This list is your one-stop resource for butterfly-themed activities designed specifically for young kids and preschoolers!
These hands-on activities are perfect for teaching about nature while learning about metamorphosis, ecosystems, and the importance of biodiversity.
They develop fine motor skills and foster a love for the great outdoors. From creating adorable butterfly crafts to exploring their fascinating metamorphosis, get ready to watch your child’s imagination take flight!
1. Butterfly Life Cycle Craft
This preschool activity is a delightful blend of creativity and education, allowing students to explore the magical transformation of a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly.
Learn more: The best Ideas for Kids
2. Chromatography Butterfly Craft
Not only does this craft enhance scientific understanding, but it also encourages experimentation and observation. With every unique creation, kids explore the principles of color mixing while enjoying the hands-on excitement of crafting their personalized, chromatography-inspired butterflies.
Learn more: Buggy and Buddy
3. Toilet Roll Handprint Butterfly
Transform simple materials into a burst of colorful creativity with the Toilet Roll Handprint Butterfly activity! This engaging craft combines the charm of handprints with the versatility of a toilet paper roll to bring to life a vibrant butterfly.
Learn more: Messy Little Monster
4. Decorate a Butterfly Collage Art Activity
By providing an assortment of materials like colored paper, fabric scraps, glitter, and more, children can let their imaginations take flight.
Learn more: Fun Learning for Kids
5. Butterfly Sensory Bin and Sorting Activity
Watch as little ones eagerly explore the sensory bin, discovering the wonders of texture and shape while fostering a deeper connection to the fascinating world of butterflies.
Learn more: Fun-a-day
6. Symmetry Butterfly Painting
Begin by folding a paper in half, applying paint to one side, and then folding it to create a symmetrical masterpiece.
Learn more: Simply full of Delight
7. Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft for Preschool!
For a coffee filter butterfly craft, have children color or paint coffee filters, then gather and pinch them in the center to create butterfly wing
Learn more: The Holly Dog Blog
8. Easy Paper Plate Butterfly Craft for Kids
Ignite the joy of crafting with this Easy Paper Plate Butterfly Craft designed for kids! With just a few simple materials like paper plates, markers, and pipe cleaners, children can unleash their creativity and transform ordinary plates into vibrant, fluttering butterflies.
Learn more: Taming Little Monsters
9. Easy Butterfly Suncatcher Craft
Using simple materials like tissue paper, contact paper, and scissors, children can create stunning butterfly suncatchers that not only showcase their artistic flair but also catch the sunlight in a mesmerizing display.
Learn more: Taming Little Monsters
10. Butterfly Matching Game
This engaging activity not only entertains but also sharpens cognitive skills in young learners. Featuring colorful cards adorned with various butterfly patterns, kids can enjoy the challenge of finding matching pairs.
Learn more: Pre Kinders
11. Butterfly Color Matching Game
This activity involves creating a butterfly color matching game where children match colorful clothespins to corresponding colored butterflies.
Learn more: Nurtured Neutrons
12. Butterfly Counting Jar
This hands-on learning experience involves placing a specific number of butterfly-shaped objects, such as colorful paper cutouts or small plastic figures, into a jar.
Learn more: Pool Noodle and Pixie Dust
13. Butterfly Sensory Bin for Spring
Fill a bin with soft, colorful materials such as pastel-colored rice or shredded paper as the base. Introduce butterfly figurines, silk flowers, and leaves to create a sensory-rich environment.
Learn more: Taming Little Monsters
14. Butterfly Finger Painting Art Activity
Encourage children to dip their fingers into the paint and freely express themselves as they decorate the butterfly shapes.
As little fingers dance across the paper, watch as unique and colorful butterfly masterpieces emerge.
Learn more: My bored toddler
15. Butterfly Nature Craft
Connect children with the wonders of nature through the Butterfly Nature Craft—an enriching and eco-friendly activity that combines creativity with the beauty of the outdoors.
Begin by taking a nature walk to collect fallen leaves, twigs, and other natural materials. Back in the classroom or at the crafting station, provide each child with a cardboard base and let them arrange their gathered materials to create unique butterfly shapes.
Learn more: Craft on Sea
16. Static Electricity Butterfly
Begin by cutting out butterfly shapes from lightweight materials, such as paper or thin plastic. Attach small pieces of tissue paper to the wings for added flutter.
Learn more: I Hearty Craft Things
17. Butterfly Number Matching Activity
Watch as young learners eagerly flutter through the numbers, making connections and building confidence with each matching pair.
Learn more: No Time for Flash Cards
18. Butterfly Mask Craft
Create a set of butterfly cards with numerals on one wing and corresponding dots or objects representing the quantity on the other. Scatter the cards across a play area and invite children to match each numeral to its corresponding visual representation.
Learn more: Messy Little Monster
19. Butterfly Life Cycle Necklace
Start by providing small, colored beads or charms to represent each stage of the life cycle: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly. Guide children in stringing these beads in chronological order onto a piece of string or yarn, creating a wearable representation of the butterfly’s transformation.
Learn more: Fun a Day
20. DIY Butterfly Sensory Bottle
Create a mesmerizing DIY Butterfly Sensory Bottle for a soothing and visually captivating experience. Begin by collecting small butterfly figurines or cutouts, and colorful sequins or glitter.
Choose a clear plastic bottle with a secure lid. Add the butterfly figures and sequins to the bottle, then fill it with clear or lightly tinted liquid, leaving some space at the top. Seal the lid tightly to prevent any leakage.
Learn more: Rhythms of Play
21. Butterfly Count & Color Sort
By providing a set of butterfly cutouts in various colors. Alongside these, offer a collection of small objects or counters in matching colors. Each child can then count the number of butterflies in each color and sort the corresponding objects or counters accordingly.
Learn more: Powerful Mothering
22. Raising Butterflies in Preschool
Incorporate related activities such as butterfly crafts, butterfly-themed books, and discussions about the importance of butterflies in nature.
Release the butterflies into an outdoor area once they have emerged, providing a memorable and hands-on connection to the natural world.
Learn more: Pre-K Pages
23. Butterfly Sponge Painting
Dip the sponge butterflies into the paint and press them onto the paper to create colorful butterfly prints. Encourage children to experiment with different colors, patterns, and arrangements, fostering their artistic expression.
Learn more: Confidence Meets Parenting
24. Butterflies and Flowers Number Line Activity
Encourage children to interact with the number line by placing numbered petals on the flowers or matching butterfly cutouts to the corresponding numbers.
Learn more: Fun Learning for Kids
25. Monarch Butterfly Craft for Kids
Craft wooden peg and party streamer monarch butterflies by attaching party streamers as wings to wooden pegs. Let children decorate them with colors resembling monarch butterflies.
Learn more: No Time for Flash Cards
26. Easy Butterfly Feeder
For an easy butterfly feeder, place a tray with sliced fruits, like strawberries or bananas, in a tray. Hang it outside where butterflies can access the fruits.
Learn more: Reading Confetti
27. Learning Symmetry Using Lego
Engage in a LEGO butterfly symmetry activity by having children create a butterfly using LEGO bricks on one side and then mirror the design on the other.
Learn more: Fun at Home with Kids
28. Easy Thumbprint Butterfly Craft for Kids
This simple and engaging craft allows kids to explore their creativity as they transform their thumbprints into unique and colorful butterflies.
Lear more: Simply Full of Delight
29. Butterfly Catch
Designate an open space for the activity and invite children to take turns trying to “catch” the butterflies by tossing a butterfly-catching net or a hoop.
Learn more: Ruffles and Rainboots
30. Paper Butterfly Silhouette Craft
Start by providing children with sheets of colored construction paper and butterfly-shaped stencils or templates. Instruct them to trace the butterfly shape onto the paper and cut it out carefully.
Learn more: 9 on a Dime
31. Stained Glass Butterfly
Hang the finished Stained-Glass Butterflies in a window, allowing the sunlight to filter through the colored plastic wrap, creating a beautiful display of radiant colors.
Learn more: Rainy Day Mum
32. Butterfly Stick Puppet
Bring storytelling and imaginative play to life with the Butterfly Stick Puppet craft! Begin by providing children with butterfly templates or blank paper to draw and color their butterfly shapes. After decorating the butterflies with vibrant colors, markers, or other art supplies, attach each one to a craft stick using glue or tape.
Learn more: Simple Everyday Mom
33. Handprint Butterfly Craft For Kids
For a handprint butterfly craft, have children paint or color their hands and press them onto paper with fingers extended to create butterfly wings.
Learn more: Simple Everyday Mom
34. Butterfly Cupcakes
Watch as young bakers joyfully bring their imaginations to life, creating not just cupcakes but delightful winged creatures that are as fun to make as they are to eat.
Learn more: 3 Boys and a Dog
35. Paper Heart Butterfly Craft
Cut out colorful paper hearts, which will serve as the butterfly wings. Kids can choose various sizes and colors to personalize their creations.
Learn more: Mom Brite
36. Butterfly Craft with Recycled Newspaper
Provide children with colorful paints, markers, or tissue paper to decorate the newspaper butterflies. Encourage them to get creative with designs, patterns, and colors, fostering artistic expression. Once the butterflies are decorated and dry, attach them to craft sticks or string for easy display.
Learn more: In the Bag Kids Craft
37. Life Cycle of a Butterfly Concertina Activity
Guide the children to draw or color the corresponding images of each stage along the paper strips. Once completed, accordion-fold the paper to create a concertina effect, allowing the children to compress and expand the paper, revealing the sequential stages of the butterfly’s life cycle.
Learn more: Teach Starter
38. Stick and Leaf Butterfly Nature Craft
Back in the crafting space, provide each child with a large stick for the butterfly body and various leaves for the wings. Using glue or twine, attach the leaves to the stick, creating colorful and textured butterfly wings.
Learn more: Artsy Craftsy Mom
39. Easy Crepe Paper Butterfly
Encourage personalization by adding details such as googly eyes, pipe cleaner antennae, or colorful patterns on the wings using markers or stickers. This easy and colorful craft sparks imaginative play as children bring their Crepe Paper Butterflies to life.
Learn more: Artsy Craftsy Mom
40. Life Cycle of a Butterfly Craft
Guide the children in decorating each stage of the life cycle using colors, markers, or other art supplies. Once the cutouts are decorated, arrange and attach them in a sequential order on a large piece of paper or a bulletin board to represent the butterfly’s life cycle.
Learn more: Homeschool Preschool