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Butterflies
There are so many terrific ideas for
butterfly units. We have included some of our favorites that
we have found to be successful. Click on each photo to
enlarge.
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Life Cycle
This project reinforces the stages
of the life cycle of a butterfly. We used a 10 inch circle
of construction paper for the yellow background and the blue paper
was about 8 1/2 inches. The children wrote the stages on the
outside of the circle. This idea was given to us by Paige
Brown of Fairfield, California.
1. Egg In this
section, each child drew a small branch with a leaf. They
glued rice on the leaf to represent the egg stage.
2. Larva Stage--In
this section, each child draws another small branch with a leaf.
We use a curly pasta piece to show this stage. My curly pasta
has broken off on the sample! I apologize!
3. Pupa Stage--Draw a small
branch with a stem to glue on a shell pasta.
4. Adult---Another branch is
drawn in this section with a bow tie pasta to represent the adult
butterfly. We found colored pasta for this.
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Symmetrical Butterflies
Each child is given a butterfly
pattern to cut out. We use several different patterns to have
some variety. The butterfly is folded in the middle and
then opened. They are instructed to put dots and dabs of
different colors of paint on one side of the butterfly only.
The butterfly is folded closed and pressed. They are
thrilled to see the pretty designs when it is opened.
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Butterfly Puppets
We purchased this finger puppet
from Lakeshore Learning for the kids to use in our unit. It
has a little knit pocket o n
the back that the kids use on their finger. It is made from
very thin fabric and flutters like a real butterfly when they wiggle
their finger!
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Painted Butterfly
Each year we order caterpillars
from Insect Lore. They are quite expensive if you have to buy
the butterfly pavil ion
and the caterpillars. However, we use the net pavilion each year.
Click on the butterfly for the link to their site. It is
really fascinating to watch the butterflies go through the stages.
It is also a real thrill to release them and
watch them fly away!
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Story Writing Ideas
Click
to enlarge.
We use this story
starter for children to write and illustrate their own
story of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar." We bind
them and everyone enjoys reading the stories.
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Tissue Paper Butterfly
These butterflies are
made with an old fashioned clothes pin. A yellow
pipe cleaner was wrapped around the head of the clothes
pin for the antennae. Four layers of tissue paper
was used for the butterfly wings. The wings were
rounded on each side.
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Butterfly Songs
"Fly, Fly Butterfly"
(tune of "Skip to My Lou")
Fly, fly butterfly,
Fly, fly, butterfly,
Fly, fly butterfly,
Fly in the sky so high.
Flitter, flitter butterfly,
Flitter, flitter butterfly,
Flitter, flitter butterfly,
Flitter up and fly up in the sky.
Oh my, butterfly,
Oh my, butterfly,
Oh my, butterfly,
Do you always fly so high?
"Pretty Butterfly"
(tune of "Up on the Housetop")
First comes a butterfly
Who lays an egg.
Out comes a caterpillar
With many legs.
Oh, see the caterpillar
Spin and spin
A little chrysalis to sleep in.
Oh, oh, oh, look and see,
Oh, oh, oh, look and see.
Out of the chrysalis, my, oh, my,
Out comes a pretty butterfly!
"If you're happy and you know it"
There are four layers in the rainforest.
4 LAYERS
There are four layers in the rainforest.
4 LAYERS!
Forest floor, understory, canopy, emergent
There are four layers in the rainforest.
4 LAYERS!
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Links to Other Butterfly
Resources
Click on the butterflies for
links to more ideas!
 
Butterfly Bibliography
From Caterpillar to Butterfly
by Deborah Heligman
I Wish I Were A Butterfly by James Howe
Life Story of a Butterfly by MacLeod
Butterflies and Caterpillar by Barrie Watts
Butterfly and Moth by Paul Whaley
Butterfly House by Eve Bunting
Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Very Hungry Caterpillar Coloring Book by Eric Carle
Monarch Butterfly by Gail Gibson
Butterflies, Moths, Monarchs and More by Joni Hunt
Butterflies and Moths by Angel Julivert
Amazing World of Butterflies and Moths by Louis Sabin
Butterflies by Karen Shapiro
Charlie and the Caterpillar by Dom Deluise
Caterpillar's Wish by Janice Morrison
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