75+ Butterfly Crafts and Activities for Kids
Autumn may seem like an unusual time for butterfly crafts and activities. Here in the US, we typically associate butterflies with spring or perhaps summer; yet in Mexico, butterflies migrating south are a beloved sign of fall. In fact, they are often associated with the Day of the Dead. And so, in honor of their long journey, here is a HUGE collection of more than 75 butterfly crafts and activities for kids, plus don’t miss my review of a wonderful new children’s book!
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of Señorita Mariposa for review purposes; however, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
75+ Butterfly Crafts and Activities for Kids
Read on to find 75+ butterfly crafts and activities for kids, from painting and origami to STEM activities and music!
Butterflies are more than just beautiful: they are the ultimate metaphor for personal transformation and growth. And we can draw further inspiration from the incredible monarch butterfly’s 3,000 mile migration, which spans three countries (Canada, US, and Mexico).
Señorita Mariposa, the first picture book from award-winning musician Mister G, is a beautiful tribute to this epic journey. (Read my reviews of his albums here and here). Based on the lyrics of Mister G’s song of the same name (included on his album Chocolalala
), Señorita Mariposa
was inspired by the monarch butterflies he would see each year near his own home in Western Massachusetts. The bilingual text is accompanied by gorgeous illustrations of the landscapes that the monarchs fly through and the diverse people they pass along the way.
This lovely book also comes with a message about the need to preserve the habitat of the monarch butterflies and, more broadly, the natural world that our three countries share. Mister G is deeply committed to conservation and even started The Mariposa Project to inspire communities to engage with these issues.
Señorita Mariposa would be a beautiful addition to any unit on butterflies or conservation more generally and would make a wonderful gift to budding environmentalists and animal lovers.
Butterfly Music
Señorita Mariposa by Mister G, from the album Chocolalala
Butterfly by Nancy Kopman
Butterfly Outdoor Activities
Garden Butterfly Craft: Blue Bear Wood
Creating a Butterfly Garden: Mosswood Connections
Stick and Leaf Butterfly Nature Craft: Artsy Craftsy Mom
Butterfly Nature Craft: Mother Natured
Butterfly Feeder Craft: Glitter on a Dime
Butterfly STEM Activities
Books and Videos About the Migration of Monarch Butterflies: Kid World Citizen
Butterfly Identification Cards: Look! We’re Learning
Caterpillar Butterfly Life Cycle Unit: Fun with Mama
Caterpillar to Butterfly Mini Unit: Carrots Are Orange
Butterfly Life Cycle Printables: Kiddy Charts
Butterfly Life Cycle Craft Using Band Aids: The Preschool Toolbox
Butterfly Life Cycle Craft: Juggling with Kids
Butterfly Life Cycle Handprint Craftivity: Schooltime Snippets
Butterfly Life Cycle Sensory Bottles: Fun-a-Day
Butterfly Life Cycle Craft Necklace: Fun-a-Day
Butterfly Food Sensory Challenge: Preschool Powol Packets
Butterfly STEAM Activities for Preschoolers and Toddlers: Team Cartwright
Designing Wings Butterfly Craft for Preschoolers: The Keeper of the Memories
Butterfly Mats to Explore Shapes: JDaniel4’s Mom
Coloring Matching Butterflies: Teach Me Mommy
Butterfly Counting Activity: Look! We’re Learning
Painted Butterfly Wing Symmetry Activity: The Keeper of the Memories
Butterfly Name Crafts: Fun-a-Day
Butterfly Sensory Activities
Bright Butterfly Sensory Bin: The Chaos and the Clutter
Butterfly Sensory Bag: The Chaos and the Clutter
Butterfly Snacks
Butterfly Snack Bags: Mama Teaches
Butterfly Snack Bags: Messy Little Monster
Literacy Related Butterfly Fruit Snack: Primary Playground
Butterfly Crafts
Monarch Butterfly Art: Kid World Citizen
Toilet Paper Roll Butterfly Craft: The Best Ideas for Kids
Quick Cardboard Tube Butterfly Craft: Mama Teaches
Paper Roll Rainbow Butterfly Craft: Non-Toy Gifts
Toilet Roll Handprint Butterfly: Messy Little Monster
Easy Toilet Paper Roll Butterfly Craft: Look! We’re Learning
Paper Plate Butterflies with Dot Markers: Glitter on a Dime
Fluttering Watercolor Paper Plate Butterflies: Pink Stripey Socks
Butterfly Paper Plate Wreath Craft: Creative Family Fun
Cupcake Liner Butterfly Craft: The Joy of Sharing
Crepe Paper Butterfly Craft: Artsy Craftsy Mom
3-D Butterfly Craft: Non-Toy Gifts
3-D Butterfly Paper Craft: Projects with Kids
3-D Paper Butterfly: I Heart Crafty Things
Easy Pop-Up Butterfly Card: Red Ted Art
Paper Butterfly Puppet: I Heart Crafty Things
Transforming Paper Butterfly Craft: Hello, Wonderful
Fluttering Butterfly Craft: Pink Stripey Socks
Paper Butterfly Craft and Template: Artsy Craftsy Mom
Accordion Fold Paper Butterfly Craft: Artsy Craftsy Mom
Easy Folded Paper Butterfly: Red Ted Art
Origami Butterfly Bookmark Corner: Red Ted Art
Butterfly Yarn Craft Activity: Fun with Mama
Rainbow Yarn Butterfly Craft: A Dab of Glue Will Do
Yarn Wrapped Butterfly: Schooltime Snippets
Woven Craft Stick Butterflies: The Craft Train
Butterfly Painting for Toddlers: My Bored Toddler
Oil Pastel Butterfly Craft for Toddlers: My Bored Toddler
Colorful Toddler Butterfly Art: Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds
Butterfly Printing with Sponges: The Craft Train
Painting with Marbles Butterfly Craft: Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds
Colored Salt Butterfly Craft: Fun with Mama
Watercolor and Glitter Butterflies: I Heart Crafty Things
Handprint Butterfly Craft: Simple Everyday Mom
Paint and Fold Butterfly Symmetry Artwork: Still Playing School
Symmetry Butterfly Art with Warm and Cool Colors: Creative Family Fun
Line of Symmetry Butterfly Craft: A Dab of Glue WIll Do
Faux Stained-Glass Butterfly Art: Crayons and Cravings
Marble Painted Monarch Butterfly Suncatcher: How Wee Learn
Coffee Filter Butterflies: Organized Island
Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft: Look! We’re Learning
Butterfly Clay Footprint Ring Dish: Messy Little Monster
Mold and Cast Butterfly Craft: Our Crafty Mom
Footprint Butterfly Art & Poem: Messy Little Monster
Footprint Butterfly Keepsake: Emma Owl
Butterfly Mandala Colouring Sheet: Kids Chaos
Butterfly Coloring Pages: Simple Everyday Mom
Butterfly Notebooks: Pink Stripey Socks
Butterfly Mask Craft: Messy Little Monster
Butterfly Mask Templates: Emma Owl
Butterfly Mask Printable: Red Ted Art