Teach your Preschool and Kindergarten students all about the life cycle of a butterfly with this butterfly life cycle poem, butterfly craft and FREE butterfly life cycle sequence strips! These interactive spring activities are the perfect way to explore how butterflies change and grow!
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From Caterpillar to Butterfly Books
We always read a number of picture books about the butterfly life cycle, but one of my favorites is From Caterpillar to Butterfly by Deborah Heiligman. This story begins with a classroom of students excited for their new addition… a caterpillar. As we read through the story, we can see each stage in the life cycle.
This particular story explains the metamorphosis process in simple terms, so that our little learners are able to grasp this incredible concept. Plus, it’s the perfect read while you are waiting for your own caterpillars to metamorphosize.
Flutter, Flutter Butterfly Poem
After reading the story, we learn a poem all about the life cycle of a butterfly. The students make up hand motions for each line of the poem. Then, they place their poem inside their “I Can Read Poetry Binders” so that they can practice the poem at home with their parents.
Each day we complete a new activity with the poem. These are the same activities that the students will complete at home with their parents.
On Fridays, we always complete an extension activity to go along with the poem of the week. For this particular poem, we make a butterfly craft using beans and various shapes of pasta to represent each stage.
This is such a simple way to help solidify our life cycle vocabulary. Plus, it serves as a great visual representation of each stage in the butterfly life cycle!
Butterfly Life Cycle Freebie
During the week, we practice ordering the life cycle with these mix and fix pocket chart sentences.
Then, the students create their own sequence strip by stacking the pictures in order.
Once they have correctly sequenced the pictures, they practice reading the strip. The students are always so excited to flip through the life cycle stages as they read!
If you’d like to give these “sequence strips” a try in your classroom, download them for FREE at the bottom of this post!
Butterfly Life Cycle Video
My kiddos also enjoy this adorable cartoon all about the life cycle.
More Butterfly Life Cycle Activities
Find the full butterfly poem and craft in this post.
More Spring Activities
If you’re looking for more springtime science fun, don’t forget to check out this post all about the water cycle or this post all about our Rain Jar Experiment.
Don’t forget to also check out these posts filled with tons of engaging rain activities for your classroom, including this Raindrop poem.
Just darling!
Your activities look amazing, I'm sure your students love them!
So many cute ideas in one spot!! I love that pasta craft- so clever!
Hi! Is there a place a can print out your butterfly image that you put the pasta on? Super cute!!!!
Hi, Desiree! You can find the butterfly life cycle craft here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/I-Can-Read-Poetry-Binder-May-1850626
Hi! I used this in my classroom and I love it. I was wondering if you still had the frog life cycle too? I used it in my classroom as well but lost the master copy of the head of the frog. :/ Thanks for sharing all of your amazing ideas and work.
Hi, Traci! You can find the frog life cycle craft here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/I-Can-Read-Poetry-Binder-May-1850626