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Activities for PreK-2
Butterfly Charades This activity helps kids act out butterfly anatomy to better learn parts of butterflies, how they work, and what they're used for. Teachers: Use this activity to evaluate what your students know about butterfly anatomy, and/or to teach them butterfly anatomy and function. Getting Started Step 1: List the basic parts of a butterfly on the chalkboard: Wings, Antennae, Legs, Proboscis, Abdomen, Thorax, Compound Eyes, Spiracles, Scales. (You can draw them for younger children.) Step 2: Explain to students that this activity has two parts, acting and guessing. • Acting: One student chooses a part of butterfly anatomy from the list, and acts it out using their body, sound, and movement (not words) to represent that body part. Each actor has 1 minute to perform. • Guessing: The group guesses what the student is acting out. Step 3: To end the activity, have all the students act out their butterfly body part at the same time, and gather together with other students until they've made a complete butterfly! Adaptations • Divide the class into two teams. Have one student artist at the chalkboard for each team. When that team guesses the body part, the artist draws it on the board. When the butterfly is complete the game is finished! • Students take turns acting the parts out in pairs. Include this activity in your big butterfly release and Earth's Birthday celebration! Life Cycle Song A familiar tune has been reborn! This song can be acted out or incorporated with finger play. Allows for playful opportunities to practice oral language, dramatic expression, creative movement and motor skills. Instructions for acting out each verse Verse 1: Start in squatting position. Slowly raise arms over head and stand up tall, on tiptoes. Verse 2: Curl up in a ball and slowly uncurl, making munching sounds. Verse 3: Crawl around the floor on hands and knees. Verse 4: Stand up with arms down at sides. Stand very still and pretend you're hanging from a twig. Then gently shake your body (to ward off predators!). Verse 5: Stand with arms out and begin waving arms up and down. Fly around the room. Verse 6: Stand still with arms raised over head in a "V." Sway your body back and forth and look around for butterflies. (Sung to the tune of "Brother John" or "Frere Jacques")
Introduce to students by reciting the song, or singing aloud. Demonstrate the gestures, then invite kids to join in! Verse 1: Raise arms over head and sway. Verse 2: Curl fingers into a fist and slowly release. Verse 3: Walk fingers on the desk in front of you (or on the palm of your other hand). Verse 4: With one hand, point your index finger (pretend it's a twig). With the other hand, place your index fingertip (chrysalis) underneath, touching the "twig." Wiggle the "chrysalis" finger. Verse 5: Hook thumbs together and flap other fingers in unison. Fly hands around your head. Verse 6: Raise arms over head and sway. To order butterflies and mesh insect houses, visit our online store. |
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