Learning all about butterflies is always a favorite spring life cycle activity for preschool, kindergarten and 1st grade students. To help solidify their learning about how butterflies change and grow, we use this butterfly life cycle craft. This interactive tool is perfect for reviewing the stages of the life cycle of a butterfly, building vocabulary and strengthening fine motor skills!

Butterfly Life Cycle Craft Supplies

• Butterfly craft template
• Colorful construction paper
• Green construction paper
• Dried navy beans
• Rotini pasta
• Shell pasta
• Bowtie pasta
• Glue

Butterfly Life Cycle Poem

Before making the butterfly, the students learn a poem all about the life cycle. This little jingle (sung to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”) helps them better remember each stage.

Flutter, flutter, butterfly.
Use your wings and go so high.

Lay your eggs upon a leaf.
Caterpillar, munch and eat.

Spin a silky chrysalis.
Rest and rest, metamorphosis!

You can find this butterfly poem, as well as the daily activities to go with the poem, in my I Can Read Poetry Binder for May.

Butterfly Life Cycle Craft Directions

For this butterfly life cycle craft, the students will use navy beans and pasta shapes to symbolize each stage.

First, they cut out the butterfly shape. You can find this particular butterfly shape here!

Then, they attach one leaf shape inside each section of the wings.

Now, they will use the navy beans to represent the eggs.

Rotini pasta is the perfect shape to represent the caterpillar.

Shell pasta works perfectly for the chrysalis.

And, of course, bowtie pasta to represent the butterfly.

Talk about a great concrete representation!

Last, stand back and admire the uniqueness of each butterfly craft!

More Spring Activities

Your students might also love this Easter Egg Mosaic craft for spring! 

Grab the butterfly life cycle craft template and poem in my I Can Read Poetry Binder for May!

Don’t forget to grab these FREE butterfly life cycle sequence strips!

DON’T FORGET IT… PIN IT!