Butterfly Anatomy Activities

Activity 1

Print out and discuss the anatomy of a butterfly with your child. Allow them to color the parts as you name them. For younger children, have them practice writing the letters for the word butterfly. Say each letter and say the letter sound(s) each letter makes. For older children use this opportunity to have them practice spelling BUTTERFLY. Cover the word at the top of the paper and ask them to fill in each blank spot with a letter to make the word Butterfly.

Once you have finished working on the butterfly, you can read the facts listed about the butterfly. If your child can’t read, you or an older child can read to them. For older children, have them write in a journal their favorite facts about the butterfly.

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Activity 2

Go outside and explore nature. Collect sticks, stones, acorns and more. Discuss the anatomy of a butterfly and create one with your nature finds. You can also then create the butterfly life cycle to go along with your butterfly. Refer to the butterfly anatomy PDF from activity 1, if needed. Click here to learn more about this activity. For older children, have them write in their journal what they used to create their butterfly outside. For children still working on letters and words, have them write words and or draw pictures to share what they used to create their butterfly.

Activity 3

Use modeling clay or play dough to create a butterfly. Click here for our favorite homemade play dough recipe. Discuss the body parts of a butterfly. Refer to the butterfly anatomy PDF from activity 1 if needed. We found it easiest to start with the 3 main body parts, the head, thorax and abdomen. After that let the child chose what body part to add next.

Activity 4

Use drawing materials to create a butterfly in a journal. For younger children they can work on writing their letters as you support them in the spelling of the word butterfly. For older children, have them write down each word as shown in the PDF from activity 1. Give them the choice to draw a line to each part, color each part the same color as the word for each body part or even allow them to number each part and put that number next to each anatomy word they write. Refer to the butterfly anatomy PDF from activity 1 if needed.

Activity 5

Butterflies have bilateral symmetry. Teach your child about symmetry with this fun activity. Help, model or encourage your child to paint a butterfly body (head, thorax & abdomen). Now ask them to paint a forewing and a hindwing on only 1 side. Now fold the paper in half and open up to reveal a symmetrical butterfly. Discuss symmetry and what that word means.

Click here for more butterfly and insect learning activities.

Happy Learning!

XO Eryka