*I may earn a small commission from links in this post.
Spring is in the air, and what better way to celebrate than by diving into the study of butterflies? Last year my children and I did just that! We embarked on a delightful, yet simple and easy to execute, kindergarten-preschool butterfly study unit and I am excited to share all the details with you! I have a packet created just for you click here to grab it!
You may ask why butterflies? First off butterflies just scream spring time! They offer an opportunity to explore life cycles, metamorphosis, nature observation, and even a little bit of art and literature, but I was also able to sneak in a little electricity lesson! Butterfly study units are one of the most perfect science units for even the littlest of littles!
Our Study Unit
Our science studies take a relaxed, family-style approach, perfect for summer learning after core curriculum is complete. Since we’re currently working with preschool and kindergarten learners, our studies are age-appropriate and low-pressure. We focus on foundational concepts rather than detailed species classification and journaling. This particular study unit I structured on these key areas:
- Butterfly Grow and Release kit
- Family Reading
- Butterfly life cycle
- Diet of caterpillars and butterflies
- Anatomy of a butterfly
- Alphabet
- Phonics
- Numbers
- Tracing
- Scissor skills
- Motorskills
As mentioned above, I have created a packet for you to use in this study unit. Everything is put together for your preschool/kindergarten group. You can find the packet here.
I had no schedule or day by day plan, I just set up the habitat for butterflies and had children observe each day. Each day we read from the book list and did a page or craft from the packet. Very simple but if you’d like a schedule there is a calendar for you to fill in at the very end of the packet. It’s as simple as picking from the activity pack and plugging into the calendar.
1. Butterfly Grow & Release
I knew a Raise & Release kit would be perfect for this unit, and it didn’t disappoint! Watching the caterpillars transform and then waiting for the butterflies to emerge was fascinating. We even got to see them hatch, and I managed to get it on video!
After the butterflies were 5 days old we went to the park to release them.
I can’t recommend these kits enough. These kits are a little difficult to obtain in Canada versus US but I will link what I have here
Canada:
USA:
INSECTLORE (this is the one we used!)
Alternatively if you are on a farm, grow your own vegetables, or near a forest you can look around to see if you can find any caterpillars.
2. Books to Read
Reading is an amazing way to bring the study unit to life! Vibrant picture books and engaging non-fiction, sparked curiosity, reinforced key concepts, and were a perfect way to supplement our hands on activities! Here are some of our favorite books. They are already linked for Canada all you have to do is click on the images and you will be taken to them directly.
3. Butterfly lifecycle
We started off with learning the 4 stages of the butterfly life-cycle; Egg, Larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult (Butterfly).
Books :
Let’s read and find out science: From Caterpillar to Butterfly
National Geographic Kids: Caterpillar to Butterfly
How does a caterpillar change? By Eric Carle
These books are simple and can work as early readers, for reading practice, which I love to upkeep throughout our summer break. If your child does not know how to read yet or reads very few words, as you are reading, search together for letters and words they know!
Crafts:
To bring add some hands on experiences, I had planned some crafts
Paperplate crafts: We created a butterfly lifecycle display on paper plates, utilizing various pasta shapes to depict the egg (Orzo) , caterpillar (fussili) , chrysalis (shell pasta) , and butterfly (bow pasta) stages
If the paper plate craft is not your thing, my activity pack includes a cut & paste version.
Play-doh: Play-doh serves as a fine and gross motorskill activity among other things. That is why I created play-doh mats featuring the life-cycle of a butterfly and a taste-safe play-dough recipe you can make at home!
3. Butterfly Anatomy, Habitat, and Diet
Books:
The very hungry caterpillar by Eric Carle
Crafts:
Paperplate: After reading The Hungry Caterpillar we used paperplates to make our own caterpillars!
Play-doh: I also created an anatomy of the butterfly play-doh mat. Using different colors children laid out different parts of the butterfly
To reinforce the dietary differences between caterpillars and butterflies, I designed a simple matching activity. Children connected caterpillars to their food sources with lines, and then repeated the process for butterflies. After completing the worksheets, we discussed the similarities and differences in their diets, highlighting the changes that occur during metamorphosis.
4. Other crafts
Popsicle butterflies
Paperplate butterflies
5. Static electricity
To explore static electricity, we created a butterfly-themed STEM activity. First, we carefully cut butterfly wings from tissue paper and glued them on to a flat, sturdy surface (cardboard). I cut out the body of a butterfly and glued it over the wings. After constructing our tissue paper butterflies, we inflated balloons and rubbed them vigorously against our hair, building up a static charge. Then, holding the charged balloons near our butterfly wings, we observed as the wings lifted and fluttered, drawn by the unseen force of static electricity. This hands-on activity allowed us to visually witness the attraction of opposite charges, transforming a simple butterfly craft into an engaging scientific exploration.
I talk about the “science” of this demonstration in the packet. Again, we are not divining too deep into this as it has little to do with butterflies and caterpillars but I thought it would be interesting to add to our “studies”
7. Pollination STEM
In this hands-on STEM activity, we simulated butterfly pollination using pipe cleaners and colored dust (like powdered drink mix or colored cornstarch). We crafted pipe cleaner butterflies, ensuring their ‘legs’ and ‘bodies’ had small, sticky sections (using tape or a bit of glue). We then created ‘flowers’ by placing small containers of different colored dust on a surface. The children acted as butterflies, dipping the sticky parts of their pipe cleaners into the dust (representing pollen) as they moved from flower to flower. We observed how the ‘pollen’ transferred between the ‘flowers’ on the pipe cleaners, demonstrating how butterflies carry pollen during their feeding process. This activity helped visualize the crucial role butterflies play in plant reproduction and ecosystem health, highlighting the importance of pollinators in a tangible way.
*image used is not my own
Gardening
Although we did not do this one, you can also plant nectar rich flowers to attract butterflies and ease right into gardening and life cycle of a plant study!
Tips:
There are many excellent websites and videos about butterflies. Make it fun! Let your children’s curiosity guide your learning. We had a fantastic time learning about butterflies, and I hope this post has inspired you to create your own butterfly study unit! What are your favorite butterfly activities or books? Share them in the comments below!
Leave a Reply