Recommended for: Kids of all ages

Spring is finally here, and we love the start of spring. It’s like a new beginning watching everything bloom, the grass green, and the return of the birds and our favorite butterflies. We family loves butterflies (or at least I force them to 😊). Every year we plant a butterfly garden in hopes of attracting these beautiful creatures to our yard. This year, we decided to teach our kids about the life cycle of butterflies. Our son (the big 1st Grader) has already learned all about the butterfly’s life cycle in kindergarten. Our daughter on the other hand has not and is so excited because “Butterflies are soooo cute.”

We highly recommend using the Insect Lore’s Butterfly Garden linked below.

***If you decide to go this route as well, be sure to keep a close eye on the tracking information. Ours was delivered in our mailbox on a hot day.***

This kit comes with everything you need to observe the butterfly life cycle and document it. It even has stickers which is a HUGE bonus in our house.

We also recommend getting your kiddos The Very Impatient Caterpillar series by Ross Burch. My kids love these book, they are so cute and funny and teach about a caterpillar’s metamorphosis to a butterfly.

Things we experienced during our observation.

• Not all caterpillars will form their chrysalises as the same time.
  • Some are days later and they will disturb the other chrysalises. (Just like in the book, the impatient caterpillar)
• The chrysalises will fall from the top.
  • Don’t be alarmed the chrysalises are fine. Gently scoop the chrysalises up with a spoon. Clean any webbing off them with a cotton swab and place the chrysalises on a paper towel and place them in the habitat next to the edge.
• If you have a cat, they LOVE joining in on the fun. So, keep the habitat somewhere safe.

Not only will your kiddos learn all about the butterfly’s life cycle, but they will also learn how to be patient as they way for the caterpillars to metamorphose into butterflies. We also like to take it a step further and teach about symmetry and butterflies wings are a great fun way to teach symmetry. Check out our lesson below!

What is symmetry?

If you are able to draw a straight line down the middle of something and both sides look the exact same, it is considered symmetrical. Symmetry is described as two parts of a whole that are exactly identical. They are considered mirror images of each other.

Items Needed:

• Butterfly Outline
• Q-tips or paint brush
• Paint

Instructions

• Print out Butterfly outline HERE
• Fold the paper in half (the line of symmetry)
  • By folding the paper in half first, it makes it easier to fold over later
• Have your kids pick their favorite colors and pour them onto a paper plate or paint palette.
• Show them the line of symmetry and instruct them to only paint on one side of the paper.
• Encourage them to paint thick and quickly.
  • The paint has to be thick enough and wet enough to transfer to the other side of the butterfly wing when folded.
• Assist your kids with folding the paper in half. Be sure to press down on the paper to ensure a transfer of paint.
• Carefully open up your paper to reveal your butterfly.

Your kids will be amazed to see their painting has been replicated on the other side.