Preschool Science Experiments, Lessons and Activities » Butterflies

Butterflies – Preschool Lesson Plan

Lisa — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:17:52 +0000

There is a very good reason why studying butterflies is very popular in the preschool classroom. The change, or metamorphosis, that butterflies go through is very dramatic and makes a lasting impression.

This Butterfly Larvae Kit will turn your butterfly lesson into a hands on activity and will deepen the children’s understanding of the butterfly life cycle and create a lasting impression.

Whole group introduction

Why do we need butterflies?
Butterflies are the second largest group of pollinators next to honey bees.

• What is the difference between a butterfly and a moth?
Most butterflies fly during the day (diurnal). Moths fly at night (nocturnal). Butterflies have small bulbs on the end of their smooth antennae. Moths have “fuzzy” antennae.

• What is the life-cycle of a butterfly?
egg, caterpillar, pupa (cocoon), butterfly.

• Where do butterflies live?
In every continent except Antarctica, with the majority in tropical zones.

• What do butterflies eat?
Sweet nectar from fruits and flowers.

Chart of Butterfly Facts

Approximately 24,000 species in the world. 561 in the U.S.
and Canada.

Butterflies can taste with their feet.

They don’t have lungs, but breathe through holes, called
spiracles, in their abdomen.

Butterflies can see the colors red, yellow and green.

Top speeds of 12 miles per hour have been recorded. Moths
up to 25 mph.

Their wing color is caused by millions of overlapping
scales.

They taste with their antennae.

Butterflies don’t have a mouth. They drink nectar through a
straw that they can roll up and down, called a proboscis.

Butterfly Wings

Lisa — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:17:25 +0000

The colors on the wings of a butterfly are caused by millions of overlapping scales. This activity will demonstrate this effect.

Materials:
Poster board
Colored tissue paper (use several different colors)
glue

Procedure:
1. Cut poster board into quarters.
2. Cut tissue paper into small pieces.
3. Draw a butterfly outline on each quarter and give each child one.
4. Let the children glue the colored tissue paper onto the drawn butterfly’s wings. Show how overlapping the tissue paper creates new colors.

Questioning:
What did the children notice?
What colors did different combinations make?

Make a Butterfly Ring

Lisa — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:52:56 +0000

Use this craft to teach your children about how butterflies pollinate different flowers.

Materials:
Construction paper
Pipe cleaners – cut in half
Crayons

Procedure:
Fold construction paper in half and draw half a butterfly with it’s abdomen along the seam. Allow children to cut out, unfold and color the butterfly. Punch small holes on either side of the abdomen middle. Insert pipe cleaner through both holes to form a ring on the child’s finger.

Explain that butterflies spread pollen from flower to flower and that pollen is what allows more flowers to grow. Some of those flowers turn into the vegetables that we eat.

Ask the class what vegetables they eat on a regular basis. Then allow children to wander around the room pretending to pollinate things with their butterfly rings.

Snack: Edible caterpillars

Lisa — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:11:28 +0000

Use this craft to start a conversation with your children about what caterpillars eat and what butterflies eat. Also, talk about the different ways in which they eat.

Materials for sweet snack:
Paper plates
Twinkies
Gum drops
Licorice laces

Procedure:
1. Have children draw and color flowers on the paper plates
2. Place a Twinkie in the middle of the flowers to serve as the caterpillar body
3. Use gum drops as feet and eyes
4. Use licorice laces for antennae and proboscis
5. Vote for the most creative and then eat

Materials for a healthier snack:

Paper plates
Thinly sliced strawberries, kiwi and other colorful fruit
Blueberries

Procedure:
1. Draw a butterfly onto the paper plate and pass them out
2. Allow children to decorate the wings with fruit
3. Eat

Demonstrate How Butterflies are Born

Lisa — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:39:55 +0000

This final activity in this butterfly series will allow your children to remember that the change from caterpillar to butterfly occurs in the cocoon.

Materials:
Toilet paper on roll

Divide class into groups. Choose one child from each group to be the caterpillar. Allow the other children in their group to wrap toilet paper around them, being careful not to cover their neck or head. Then have the “caterpillar” break free from the toilet paper cocoon and spread their wings.