Materials
Butterfly pattern
Heavy white construction paper
Scissors
Pipe cleaners
Several small bowls
Water
Food coloring
Liquid dish soap
Straws
Tape
Glue
Instructions
What to do
1. Before class, use a pattern to cut a butterfly shape from construction paper for each child. Cut
pipe cleaners in 2" (5 cm) lengths or longer, depending on the size of your butterflies.
2. Pour water into small bowls until they are half full.
3. Add a few drops of food coloring and liquid soap to the water.
4. Ask the children to mix the ingredients with straws.
5. Set the bowls aside.
6. Give each child a butterfly shape.
7. Using a straw, blow bubbles in each bowl until the bubbles rise over the top of the bowl, stopping
just before they spill down the sides. Ask older children to blow the bubbles with their
own straws, then discard the straws.
8. Have the children place their butterfly on top of the bowl of bubbles, then lift it to see the
results. Encourage the children to repeat the process on one or more bowls until their butterfly
is splashed with color.
9. Hang the butterflies to dry.
10. Afterward, attach pipe cleaners for the antennae with tape or glue.
More to do
Circle time: Design one wing of a butterfly on the flannel board and ask the children to duplicate
it using flannel pieces.
Gardening: Plan a butterfly garden with the other classes and start the flowers from seed on a
sunny windowsill.
Math: Decorate pre-cut butterfly shapes with polka-dots, then count the dots and have the butterflies
light upon a colorful number line; challenge older children to combine the dots on two or
more butterflies to produce a higher number.
More art: Write the child's name on the reverse side of the butterfly and attach a Popsicle stick;
use as a gift card for a potted plant on Mother's Day or another special occasion.
Outdoors: Make bubble solution and bring an assortment of wands outdoors to create bubbles
in a variety of shapes and sizes.
