Caterpillar to Butterfly (Bouquet Event)

Caterpillars and Butterflies are always a great theme to do with kids. Their life cycle is quite interesting and there are countless activities/crafts/snacks that you can do. Here are a few ideas for a
Caterpillar to Butterfly Event for
Sprouts and Seedlings (toddler/preschool and elementary age)...

Painting coffee filters is a classic craft idea that is can be adapted for many other themes. There is a great picture tutorial for making the coffee filter butterflies on Crafts for All Seasons. The clothespin caterpillars can be made with many different supplies. Check out the caterpillars made with little pom-poms on Happy Home Fairy – they are very cute! There are many great caterpillar and butterfly books but Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar is one that is loved by all! Enjoy!

COFFEE FILTER BUTTERFLY

The Stuff	The Prep	The FUN!
1 coffee filter/child (we used white) Food color mixed with water or water colors (see eHow link to the right to use alternative markers and spray bottle technique) Styrofoam egg cartons or cups if using food color 1 paintbrush/child (or eye droppers) Water cups for rinsing	Write names on coffee filters Mix food color with water or prepare watercolors	1. Have a discussion about caterpillars and butterflies. *START with the butterfly wings craft before the caterpillars so that they have time to dry ~ although it does not take long. 2. Kids decorate the coffee filter butterfly by dropping drops of colored water (food color or water colors) onto the coffee filters. Put a paper towel, paper plate or plastic table cloth under the coffee filter so that it won’t stain the table. *As soon as they are dry have any adults fold them accordion style into wings so they are ready for the story. If you want you can use markers and a spray bottle instead of water colors for the same effect. Check out http://www.ehow.com/how_4549755_make-butterfly-from-coffee-filter.html

CLOTHESPIN
CATERPILLAR

The Stuff	The Prep	The FUN!
1 Clothespin/child – write names on them Sequins, pompoms and googly eyes Glue 1Pipe cleaner/child	Cut out 6 X6 contact paper squares (2/kid) Cut 12” pieces of ribbon	1.Next have the kids decorate a clothespin w/ sequins, pompom and googly eyes to resemble a snazzy clothespin caterpillar. 2. The kids can fold a pipe cleaner in half and curl the ends around their fingers to prep for the butterfly. *Kids that finish early can look through butterfly books.

The Very Hungry
Caterpillar BOOK

The Stuff	The Prep	The FUN!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar book by Eric Carle Coffee filter butterflies folded accordion style Clothespin caterpillars Folded pipe cleaner 1 toilet paper tube/child	Check out the book from the library, buy it from your local book store or www.half.com (my favorite online book store)	1. Give each kid a toilet paper tube and have them bring their clothespin caterpillar to circle to listen to The Very Hungry Caterpillar. 2. Have the kids act out the caterpillar chomping the food while reading the store (they will like this). 3. When the butterfly goes in to the chrysalis (Eric Carle is wrong in the book for calling it a cocoon. Cocoons are for moths and chrysalis' are for butterflies) have the kids put their clothespin caterpillar into their tubes (chrysalis) and then close their eyes. 4. With eyes closed have kids talk about what the caterpillars are dreaming about while adults are preparing the butterflies. {*Adult Help - adults will accordion fold the coffee filter into butterfly wings, take out caterpillars and attach to wings so it is now the butterfly body. Put a folded pipe cleaner in the top of the clothespin for the antenna. Set the butterfly and empty chrysalis in front of each child with their eyes still closed. This can be done pretty fast if adults have the wings folded prior to this!} 5. Have the kids open their eyes as you turn to the last page of the butterfly to see their beautiful butterflies!!

Caterpillar and Butterfly SNACK

The Stuff	The Prep	The FUN!
Melon balls Kabob sticks Ziplocks (we used snack size) Pretzels, trail mix, popcorn, etc to fill bags Clothespin	Put melon balls on kabob sticks. You can add eyes with dots of black icing if you want  - I didn’t do this and the kids loved them just the same. Prep butterfly by putting snacks in a ziplock and then pinching in the middle with a clothespin. I also drew eyes on the clothespins.	1. Kids will enjoy the snack. *be mindful of pokey kabob sticks for little ones

More ideas…

*Check out the Butterfly Observatory that we make in my Summer Craft Kit #2 on Etsy.

*Plant a grassapillar using egg cartons, soil and grass seed! Check out Macaroni Kid for instructions.

*Fold paper in half and trace hand print with palm side on the fold. Cut out traced fingers and unfold to make butterflies! These look fun on patterned scrapbook paper or the kids can decorate. 

*Order caterpillars from Insect Lore and watch them change! This is a must for every child (and adult) to experience!

Please BRAINSTORM your ideas/suggestions in the COMMENTS below for the Caterpillar to Butterfly Event!
Happy Crafting
~Sara