Make butterflies for a colorful craft idea that leads to flying fun in the classroom. Give each child a paper coffee filter and water-based markers or paint to decorate them. Spray a little water on their creations and watch the colors run together. Allow drying time. Wrap the middle of a pipe cleaner around the middle of the paper to create two wings. Twist the ends of the pipe cleaner so they're on the same side of the wings, leaving two inches for the ends. Curl the ends of the pipe cleaners to make antennae.
As an alternative to coffee filters, use plastic sandwich bags. Fill them with small pieces of colorful tissue paper, seal and twist a pipe cleaner around the center to make the wings and body.
Cut colored paper into 2-inch circles. Use two or three different colors to create a caterpillar with a pattern. Use stencils or stamps to put a number in the center of the circles. Each child needs one circle for each number from one to 10. Be consistent. All the 1s should be the same color, all the 2s should be the same color, but not the same color as the 1s. Alternate the colors to create a pattern. Save blank circles for the caterpillar heads.
Give each child a blank piece of 11 by 17 inch paper, one blank circle and numbered circles from one to 10. Ask them to line up their circles in the right order to make a caterpillar. The caterpillars are cuter if the circles are not laid out in a straight line. Demonstrate how to give the caterpillars a bumpy back by staggering the numbers. When the children are happy with their caterpillars, have them glue the circles onto the paper, add the blank circle to the front and draw a face, antennae and legs.
Kindergarten students are familiar with milk cartons. Save them, wash them and create baskets. Wash and dry cartons ahead of time. Give cartons to the children with the tops completely open. Have children cut an inch or more off the top of their cartons to create a shape for their basket. They can make wavy shapes, a straight line for a boxy basket, or cut triangles like the roof of a house.
Have students put glue all over the outside of their milk cartons and wrap paper around it. Help students cut the paper to the shape of the baskets. Add decorations like beads, tissue paper or raffia. Create a handle by cutting a strip of paper about one inch wide and 12 inches long. Staple the ends of the strip to opposite sides of the basket to create a handle.
When nature is the theme, help children make binoculars before exploring outside. You will need two toilet paper rolls per child, string, a paper hole punch and tissue paper and glue for decorating.
Help children glue two rolls together side by side. Allow drying time. Punch a hole on the outside of both sides of the binoculars. Tie the ends of a piece of string to each hole to create a strap for the binoculars. Glue pieces of tissue paper to the outside of the binoculars to decorate them.