Lesson #33 - MAGIC BUTTERFLIES
Creating collage butterflies and their environments
Start with the Arts - for younger children
Learning objectives:
Recognize the life stages of a butterfly.
Build vocabulary related to butterflies.
Identify the sequence of events.
Use collage materials and glue.
Use a printing technique.
Create a butterfly and an environment for its home.
Materials
Examples of pictures of caterpillars, cocoons and butterflies
A book about butterflies
Drawing or construction paper cut into a variety of butterfly shapes
Assorted papers for collage, tissue paper, sequins, bits of ribbon, lace, yarn
Glue
Scissors
Markers, crayons
Objects for printing, such as spools, Styrofoam pieces, strips of corrugated
cardboard, cut pieces of sponge
Thick tempera paint
Aluminum pie tins or heavy-duty paper plates for the paint
Brushes
Paper towels
Preparation
Cut drawing or construction paper into a variety of different butterfly
shapes.
Set up a printing area:
Cover a table with newspaper.
Pour a small amount of thick tempera paint into pie pans.
Display objects for printing on a tray or shallow box.
Have brushes and paper towels handy.
Expressing Through Art
Introduce this project by first reading one or more of the suggested stories at
the end of this lesson. Take a moment to discuss the story. Emphasize the
artwork that illustrates the story The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric
Carle. How do you think the artist created these pictures? Where did you see
this type of artwork before? Introduce the term "collage". Do
you think Mr. Carle cut his papers or did he tear them? What other art materials
do you think he used? Introduce the life stages of caterpillars, cocoons,
and butterflies. Introduce the word "metamorphosis".
Encourage your child to talk about their experiences with caterpillars and butterflies. Did a caterpillar ever crawl on your arm? Where did you see a butterfly? What was the butterfly doing?
Invite children to create an environment for their butterflies to live by using a printing technique. The objects for printing can create grass, trees, bark, leaves, etc. Demonstrate and then have children:
Select a printing object or "tool".
Dip it into the paint or brush on the paint.
Press it one or two times on a paper towel to get rid of excess paint.
Stamp the "inked" object onto the background.
Continue to print/stamp until the paint on the tool is dry.
Repeat the process with another tool.
Now your child is ready to create a special butterfly or two with collage materials. Provide them an assortment of different butterfly shapes. Have your child:
Select their butterfly-shaped paper(s).
Cut and/or tear an assortment of papers into various shapes to decorate the butterfly’s wings.
Glue or paste the shapes to the body.
Add details and more designs with sequins, bits of ribbon, lace and yarn.
Use markers or crayons to embellish the wings if your child wishes.
Glue the butterfly to the printed environment/background that your child made earlier. Make sure it’s dry first.
Talking About Art
Tell us about your butterfly and the environment in which it lives. How
did you create your butterfly? What art materials did you use? What was your
favorite part of this activity? What was most difficult?
Read With Me-Suggested Reading - Books about butterflies:
Caterpillar, Caterpillar by Vivian French, Illus. by Charlotte Voake
Charlie the Caterpillar by Dom Deluise, Illus. by Christopher Santoro
Darkness and the Butterfly by Ann Grifalconi
Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables From A to Z by Lois Ehlert
I Wish I Were a Butterfly by James Howe, Illus. by Ed Young
In The Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming
Little Blue and Yellow by Leo Lionni
The Beautiful Butterfly: A Folktale From Spain by Judy Sierra, Illus. by
Victoria Chess
The Butterfly Boy by Laurence Yep, Illus. by Jeanne Lee
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Where Butterflies Grow by Joanne Ryder, Illus. by Lynne Cherry
Key Vocabulary:
caterpillar, cocoon, butterfly, metamorphosis, environment,
author, illustrator, collage, printing