Complete the Butterflies

💡 About this activity

🎯 Learning objectives

• Draw the missing half of each butterfly, using the grid for support.
• Choose matching colors for the two butterflies.
• Point out similarities between the sides of a butterfly.

🧺 What you need

• Printed activity sheet
• Pencil
• Eraser
• Colored pencils or crayons

👣 How to do it

1. Place the sheet and drawing materials on a table.
2. Show your child the two butterflies and the line dividing each one.
3. Demonstrate how to look at one small part of a wing and draw it on the other side of the line.
4. Invite your child to complete the first butterfly.
5. Ask them to complete the second butterfly.
6. Invite them to color both butterflies using the same colors.
7. Look at the butterflies together and talk about what your child did.

🍎 Teaching suggestions

• Say, “Let's look at one part at a time.”
• Point to matching squares on either side of the line. The drawing does not need to be perfect.
• If helpful, mark a few dots for your child to connect.
• Talk about butterflies you have seen in books or gardens.
• In a group, give each child a sheet and encourage them to choose their own colors.

🔀 Variations

💬 Talk about it

• What do you notice about the two sides of the butterfly?
• How did you figure out where to draw the other wing?
• Which colors did you choose for the two butterflies?
• What would you like to add to the wings?

👀 What to look for

• Notice whether your child draws the missing half of each butterfly.
• Look for their use of the center line or grid to guide their drawing.
• Notice whether they choose matching colors for the two butterflies.
• Listen as they describe similarities between the sides.