Butterfly Symmetry

LESSON 6

Children will explore the concept of symmetry through play and by creating symmetrical butterfly wings. 

  • Paint smock

  • Acrylic paints (at least the primary colors)

  • Black cardstock

  • Scissors

  • Paint brushes or Q-tips

  • Butterfly template found here- Butterfly painting - The Craft Train

  • Or create your own butterfly template

  • A mirror

Materials

  • Gather materials

  • Trace butterfly template on black cardstock and cut it out at least 2, one for you to model the activity and one for your child.

Preparations

  • Promote curiosity and interest in butterflies.

  • Promote scientific thinking and questioning in children.

  • Observe fine motor skills in child.

Objectives for Teachers

  • Children strengthen their knowledge about butterflies.

  • Children explore the concept of symmetry through mirror play.

  • Children practice fine motor skills through painting.

Objectives for Children

Collect and Connect

  • Practice say the “Caterpillar Song” together with the actions you came up with.

Caterpillar Song

I started as a tiny egg,

Upon a leaf of green.

And now I stay upon the leaf,

So, I will not be seen.

Soon I’ll build a chrysalis,

Upon a limb up high.

I’ll stay there for a little while,

And then come out and be a butterfly.

Activity Flow

  1. Begin this lesson by exploring symmetry through play. A fun way to do this is using a mirror. Allow your child to place toys or objects on a mirror and observe what happens. You may even grab your butterfly template, keep it folded in half, and place it against the mirror. Point out the reflection of the butterfly in the mirror, and how it looks like a whole butterfly. 

2. After playing with symmetry, ask your child what colors they think their butterfly will be when it emerges from its chrysalis. Place the art smock on your child to protect their clothing from staining, then prepare and create the colors your child mentions using acrylic paints. Include them in this process and allow them to help mix the paints and see how they change colors. 

3. Next you will model how to paint one side of the butterfly, then fold and open to show them how paint transfers to the other side. 

4. Now it's time for your child to paint. Assist them in painting one side of their butterfly, then fold and open it. In my experience with preschool classes, children often end up painting both sides. This year, I found that working with them individually made the process much more successful. You will most likely need to remind them not to paint on both sides.

5. Lastly, hang the butterflies to dry. If the wings curl after drying, place them under a heavy book to flatten. 

Emergent Day

Here are some ideas for when the butterflies emerge from their chrysalises:

● Observe the butterflies when they emerge. See if you can name each body part on the butterfly again.

● Find foods they might enjoy eating (e.g. fruits like watermelon, oranges. bananas)

● Draw a picture of your butterflies.

● When all the butterflies have emerged, it is time to release them outside. If your child feels comfortable, allow them to try and hold a butterfly on their finger.

● Watch them fly away and mimic their movement.