Butterflies and Beans

Butterfly fun at Daughter W's co-op class this week. (She calls it "Friday School.") They have been studying life cycles in her first grade class. She came home with four beans in a paper towel in a cup last Friday, and she tenderly managed their sprouting all week. We just planted them this week, and she is enjoying watering them. This Friday she brought home a green tissue paper butterfly, and we had to make a friend for him. While we were at it, we made some more tissue paper butterflies that I helped her K class make last year. Spring is all about new life, and we're heavily into it around here!

Here is the process:

Clothes Pin butterfly: Cut several tissue paper squares, approximately 6" x 9". Gather the centers and tuck into the mouth of the clothespin. Fan out the wings. Trim corners of wings to a more rounded butterfly shape, if desired. Bend 1/2 pipe cleaner in 1/2 to make a "v". Roll each pipe cleaner tip into a small circle and glue the bent point into the mouth of the pin for antennae. Color body with markers. Glue on googly eyes. Fly!

Butterfly on a stick: 1. Give each child one sheet of card stock paper. Turn it horizontally.

2. Cut a long tube shaped body and a round head shape from tissue paper. Lay vertically down the center of the paper.

3. Layer two pieces of tissue paper squares and cut a rounded, elongated shape. Separate paper and lay out for top wings on paper. Choose another color of tissue paper, layer two squares, and cut another rounded shape. Separate and lay out for bottom butterfly wings.

4. Cut two slim antennae and put on head.

5. After shapes are cut, paint a little glue thinned with water where each piece will lay and place the pieces on the paper. You can use brushes for this or fingers work fine, too.

6. Cut or tear shapes to decorate wings and glue down. Gently cover the finished butterfly with more of the thinned glue over the top. (Dab lightly, don't rub through the paper.)

7. Let dry.

8. Cut around butterfly.

9. Glue or tape large craft stick on back and watch the butterflies fly around the room!