Life cycle of a butterfly foldable cut and paste sequencing activity KS1 science

A fun, foldable science craft activity for the life cycle of a butterfly! Use as part of a lesson on minibeasts, insects, growth, life cycles or symmetry. This resource could be used as part of your Big Butterfly Count, 30 Days Wild or National Insect Week activities.

Benefits of this activity:

• Low prep
• Children learn about the butterfly life cycle in a fun and hands-on way, that’s a bit different from a standard science worksheet.
• Can be used to introduce the life cycle, or as a review/assessment to check understanding.
• Encourages fine motor/scissor skills, hand-eye coordination (folding), and sequencing.
• Differentiated options allow for multiple age ranges or abilities to do the same activity.
• Finished foldouts can be glued into a science book where they can be referenced by children.

The templates

This resource has 5 similar designs so that you can choose which best suit your students.

• Template 1: Children colour the butterfly and life cycle stages, sequence the stages, glue, cut, and fold.
• Template 2: As above but with a rectangle around the butterfly for easier cutting.
• Template 3: Children design a pattern for the butterfly, color the life cycle stages, sequence the stages, glue, cut, and fold.
• Template 4: As above but with a rectangle around the butterfly for easier cutting.
• Template 5: Large template over 2 pages. Option to sequence the stages with their names or with short descriptions.

Designs 3-5 could also be decorated with stickers, sequins, pompoms, or other embellishments!

Also included:

• Colour poster showing life cycle stages
• Label a butterfly cut and paste
• UK and US versions of the file

Please note, this 12-page PDF resource is not editable.