Butterflies - learning and play

Subjects: 


Math:
- coin caterpillars


Language: 
- the butterfly alphabet

the butterfly life cycle made with pasta

Science: 
- butterfly life cycle 
- purchase chrysalises or cocoons to watch them emerge
- look at butterfly wings under a microscope
- parts of a butterfly
- parts of a caterpillar
- learn the differences between moths and butterflies
- use field guides to identify butterflies that you see in your yard
- "Tracking Seasonal Change" with Journey North
- order butterfly supplies http://www.butterfliesetc.com/


Geography: 
- follow the migration path of the Monarch butterfly


Active Play: 
- crawl like a caterpillar race


Imaginative Play: 
- silk butterfly wings to flutter about
- playing out the life cycle (ie:  wrapping up in a blanket for chrysalis stage)


Arts and Crafts:
-knit caterpillar and butterfly toys
http://www.mamamoontime.com/2010/09/how-to-make-caterpillar-and-butterfly.html


-the very hungry caterpillar puppet
http://lyndsxo-glamourmoms.blogspot.ca/2011/03/very-hungry-caterpillar-puppet-tutorial.html 


-butterfly cross stitch pattern
http://www.ant-of-sweden.com/9/free_charts/m-ant-103/


-knit caterpillar and butterfly toys
http://www.ant-of-sweden.com/9/free_charts/m-ant-103/
-the very hungry caterpillar puppet
http://lyndsxo-glamourmoms.blogspot.ca/2011/03/very-hungry-caterpillar-puppet-tutorial.html 


Activity/colouring sheets:
Dover Little Activity Books:
Little Butterflies Stained Glass Coloring Book

Butterfly coloring sheets and mandalas:

http://www.coloringcastle.com/butterfly_coloring_pages.html

ABCTeach Printables:
http://www.abcteach.com/search.php?q=butterfly&search_type=1&match_words=2&limit_search=1&search_form1_form_visited=1


Realistic drawn butterflies: (in Portuguese)
http://desenhoseriscos.blogspot.com.br/2012/04/nove-desenhos-de-borboletas-para.html?showComment=1336283201845#c2385541517080936504


Games and toys: puzzles, Eric Carle's The very hungry caterpillar board game, Eric Carle's The very hungry caterpillar card game, 


Pinterest Galleries:

http://pinterest.com/madebyjoey/home-studies-butterflies/

Links to blog posts:

Topic:  planning a butterfly theme

http://madebyjoey.blogspot.ca/2012/06/planning-themes-butterflies.html


Topic:  making a butterfly feeder
http://eisforexplore.blogspot.ca/2012/05/butterfly-feeder.html


Topic:  making a balancing butterfly
http://eisforexplore.blogspot.ca/2012/06/balancing-butterfly.html 


Topic:  The very hungry caterpillar Birthday party
http://blog.hwtm.com/2011/06/the-very-hungry-caterpillar-birthday-party/


Topic:  Sweet Butterfly Birthday party
http://blog.hwtm.com/2010/11/real-parties-sweet-butterfly-birthday/

Internet sites - Reference & printable materials:

Butterfly Conservatory (UK) -
http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/text/326/life_cycles_of_butterflies_and_moths.html


Butterflies of BC -
http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/TheButterfliesofBritishColumbia.html


Butterfly Facts -
http://www.butterflyfunfacts.com/chrysalis.php


Playful Learning - 

http://playfullearning.net/our-monarch-caterpillars-are-here/

http://playfullearning.net/monarch-metamorphosis/ 


Printable butterfly life cycle, nomenclature cards and booklet -
http://www.liatsmontessori.co.za/lifecycleofabutterfly.pdf
http://www.liatsmontessori.co.za/butterflynomenclature.pdf
http://www.liatsmontessori.co.za/definitionlifecyclebutterfly.pdf 

Printable butterfly bookmarks - 
http://www.k12reader.com/bookmarks/Butterflies-Bookmark.pdf

Eric Carle -

http://www.eric-carle.com/bb-VHC.html


National Geographic for Kids - 
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/kids/animals-pets-kids/bugs-kids/monarch-butterflies-kids/ 
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/kids/animals-pets-kids/bugs-kids/butterflies-kids/

Internet sites - Kid friendly:

National Geographic Explorer Classroom Magazine
http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngexplorer/index.html