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By Kim Vij

Waiting For Wings: Butterfly Art Project

Young child creating butterfly art project inspired by book Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert

Create butterfly art with your child this spring inspired by the book Waiting for Wings. This butterfly art project combines art and science into a creative STEM activity at home or school.

Are you ready to make your own Butterfly Art? 

Young child creating butterfly art project inspired by book Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert

We’ve been waiting for Wings! Yes, I really mean it! Each day as we walk out the door we’re waiting on wings, butterfly wings that it.

We found a very simple flower to grow that attracts butterflies, the Zinnia. There are many other plants too that attract butterflies.

We had the chance to raise our own caterpillars this summer and watch them become monarch butterflies. It’s an experience that every child should watch! Amanda shared her tips for raising caterpillars and attracting Monarch butterflies to your yard.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links

Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert

One of my daughter’s most favorite things to do right now is search for butterflies on our walks outside. This is one of my favorite stories about caterpillars and butterflies by Lois Ehlert for your child.

As you read it the butterflies and flowers seem to pop right out of the page and into your imagination. We had so much fun reading this story for the Virtual Book Club for Kids and creating our own butterfly art.

As every page was turned my 1 year old tickled with delight as she found the caterpillars and butterflies. I love how at the end she also included background information for older children to learn the science behind many of her books.

The books Planting a Rainbow and Growing Vegetable Soup are good examples of this too to read with your child.

Butterfly and Flower Prints. Here is a fun flower and butterfly craft to paint at home with any age group. We gathered some recycled items to make the prints.

Butterfly Art Project for Kids

Materials Needed

  • white paper
  • many colors of paint
  • bubble wrap
  • smaller plastic container
  • toilet paper rolls
  • pencil tip

Once you gather your recycled pieces it’s time to create! Encourage your child to create the flowers for the butterflies to come and get nectar from to eat.

As my one year old says… “butterflies eat” as they land on the flowers. Then it’s time to get another sheet of paper.

Butterfly Resist Painting

We call this our magical butterfly painting.Your child will love it! Plus it’s nice to recycled what you already used for the above project.

Materials needed

  • many colors of paint
  • bubble wrap
  • tubes or rolls
  • pencil tip
  • tray

Place tape or glue stick lightly onto the back of the butterfly and have your child them wherever they want to on the paper.  Then use the paint to create prints all over the paper. 

Once it’s dry have your magicial butterfly moment and peel off the butterflies. 

We then added the face together for fun.  I loved the giggles that came from my daughter when she was surprised.

Once you’re finished you can enjoy an edible butterfly life cycle snack.

Here’s our special Zinnia’s in our yard that attracts butterflies. 

Butterflies Activities for Kids

Looking for more butterfly activities for kids? Try out these…

Butterfly Balloon STEM Challenge for Kids
Butterfly Books for Kids
lego carle
Monarch Butterfly learning activities for Kids
Purple and red flowers in pot to attract butterflies
caterpillar on letter A for lacing caterpillar activity for preschoolers

Click Here for MORE Lois Ehlert Activities

Like this idea? Pin for later or share now with a friend!

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Filed Under: Arts Tagged With: Art, Butterflies and Caterpillars, Butterfly, Flowers, grade school, Preschool, science, Spring, Toddler, Virtual Book Club, Virtual Book Club for Kids

About Kim Vij

Early childhood teacher, author, speaker and mom of 3. Kim shares ways to make learning fun and parenting an adventure by sharing developmentally appropriate activities.

« Butterfly Books for Kids
Lacing Letters Inspired by The Very Hungry Caterpillar »

Comments

  1. Shaunna Evans says

    April 11, 2013 at 5:02 pm

    I am so glad you linked this up to Discover and Explore. This artwork is beautiful, and I absolutely agree that watching a caterpillar become a butterfly is something every child should watch.

    I hope you'll come back and link up for next week's Earth Day theme.

  2. Miss Courtney says

    April 11, 2013 at 5:02 pm

    What a beautiful garden picture.

  3. Mia says

    April 10, 2013 at 3:34 pm

    I love this picture book! Such a beautiful art project too! Coming by way of Discover and Explore linky.

  4. Cerys @ Rainy Day Mum says

    September 24, 2012 at 2:58 pm

    Poping back to say Thank you for linking to Tuesday Tots and just to let you know that I'm featuring this post this week over on Rainy Day Mum.

  5. Raising a Happy Child says

    September 21, 2012 at 11:31 am

    Love the paper butterflies and your photos. We loved this book too!

  6. Cerys @ Rainy Day Mum says

    September 19, 2012 at 7:10 am

    What a beautiful post full of activities Kim I think I may have to get that book to add to our home library it looks lovely.

  7. Kim @ The Educators Spin On It says

    September 18, 2012 at 9:50 pm

    Thank you, we've been having so much fun with butterflies this August.

  8. Growing Book by Book says

    September 18, 2012 at 3:42 pm

    Beautiful pictures! Looks like so much fun.

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Kim Vij

Early childhood teacher, author, speaker and mom of 3. Kim Vij shares ways to make learning fun and parenting an adventure by sharing all kinds of easy kid crafts, activities, recipes and even travel ideas for families!
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