Butterfly Learning Fun

Originally shared at abcand123learning.com

We are enjoying a lot of butterfly fun at our house right now.  We rescued a monarch from the middle of the road this past week and have been watching a friend raise some monarchs from egg to chrysalis.  Today I want to share some ideas that go along with that beautiful transformation from caterpillar to butterfly that will get you MOVING and enjoying MUSIC too!

 

My kids and I have been hanging out at our local butterfly exhibit.  We can't get enough of them...

It's a miracle every time!

This movie shows the transformation of of a butterfly from an egg to a monarch butterfly.  It's perfect to watch before learning and singing the songs below.

  

 This movie is a song about the life cycle of a butterfly, with pictures.  It's short and easy for young kids to sing.  (Note: usually the "house"a butterfly makes is referred to as a chrysalis and the one a moth makes is a cocoon.) 

 

We made some fun Butterfly Finger Puppets to fly around the room.

 

By using pieces from a glove they are easy to make and slip on little fingers.

  

For directions to make yours, go here.

Here is another song about the butterfly life cycle-no pictures, but the kids would love coloring this one to go with it.  Just cut out each piece and glue to it a popsicle stick and hold it up for each part of the song.

  

I love this way of acting out the life cycle.  You just need a blanket, some butterfly wings, and some "leaves to eat".  This is a wonderful way to incorporate movement into learning.

  

 A Snack Craft! is a fun way to do some hands-on learning.  This gummy worm is the caterpillar and then the kids turn him into a butterfly.  For peanut allergies, substitute marshmallow cream for the peanut butter spread. Directions here.

 

How do you learn about butterflies and the world around you?
I love to hear your ideas!

Nature Shelf: More Montessori

I've been wanting to have a Nature Shelf in our home for a long time. But I couldn't find the perfect thing for {This Little Project} that would hold the little collections that come home in their pockets.

Then I happened upon this shelf at the re-store just as winter began.

I knew it would be perfect for {This Little Project}!

My goals in having a nature shelf:

1. I was hoping that having this shelf in our home would encourage our kids to WANT to spend time outside.
2. I was hoping they would look more closely at their environment.
3. And I hoped that seeing a beautiful piece of God's creation everyday INSIDE our home would help them be more appreciative and careful of the world they live in.

Since we started our nature shelf in the winter, I was worried that we would have trouble finding many things to put on it:

There were some leaves we dried in the fall and some pine needles, pine branches and "acorn hats" but the ground was quickly getting covered by the snow!

Then we went

"walking in a winter wonderland"

and found some treasures! Check out those wild turkey tracks!

So after nature walk when we visited Elspeth:

And finding neat things to collect there in warmer weather

And unearthing some surprises from the ice, our nature shelf is looking quite busy for this time of year.

And I LOVE it when Little Miss Kay goes in and rearranges it all so she can touch everything!

Happily, the shelf has really helped to make all of those goals I had a reality!

In short, a nature shelf is a great addition to our home! It's been a fun {Little Project} for our family. Ours sits in a windowsill right now. It's at the perfect height to be seen, touched, and enjoyed by children :)