These two butterfly activities for kids are a great way to connect life science with creativity. Crafting with kids creates time for connection and opens up a opportunity to empower their creative process. Growing live butterflies teaches them about the life cycle while engaging a very stimulating (and exciting) activity. The process of live butterflies teaches patience too, which for lots of kids is a great thing to practice.

Growing live butterflies is so easy with the Live Butterfly Garden

Watch the miracle of metamorphosis in your own home or classroom! The Live Butterfly Garden offers children the invaluable lessons of metamorphosis, science, patterns, patience, and life cycle studies.

The kit comes with everything you need.

You get a code to order the larvae online and they show up at your doorstep.

While the days go by and you watch the life process, you can be crafting. To make this darling watercolor butterfly, you will need a few supplies.

Watercolor Paper Watercolor Paints (ooly makes great ones with vivid colors) Paint Brushes Permanent Black Marker Tissue Paper Scissors Hole Punch Ribbon

Start by drawing the body of a butterfly on a piece of watercolor paper with a permanent marker.

Use the paints and paint brushes to decorate the body. Let it dry then cut it out with scissors.

Cut three pieces of tissue paper twice the length of your body by the length. Fan fold them at about one inch intervals. Use a hole puncher to create an opening on either side of the body then slide the tissue paper through and open it up to create wings. Hole punch in the bottom of the body and add ribbon to decorate. Curling it is fun too. Ta Da!

Yay for butterflies!

Happy Creating,

Your Friends at Beyond the Blackboard