Butterfly Life Cycle Foldable Craft

Learn about how a butterfly transforms from an egg to an adult by making this butterfly life cycle foldable craft. All you need is paper, markers, and scissors.

Butterfly Life Cycle Foldable Craft

Supplies Needed

• paper
• markers
• scissors

Instructions for Making the Paper Butterfly Stages

Start by folding a plain piece of paper in half lengthwise.

Draw the body of the butterfly in the center of the paper.

Draw one side of the butterfly’s wings.

Fold the paper in half and cut out the butterfly.

Open your paper and color your butterfly. You can model the butterfly off of a real butterfly or create your own design.

Fold your butterfly in half so the uncolored side is on the outside facing you. Turn your butterfly half sideways. Now it looks like a caterpillar. Decorate your caterpillar.

Flip your caterpillar over. This side will become the chrysalis. Turn the widest part of the wings to the top. Decorate your chrysallis.

How to Use the Butterfly Life Cycle Foldable Craft

Start with the caterpillar side. Fold it in half. This now represents your egg.

Unfold your egg to allow the caterpillar to hatch.

Flip the caterpillar over to show the chrysallis.

Open the folded paper to show the butterfly emerging from its cocoon.

Ways to Use This Butterfly Lesson

Start by reading a book about a butterfly’s life cycle. The Very Hungry Caterpillar is always a favorite.

Use a butterfly puppet to show the life cycle stages of a butterfly. The one we have can change from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly.

See more butterfly books and toy recommendations in my Amazon store.

Show videos of a caterpillar turning into a chrysalis (pupation) or of the butterfly emerging from the chrysalis.

Then, make the paper butterfly life cycle foldable using the instructions above.

More Butterfly Activity Ideas

Learn how to start a butterfly garden to attract native butterflies.

Learn ways to teach butterfly conservation to kids.

Raise your own butterflies with these tips from Fireflies and Mudpies.

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