Watercolour Butterfly

Objective: Students will have fun making a beautiful butterfly, see the effects of salt and watercolour, and learn about the anatomy of a butterfly all at the same time. Also, the butterfly can be given a name and the student can write a quote from the butterfly.

Materials: Paper, Newspaper, Paint shirts, White construction paper, Watercolor paints, Salt, Glue, Butterfly patterns on posterboard or tagboard

Visual Resources: Poster of butterfly with five body parts labelled (antenna, head, thorax, wings, and abdomen). If you do not have one of these, you can are welcome to print our template (see Resources below).

Procedure:

• Cover surfaces with newspaper, and children with paint shirts!
• The diagram shows the parts of the butterfly. You can photocopy this for each child, or get them to trace the diagram onto their own paper. The teacher should then write on the board what each body part is for.
• Paint the body parts a solid color.
• Paint the wings with clear water.
• Splatter paints on wings by flicking the paint from the brush (a toothbrush works well).
• Sprinkle salt on the wet paint on the wings.
• Allow the parts to dry.
• Glue the pieces together in the correct order.
• Have children give their butterfly a name and write a quote of something their butterfly might say.

Assessment: Informal assessment and additional instruction will occur while the painting is taking place. Later children will be asked to identify body parts and functions on their finished products. Students will share their butterfly quotes, using a dramatic voice.

Downloads:

Butterfly Worksheets

A printable template showing the parts of a butterfly.

Download