Materials
brown construction paper
tape
tree branches (optional)
artificial leaves in fall, spring, and summer colors
brown yarn
sentence strips
Instructions
l Purchase butterfly eggs prior to this activity.
What To Do
1. Engage the children in a discussion about butterflies, and how they are springtime
and summertime creatures. Ask where the children have seen butterflies,
what time of year it was, and what the butterflies were doing.
2. Explain to the children how butterflies come from caterpillars.
3. Tell the children they will be helping to raise a butterfly from an egg to full
growth. Invite the children to make sketches and drawings during each step of
the process.
4. Show the children the glass jar. Place the butterfly egg, milkweed leaf, and
small stick inside the jar for the children to see. Note: Make sure the leaf
remains moist, though not very wet.
5. Once the caterpillar emerges, cover the jar with a piece of gauze. The
caterpillar will need replenished milkweed leaves over time.
6. Eventually, the caterpillar should attach to the stick and form a cocoon. Show
this to the children and discuss what they see.
7. Eventually the butterfly will emerge from the cocoon. When this happens, take
the jar outside with the children and remove the gauze so the butterfly can go
free.
8. After the butterfly is gone, talk with the children about each step in the
process. Encourage them to review their drawings as they discuss what
happened.
Assessment
To assess the children's learning, consider the following:
l Do the children understand that caterpillars become butterflies?
l Are the children engaged and interested in the process? What kinds of
illustrations do they make?
