The patterns on butterflies are identical on both wings; use this craft activity to teach about symmetry. Cut out butterfly shapes from construction paper and distribute them to children. Set out different colors of paint and instruct children to use the paint on only one side of their butterfly wings. When they have finished adding paint, help them fold their butterflies in half and press down on the wings. Instruct them to open up the paper and when they do, the paint will be identically printed on both sets of wings.
Empty toilet paper tubes serve as the butterfly bodies in this craft. Provide children with empty toilet paper tubes and instruct them to color them with markers. Cut out four oblong ovals from construction paper for each child and have children decorate each of the ovals; these will serve as the wings. Once decorated, help children glue the wings to the back of the toilet paper tube -- two on top, two on bottom. Have kids glue two googly eyes to the top of the tube and glue two pipe cleaners to the inside portion of the top of the tubes as antenna.
Use children's hand prints as butterfly wings. For each child, cut out a long oval and a small circle from brown construction paper; glue the circle on top of the oval to create the body of a butterfly. Provide children with different colors of paper and have them select two different colors. Help them trace both of their hands two times on each piece of paper and cut them out. Glue two of the same colored hand prints to the top portion of the back of the butterfly body and glue the remaining two hand prints to the bottom portion of the back of the butterfly body, creating wings. Cut pipe cleaners in half and glue the pieces to the top of the butterfly heads as antenna.
Create colorful wings for butterflies using coffee filters. Fill cups with water and add a few drops of food coloring to each cup. Offer each child a coffee filter and instruct them to use eye droppers to add the colored water to the coffee filters; as they drop the water onto the filters, the color will spread out, creating an interesting tie-dyed effect. When the filters have dried, accordion fold them, secure a clothespin in the center and spread open the sides, creating the look of a butterfly. Have kids glue googly eyes and pipe cleaner antennas onto the clothespins.