Watercolor Fun: Making Butterflies

Oh my.. the days are just flying by! I find that I am sacked out on the couch by 8. Ha! We started the year learning about the Very Hungry Caterpillar and finding items around our room that were in the story like the sun and moon. We could also find Very Hungry himself on our nametags. As part of our center time, we put together some colorful butterflies that are super cute and will be a bright addition to our classroom.

 

All you need to make these are:

• Coffee Filters: 2 per child
• Crayola Watercolors: 1 do one set for every 2 students. (Do Not Substitute for another kind of watercolors! I used the Target brand this year and they weren't as bright and some of them were cakey and had to be redone.)
• Small paintbrush: 1 per student
• Water cup: 1 per student. I let everyone have their own because, believe it or not, it prevents spills since the kiddos are not reaching for the water.
• Plastic tray or Wax Paper:  1 per student. I put these under the coffee filters when panting for easy clean up
• Doll Pin Clothespin: 1 per student
• 1/2 of a Pipe Cleaner: 1 per student (You can use any color but I like black.)

Here what one of kiddo's works in progress. I promised I helped him switch out his water after taking this picture.

 

Here are some examples of done and dry coffee filters. I like to show examples of patterns they can do before they start painting. Be sure to show your kids how to add just a little water to the watercolors. They can get a bit carried away.

After they paint the 2 wings, have them paint the body. I love the doll pins clothespins because they look just like a little head and body. I found these at Hobby Lobby by the wood crafts.

The next day, after your butterflies have had a chance to dry, tuck and scrunch the first wing into the butterfly body.

Then add the second wing.

 

Finally, add the anetannaes and fan out the wings and you are done. Wah La! I always make sure to write my students' names on the backside of the pin with a sharpie.

 

The weekend is close. Hang in there!