subject: Bible Story Crafts - Caterpillar, Butterfly Activities - Kids Bible Story Crafts [print this page] Bible Story Crafts - Caterpillar, Butterfly Activities - Kids Bible Story Crafts
This craft could accompany a story such as the wonderful picture book classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (this book also has beautiful collage pictures that can inspire other projects).
In this fanciful book the caterpillar eats all kinds of foods, including a cherry pie, so you may also want to read a short non-fiction picture book to the kids. After all, in real life caterpillars are very selective about what they eat.
Then you can make a comparison to the how the leaves of the right sort of plant nourishes the caterpillar so that it may become a butterfly, just as Jesus' teachings nourish our spirit so that we may be reborn in the heavenly kingdom. There are many wonderful analogies you can find between the lowly caterpillar's metamorphoses into a beautiful creature of flight.
Below you will find a butterfly craft and tips on growing butterfly gardens.
Supplies
o Wooden spring type clothespin
o Green pom-poms (4 medium sized)
o White school glue
o Pipe cleaner
o White paper
o Outline of butterfly wings
o Markers, crayons or paint
Teacher Prep
Most young children will need a template for their butterfly wings. You can create one by drawing a pair of wings on a piece of paper and photocopying one for each child.
Instructions:
1. Glue pom-poms onto one side of clothespin.
2. Form antennas with a piece of pipe cleaner
3. Twist antennas onto the end of the clothespin that doesn't close
4. Set aside to dry.
5. Color or paint the butterfly wings.
6. Cut out the wings.
7. Transform the caterpillar into a butterfly by clipping on the wings with the clothespin!
Butterfly Gardens
Children love to watch butterflies, and if you create a butterfly garden, they may also have the opportunity to observe the caterpillars and cocoons.
To grow a butterfly garden, you will need to grow plants that provide nectar, places for the butterflies to lay eggs, food plants for the caterpillars (the larva) and places for them to form the chrysalises (cocoons).
Here are some tips for designing your butterfly garden:
1. Grow nectar-producing plants in sunny areas because adult butterflies rarely feed in the shade.
2. Butterflies and many caterpillars are finicky eaters. Consult a regional field guide to find out which species of butterflies prefer which plants.
3. Plant dense clusters of small flowers such as zinnias, milkweeds, verbenas, and many mint family plants are favored by many butterfly species.
4. Do not use insecticides or pesticides.
5. Design your garden so that blossoms are clustered together by type of plant and also in monochromatic, big splashes of color. This makes it easier for the butterflies to see and catch the scent of the blossoms.
6. Choose plants with tubular flowers or flat-topped blossoms, which make better landing strips and feeding stations. Choose easier to sip from single flowers rather than doubles (the ones with extra petals).
7. Since butterflies are active from early spring until late fall, plant accordingly, and include annuals and perennials.
8. Include plants in the butterfly garden that provide food for caterpillars and that are attractive to female butterflies looking for places to lay eggs.
9. Maintain favorite "watering holes": damp areas and/or shallow puddles.
10. Include plenty places in your butterfly garden for basking. Since butterflies can't fly when their bodies temperatures are below 70 F, they often bask in the sun on stones, bare soil or vegetation.
11. Last but not least, create your butterfly garden in a way that makes it easy for you and the children to enjoy, perhaps by including a swing bench in the garden, or bringing the garden to you by planting near a deck or pond.
Come get more fun and easy Bible Crafts For Kids. Magriet is a work at home "Gran" and she has a fun site all about fun kids crafts visit it here: http://www.kidscrafts.topknacks.com/ You can also get a very easy and fun Mother's Day craft at http://www.our-crazy-world.com/documents/easycraftsforkids.html
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