Tots! Activity: Painted Butterflies
As Cheekwood’s Tots program is temporarily suspended, we are sharing today’s activity for parents and tots to activate at home. Use our files to create your own painted butterflies, then share your work with us by tagging @cheekwood on Instagram and using #cheekwoodtots!
Here’s what you’ll need:• Butterfly template
*See template below
• Paper
• Paint
• Paint Brush
• Scissors if cutting out your butterfly
Directions:1. Print the butterfly template. Fold the butterfly in half down the body so that the two wings meet.
2. Dab paint on one of the wings.
3. When finished putting paint on one of the wings, fold the paper in half again along the fold that you previously created.
4. Rub the paper and gently press the paint around.
5. Open the paper and lay flat to dry.
6. Optional: Once dry, cut out your butterfly!
Try pairing the activity with one of these books:
Butterfly Park by Elly MacKay
Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert
A Butterfly is Patient by Dianna Aston
Ask your explorer: • What happened when you folded your paper with the paint inside?
• What do the wings look like? They are the same, it’s called symmetry.
• Can you see or think of anything else that has symmetry?
• Do you know what butterflies eat?
Here are a few tips on how you can make your backyard butterfly friendly:• Make sure that there are areas in your garden that get plenty of sunlight throughout the day. Try putting stones down in those sunny spots for butterflies to rest on. Butterflies are cold-blooded insects that like to warm their bodies by basking in the sun.
• Create a butterfly puddle. Place a shallow dish in your garden, fill with sand and top with a little bit of soil. Push your thumb gently into the center and add water as needed. This puddle will act as a source of nourishment for many butterflies passing by.
• Grow butterfly and caterpillar loving plants such as native honeysuckle, milkweed, lantana, purple coneflower and phlox. Make sure to grow only native varieties of these plants!
