Butterfly Symmetry Painting

Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive
This activity (on page 3 of the PDF) has learners create models of butterfly wings. They are given pre-cut butterfly-shaped construction paper, tempera paint and eyedroppers, and they create butterfly wings by dropping paint on only one wing, folding it over and replicating the pattern or marking on the other. Voila! Butterfly symmetry. By reflecting on their memories or ideas of butterfly wings, learners focus on key aspects of their appearance: color, patterns, markings and symmetry.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
5 to 10 minutes
Learning Time:
10 to 30 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
1 cent - $1 per student
Age Range:
Ages 4 - 6
Resource Type:
Activity
Language:
English

Materials List (per student)

  • Construction paper, cut into butterfly shapes
  • Washable tempera paints in paint cups
  • Eyedroppers

Keywords

Subjects

  • Life Sciences
    • Diversity of Life
      • Animals
    • Ecology
      • Biodiversity
  • Mathematics
    • Geometry
      • Plane Geometry

Informal Categories

  • Animals
  • Arts and Crafts

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • see color
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Links STEM to other topics of interest such as arts and humanities
  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Designed specifically for

  • Low literacy level

Other

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights: