfly.htm

[laura032004]

My son's pre-school are doing this

[tjacksonpfc]

my dds pre-school are doing this at mo aswell not sure where they got them from though ill ask for you

[MorocconOil]

DSs nursery had the kit Soupy linked to. It worked really well, and had everyone (parents and children) checking each morning on the progress of the chrysilis (sp?).

[hippipotami]

Dd's nursery also had the set Soupy linked to. It was FANTASTIC!!