Butterfly Release

Saturday, June 4, 2016


Each year I get caterpillars for my classroom.  The students watch as they grow from tiny little caterpillars, morph into a chrysalis, and then finally emerge as butterflies.

The whole metamorphosis process is absolutely amazing to the kids (me as well) and they eagerly rush over to the enclosure each morning to take a look at the progress.

When all of the butterflies have emerged and we have completed our observations, it's time to set them free.

I've been doing this for a number of year (too many to count) and it's always a bit disappointing for the kids who desperately want to hold one, only to have them flutter away before getting a chance.  
That's usually what happens.

(The kids are eagerly hoping that the butterfly won't fly away before at least one child gets a chance to hold it on their finger)


Well, this year it was different!

One of our butterflies had a folded wing and couldn't fly.  I used this to our advantage.


This little butterfly made our day!  


I sat all my kiddos in a circle on the grass and we gently passed this little guy around one at a time.


All of my kiddos got a turn holding our new butterfly friend.  


They were so gentle (even though they were incredibly excited) and they noticed things about the butterfly that they hadn't mentioned when we were looking at them in the enclosure.


After everyone got a chance to meet our special butterfly, we took him over to our garden and set him loose on a flower.


He immediately settled in and my kids looked for him every time we walked past.



The whole process of METAMORPHOSIS is really amazing to watch.

Now whenever my kids see a butterfly fluttering around our campus they immediately think it's one of our butterflies and they squeal with joy.

I love the joy of kindergarten!


Animal Habitats- Combining Art and Science

Friday, June 3, 2016

We've been learning about animals and their habitats these last few weeks.  

I've been incorporating a lot of art during our lessons and my kids have been loving it!

After learning about water habitats, I did a directed draw with my kids and then we painted with watercolors.  Here are a few of our fish paintings.  Aren't they cute?

Watercolor fish- Easy kindergarten art project

Fish habitats- incorporate art into your science curriculum

The bubbles crack me up.  I didn't tell them to do that, one child added them and I commented about how cute it was and then, wouldn't you know it, all of the other kids started drawing bubbles too.
(That's the magic of kindergarten)

Colorful watercolor fish- easy kindergarten art project



Here are animals in a different habitat- The Savannah

To make these we drew lions together with black crayons.  When the lion was done, I told the kids to use a brown crayon to color in the mane and tail.   I then mixed up a nice yellow/brown and the kids painted their lions.

Mixed Media Lion- crayon and paint

Lion- drawn with crayon and painted with tempra paint

Some did the lion and the background in the same brown color (for camouflage) and others used the green paint (because it was spring).  Love how these kids justify their color choices!

Lion- draw with crayons and paint- Fun mixed media project

Mixed Media Lion- crayons and paint

These are super fun and really easy. 
The combination of crayon and paint gives a nice mixed media effect.

Combine Art and Science- Draw animals in their habitats
Fun Kindergarten Art Project


It always amazes me how I can guide them through the drawing one step at a time and all of their pictures come out so dramatically different.   The personality of the artist really shines through.

I just had to share these because I think they are so cute.  They make me smile each time I look at them.





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