Day of the Dead / Monarch Butterfly Migration Chase
Monarch Butterfly Migration Chase
An active outdoor game where children become monarch butterflies flying south to Mexico, dodging hazards along the way, and learn about the butterflies that arrive there each year around Día de Muertos.
How to run it
- Explain that millions of monarch butterflies migrate to the forests of central Mexico each autumn, arriving around the start of November, and that some families there welcome them as a sign of loved ones visiting.
- Mark a start line as the north and a safe zone as the forests of Mexico, with a few children in the middle as wind gusts and storms.
- On the call 'Fly south', butterflies flap across while the wind and storms try to tag them.
- Tagged butterflies rest on a 'flower' spot and rejoin after a short count, then swap roles after each round.
You will need
- cones
- coloured bibs for the wind and storms
- paper flowers or hoops for rest spots
Make it easier or harderUse gentle tags and a shorter distance for younger children; older children can add food stops they must visit along the route.
SafetyUse two-finger tags, set clear boundaries and check the ground for hazards.
My Time Our Place · Outcome 3, Outcome 4Children stay active while learning about animal migration and its place in Mexican culture.
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