PBS
The Chrysalis or Pupa
What is one of the most exciting parts of a butterfly's life cycle? When it emerges from its pupa and dries its wings! This is a great activity little ones will love. They discuss what happens during the pupal stage of the butterfly life...
Curated OER
Inviting Butterflies to the Schoolyard
Pupils create a butterfly garden. In this butterfly garden instructional activity, students plot a garden with plant species that will attract butterflies. Pupils learn about the specific plants and items that will help butterflies use...
Curated OER
Creativity and Butterflies
Students study insects and butterflies. They perform activities to explore the facts about the insect or butterfly. Students write poems, create books, or make a model of the insects.
Curated OER
Reworking a Butterfly Garden
Sixth graders determine how physical and biological agents and processes form and affect the soil. They analyze soil properties. Students evaluate ways in which human activities have affected the earth's pedosphere.
Curated OER
The Dance of the Butterfly
Young scholars explore butterfly life cycles and movement. In this integrated fine arts and biology life cycle lesson, students listen to the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle and identify the related life cycle stages....
Curated OER
The Lifecycle of a Butterfly
Students study the life cycle of the butterfly. In this butterfly life cycle lesson, students examine and discuss a large diagram of the four stages of the butterfly life cycle. They read books and access web sites that extend their...
Curated OER
The Life Cycle of the Butterfly
First graders, after listening to fictional and non-fictional literature about caterpillars, and observing caterpillars from egg to butterfly, write a "biography" of a caterpillar using appropriate vocabulary and time lines.
Curated OER
I Wish I Were a Butterfly
Students inquire about biology by reading a children's book in class. In this insect lesson plan, students read the story "I Wish I Were a Butterfly" and identify the unique characteristics of butterflies and other insects. Students...
John Lentine
Butterflies and Bugs
Symmetry, line, shape, art, and math are all connected through a fun hands-on craft. Included are instructions to a classic activity, where learners create butterflies to show symmetry in nature and then discuss symmetry in math. It is...
BioEd Online
Butterflies in Space
How does gravity affect the life cycle of a butterfly? Learn first-hand what types of investigations astronauts perform in space by following along with one of NASA's experiments. Create butterfly habitats in the classroom with specific...
SeaWorld
Animal Migrations
Here is a fabulous set of activities for your young scientists. Each instructional activity contains map, hands-on, and game activities that will help the class understand why and how animals migrate from one place to another. First...
Curated OER
A Whole Lotta Changin' Goin' On
Here's a fabulous lesson on the life cycle of a butterfly. Youngsters are able to identify and understand the four stages of life. They construct models of a caterpillar and write a sequence story about the life of a butterfly. This...
PBS
The Egg
The first stage in the butterfly's life cycle is the egg. Young entomologists discuss why different butterflies lay different eggs and what their eggs look like. Then they use the handouts to make a replica of one type of butterfly egg...
Curated OER
Butterfly Addition: Color by Numbers
Children learning to add numbers up to 11 develop the strategy of using the larger number as the first addend and counting on from there to find a sum. They define addition and review the meaning of the plus (+) symbol. To practice, they...
Cornell University
Metamorphosis
Looking for an insect unit that addresses multiple skill strategies? Young entomologists explore multiple life cycles of insects that go through metamorphosis. The brainteasers and mobile activity spark learner interest before guiding...
George Watts Montessori
Primary Lessons for Classroom and Garden
Gardens are packed with science concepts for young scientists to explore. A thorough unit with 16 lessons and multiple activities in each provides many learning opportunities by examining a garden space. Learners study weather, growth,...
EngageNY
A Rainforest Folktale: Determining the Message of “The Wings of the Butterfly,” a Tukuna People Tale
Did you the message? Scholars listen to a read aloud of The Wings of the Butterfly to summarize and determine the message of the text. They discuss the folktale and vocabulary in groups, then use a double bubble map to compare the story...
Curated OER
Caterpillars To Butterflies
Students observe the life cycle of a butterfly. They read butterfly/caterpillar themed books. They sequence the lifecycle from eggs on a leaf to an adult butterfly. They release their butterflies into a natural habitat after singing and...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Flutter By, Butterfly!
Students examine the basic characteristics of butterflies. They view a butterfly PowerPoint presentation, complete various labelling activity sheets, explore websites, and design a poster that includes facts and illustrations to be used...
Curated OER
Milkweed and Monarch Butterfly Mania
Students explore Earth science by completing a worksheet in class. In this botany lesson, students identify the relationship between the Milkweed plant and the butterflies which regularly feed on its nutrients. Students visit a list of...
Curated OER
The Monarch Butterfly Watch
Students explore monarch migration through the Journey North web site. In this butterfly lesson plan, students use the internet to identify a butterfly's migration pattern. Students write in electronic journals.
Curated OER
Butterfly Life Cycle
Second graders explore biology. In this life cycle lesson, 2nd graders act out the stages a caterpillar goes through to become a butterfly. They spend days prior to this lesson observing caterpillars they have collected and developing...
Curated OER
How Does a Butterfly Grow?
Students explore the stages of a butterfly. They read and discuss the book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle. They draw a picture of their favorite part and create a graph. They write a letter to Eric Carle and observe a...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Is it a Moth or a Butterfly?
Second graders examine the similarities and differences between moths and butterflies. They participate in a virtual field trip using a designated web site. They design a computer based slideshow using the information they find on the...