A great way to demonstrate the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly is by doing a caterpillar and butterfly project combining a great young children’s picture book story and a caterpillar to butterfly craft. The butterfly craft project can use inexpensive common items found at home and will be both fun and educational for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and even children in early elementary grades.
The Stages of Metamorphosis
The basic stages of butterfly metamorphosis are the egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly. Children will be excited to learn about how a tiny caterpillar goes through this amazing transformation. Many children’s picture books about metamorphosis are available also, explaining the process easily so that young kids will understand it. One of our favorites is The Very Hungry Caterpillar
A Caterpillar to Butterfly Transformation Project
Using the knowlege that was gained from discussing butterfly metamorphosis with your little ones and perhaps reading a great picture book on the subject, create a colorful, unique butterfly craft using a paper towel roll, construction paper, and other craft items. Follow the ideas below:
Ingredients for Caterpillar and Butterfly Project
- Empty paper towel roll
- Black and orange construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue & tape
- Black velcro stickers
- Black marker
- Decorative items such as googly eyes, pipe cleaners, pompoms, glitter, etc.
Method to Make Caterpillar and Butterfly Project
- Cover paper towel roll with orange construction paper and tape securely.
- Cut out butterfly wing shape from black construction paper and glue roll to the center.
- Decorate wings on both sides with mosaic pattern of small pieces of orange construction paper.
- Glue googly eyes, draw mouth, and attach pipe cleaners to roll for antennae.
- Attach black velcro dots (soft side) to the tips of each of the four butterfly wings. Two of them will not actually be used, but will provide decorative symmetry to the butterfly.
- Tuck in and roll wings up, attaching two black velcro dots (rough side) to roll so that they match up with the soft velcro dots on the outer wrapped wings.
- The antennae should now stick out of the top of the roll, and the roll should look like a caterpillar with decorative pattern showing from the back side of what originally was the butterfly.
- The resulting caterpillar can then be transformed into a butterfly by detaching the velcro. Then, the butterfly wings can be re-rolled to change him back into a caterpillar once more!
Tags: Butterfly Activity, Butterfly Craft, Caterpillar and Butterfly Art, Elementary Children Butterfly Craft, Metamorphosis Lesson Kids, Preschool Butterfly Lesson
I am searching for any new and different ideas for my programs here at the BUtterfly House in St. Louis.
(aarrgghhh, too many buttons in the world)
I came across this page while searching for new and different ideas for my programs here at the Butterfly House in St. Louis.
Please let your families know that butterflies emerge from chrysalises, moths emerge from cocoons. Correct terms can be presented to any and all children at any age.
Caterpillars also have different names, such as instars or larvae, but never worms. Worms are a completely different animal, even though some caterpillars have the nickname of worm like the inchworms and hornworms, which are indeed caterpillars.
And, while Mr. Carle’s book does a wonderful job of teaching healthy eating and sequences, it is a fictional portrayal of insects, who do not have smiling faces or eat sausages and cupcakes. He has stated that when the book was originally published in the 1960’s, “cocoon” was thought to be a term more easily understood by the purchasing public, and was used in the book.
I would like to recommend “Waiting for Wings” by Lois Ehlert or “Butterfly House” by Eve Bunting as alternatives, with more realistic portrayals of the metamorphosis.
[...] nature will not be too difficult, especially now that the weather is warmer. Check out this great preschool metamorphosis craft. Then, try setting aside a part of your yard for a butterfly garden. Have the kids find cool rocks [...]
Dear Donna,
Thanks so much for visiting my blog and leaving this informative comment about butterflies. I really appreciate the recommendations as well as the book ideas - they are great!
papaya42