The butterfly preschool activities might just be the most fun and intriguing to teach. The thought of seeing a butterfly to a kid while playing outside is almost like winning the lottery. So what makes these insects so special and admired by many, including preschoolers? I’m not sure why butterflies take hold of our hearts and create joy and excitement but this theme for a preschooler is one of the best, most hands-on, and real-life life science experiences we as teachers can give our students.
We might only teach this theme for a week or two, however; when we see the butterfly life cycle up close and person in our classes that’s when the learning bell rings with excitement and curiosity. I always buy butterfly kits to help show the life cycle of a butterfly. Students love to see the day-to-day changes and take more ownership of their learning when we pair teaching and life experience together. First, they see the caterpillar eat the food, then they slowly start to hang down, next they make their cocoon, and finally they pop out and we see a beautiful butterfly fluttering in the enclosed net.
Bug and insect theme for preschool
I get some strange bugs on my playground. My students love seeing, even touching the bugs. I would take pictures and then see if I could learn what they were. We would get stick bugs that the kids would think lived on the tree. Most bugs I could live without; however the stick bug was intriguing. I still have no idea where their mouths are to eat. They tend to look like a piece of furniture and can move on their own. This intrigue is very much like seeing a butterfly.
Most kids love bugs and the thought of catching them makes outside time fun and exciting. I have had some kids like bugs from a distance and on their own terms, but get that bug closer or worse on them and they explode with fear and anxiety. It can be hard for our students to understand that we are the ones invading their space. The bugs live outside and we need to share the space with them. The joys of teaching science with these real-life experiences are a teacher’s dream. When curriculum just drops down and it is mysteriously there for use to scoop up and seize the opportunity is what teaching is all about.
Butterfly activities for preschool
The butterfly activities for preschool that I love the most are building a butterfly and designing a butterfly garden. These activities build creativity, problem-solving, and hand-eye coordination skills. Children need to think about what pieces to use and where to place them. This type of activity helps to boost independence and the desire to want to learn. The key to teaching is getting your students to want to learn. Using engaging and fun activities makes that goal seem too easy.
Teaching children about the many types of butterflies and teaching them their names is always fun. Children just think a butterfly is just a butterfly. When you teach children that each butterfly looks different and has a name their faces are in awe and wonder. There are butterfly-type cards to help teach the various butterflies and images of what they look like.
One of my favorite activities is using file folders to help children learn. For this theme, I have a butterfly color file folder activity. The children will have fun matching the butterflies together by color and help the younger students learn their colors at the same time. I also like to incorporate emergent readers for the themes. Children learn through stories and I find using books to help teach is an effective tool in my teacher’s suitcase. Books help teach content in a way that makes sense. Books also have pictures and for those learners that need visual stimuli to focus books do the trick.
Bug preschool activities
Children will find a way to add bugs to a daily lesson plan with or without your permission. This theme just makes bugs the focus and on your terms as a teacher. I used to wonder if we would see bugs when we went outside, the answer is always yes. They might not be the bugs you want to see but bugs are everywhere. How does someone teach about bugs? I like to start by introducing the kinds of bugs with pictures as a starting point. The insect matching activity helps children learn the names and correlates what they look like with the appropriate label.
Another great method for teaching children about bugs is using books. There is an emergent reader about insects with facts about them for the children to learn what makes each of them so important. The children will have a newfound energy to find all the bugs they can while exploring the playground. I love bringing out magnifying glasses to help foster their curiosity.
Bugs and Butterflies
Bugs and butterflies are always intriguing to children. This science-filled theme will have your children wanting to explore and learn their world with free hands and maybe even a bug habitat nearby. Some children want to take care of the bugs they find and others want to stomp them out of their lives forever. Either way bugs and butterflies will always be a must-teach theme for preschool. Check out a butterfly and insect packet by clicking the image below.
If you need more butterfly preschool activities; check out the following sites that might inspire your next butterfly and bugs theme today.
More Resources:
Child Fun: Bugs and Butterfly activities
Teaching Expertise: Insect activities
Pinterest: Insect Theme
Pinterest: Butterfly Activities
Disclaimer: I do not have an affiliate account with Amazon. These are the best prices and what I would recommend.
Insect Lore – Butterfly Growing Kit – Butterfly Habitat Kit with Voucher to Redeem 5 Caterpillars, STEM Journal, Butterfly Feeder & More – Life Science & STEM Education – Butterfly Science Kit
TOY Life Bug Catcher Kit for Kids, Bug Catching Kit with Butterfly Net, Critter Keeper, Magnifying Glass, Insect Catcher, Butterfly Kit, Bug Toys Kids Explorer Kit, Bug Kit for Kids 3 4 5 6 7 8
