Lesson Planet
Search educational resources
  • Sign In Try It Free
  • AI Teacher Tools
    • Discover Resources Search reviewed educational resources by keyword, subject, grade, type, and more
    • Curriculum Manager (My Content) Manage saved and uploaded resources and folders To Access the Curriculum Manager Sign In or Join Now
    • Browse Resource Directory Browse educational resources by subject and topic
    • Curriculum Calendar Explore curriculum resources by date
    • Lesson Planning Articles Timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom
    • Our Story
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Pricing
  • School Access
    • Your school or district can sign up for Lesson Planet — with no cost to teachers
      Learn More
  • Sign In
  • Try It Free

Hi, what do you want to do?

Create a lesson plan
Create a lesson plan
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Find a teaching resource
Find a teaching resource
Draw a Monarch Butterfly: Scientific Illustrations ActivityDraw a Monarch Butterfly: Scientific Illustrations Activity
Publisher
American Museum of Natural History
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
6th - 12th
Subjects
Science
2 more...
Resource Type
Activities & Projects
Audiences
For Teacher Use
1 more...
Duration
45 mins
Instructional Strategy
Direct Instruction
Technology
Projection
Internet Access
Usage Permissions
Fine Print: Educational Use
Activity

Draw a Monarch Butterfly: Scientific Illustrations

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Draw a Monarch Butterfly: Scientific Illustrations activity also includes:
  • Monarch Outline Drawing
  • Butterfly Photo
  • Join to access all included materials

One doesn't have to be an artist to appreciate nature. A thorough resource shows pupils how to create detailed illustrations of a monarch butterfly. The lesson highlights the benefits of creating scientific drawings as opposed to simply taking pictures.

3 Views 4 Downloads

Concepts

illustrations, scientific discoveries, scientific research

Additional Tags

science

Instructional Ideas

  • Have pupils collect drawings of different species of butterflies to practice their skills

Classroom Considerations

  • Have materials ready prior to the activity
  • Appropriate for in-class instruction or as a remote learning resource
  • This resource is only available on an unencrypted HTTP website.It should be fine for general use, but don’t use it to share any personally identifiable information

Pros

  • Offers step-by-step instructions
  • Provides sample images and final products

Cons

  • None

See similar resources:

Lesson Plan

Scientific Method: How Many Drops of Water Fit on a Coin?

Curated OER
Young investigators conduct an experiment using the scientific method. They see how many drops of water fit on a coin; have them conduct several different trials. This involves making a hypothesis, looking at controls, and introducing...
3rd - 6th Science
Lesson Plan

Drawing Diatoms like Ernst Haeckel

Polar Trec
Why do scientists rely on drawings rather than just photographs of their research studies? The lesson introduces drawings of microscopic organisms and the importance of accuracy. Young artists draw organisms and learn why focus and...
3rd - 12th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

Taxonomy: Who is in My family?

LABScI
Find similarities in seemingly unlike organisms. The second instructional activity in a series of 12 builds the concept of a taxonomy and explores the use of a dichotomous key. Learners begin in part one by attempting to group a set of...
9th - 12th Science
Instructional Video

The Mystery of the World’s Greatest Butterfly Migration

Be Smart
Follow the migration of the monarch butterfly from northern North America to southern Mexico. A video explains how monarch butterflies navigate their migration north in the spring and south in the fall. Pupils learn how it takes multiple...
10 mins 9th - 12th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Activity

Draw a Monarch

American Museum of Natural History
Five steps walk scholars through the process of drawing a Monarch butterfly. Participants research the insect, make observations, trace, then color. 
6th - 12th Science
Lesson Plan

Can't Wait - Gotta Migrate:The Monarch Butterfly

Curated OER
Students study the migratory behavior of the monarch butterfly and to carefully develop a scientific method for answering one question concerning their behavior. They perform many meaningful tasks which help them explain the Monarch...
6th - 8th Science
Lesson Plan

Are Butterflies Free?

Curated OER
Students use remote sensing to study monarch butterfly migration and human interaction to save the Oyamel forest (Mexico) for butterfly and human habitation.
5th - 12th Social Studies & History
Activity

American Museum of Natural History: Draw a Monarch Butterfly

American Museum of Natural History
Learn how to create a scientific illustration of a monarch butterfly in a few easy steps.
3rd - 8th Science
Interactive

Milk and Monarch Butterfly Mania Journal Entry

Curated OER
In this milk and monarch butterfly mania journal entry worksheet, students write a scientific journal entry about the milkweed plant, using the information from another linked website.  This worksheet includes many links to other...
7th - 8th Science
Lesson Plan

Create a Butterfly Mobile

Curated OER
Students construct a butterfly mobile. In this visual arts lesson, students use rice paper, watercolors, a coat hanger, and wax paper to create a unique butterfly mobile. Students use photographs of butterflies to construct a realistic...
3rd - 8th Science
Try It Free
© 1999-2026 Learning Explorer, Inc.
Teacher Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Resources

Sign up for the Lesson Planet Monthly Newsletter

Open Educational Resources (OER)

  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Languages
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Visual and Performing Arts
View All Lesson Plans

Discover Resources

  • Our Review Process
  • How it Works
  • How to Search
  • Create a Collection

Manage Curriculum

  • Edit a Collection
  • Assign to Students
  • Manage My Content
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Use