Butterfly Life Cycle Wheel

This free printable butterfly life cycle wheel is a useful tool for reviewing the stages of a butterfly’s growth.

Below, we’ll talk about the life cycle of a butterfly and how you can use this activity to illustrate and review how butterflies change and grow.

Kids will enjoy using the life cycle wheel to explain to others what they know about butterflies. Add it to your butterfly activities for preschoolers this spring.

This free printable can help preschoolers and kindergarteners learn about the life cycle of a butterfly.

As your kids assemble this life cycle wheel, they’ll review vocabulary words while strengthening fine motor skills.

Life Cycle of a Butterfly for Kids

In this science activity, you’ll find both a color version and a black/white version of the butterfly life cycle wheel.

Choose whichever fits your particular classroom needs.

How to Prepare the Worksheets

This activity is easy to prepare. Choose either the color or blackline version. If you choose the blackline version, your kids can color the images on both pages. Or, you can print the pieces on colored printer paper.

For this activity, I recommend printing it on cardstock, as it provides more durability than regular printer paper. Using cardstock makes the material sturdier, allowing it to hold up better during use. I like to laminate the pieces, ensuring they can be handled multiple times without wearing out. This way, the activity can be reused time and time again.

Using the Printables

To begin your lesson about butterflies, you should read a nonfiction book about butterflies and how they grow. I like National Geographic Kids Look & Learn: Caterpillar to Butterfly for it’s gorgeous images and age-appropriate language.

After reading the book, share the first page of the life cycle wheel with your preschoolers. Help them learn the vocabulary associated with the life cycle – chrysalis, larva, etc.

Test their knowledge by naming a stage and having your preschooler point to it on the page. Help them become familiar with the written name of each part, as well, so they can us the words in their retelling of the stages of the life cycle.

Cut out both pages, connect the two cutouts with a brass brad, and spin the top to reveal each stage of the butterfly life cycle.

Life Cycle of a Butterfly for Kids

If your kids enjoy this butterfly life cycle activity, your kids may enjoy one or more of the activities featured below.

You can add these activities to your butterfly activities for preschoolers.

• Spring is a great time to learn about butterflies. This life cycle of a butterfly craft will help little ones see how caterpillars become butterflies.

• Create an easy butterfly sensory bin for hours of sensory play for your little ones.

• If you’re teaching life cycles or butterflies this spring, be sure to include this butterfly life cycle coloring page. This print-and-go worksheet is a fun way to demonstrate how butterflies grow from egg to adult.

Butterfly Books for Kids

Introducing kids to the wonders of butterflies through books can spark their curiosity and foster a love for nature. Perfect for preschool teachers and parents, these tales inspire young minds and enhance their reading skills.

Discover the best butterfly books to enrich your classroom library or bedtime routines, creating memorable learning moments.

A Butterfly Is Patient – This is a beautifully illustrated children’s book that celebrates the incredible life cycle of butterflies. From tiny egg to vibrant winged creature, the book explores the patience and wonder of metamorphosis. With captivating images and informative text, it introduces young readers to the diverse world of butterflies and their essential role in our ecosystem.

Caterpillar to Butterfly – This captivating book explores the amazing transformation from caterpillar to butterfly. With stunning photographs and simple text, it guides young readers through the life cycle of this beloved insect. From the egg to the chrysalis and finally, to the breathtaking butterfly, this book sparks curiosity and wonder about the natural world.

Pop-Up Butterflies – This interactive and engaging book brings the magical world of butterflies to life. With vibrant colors and detailed illustrations, readers can explore the intricate details of various butterfly species. The book’s most captivating feature is its pop-up butterflies, allowing children to experience the wonder of these creatures up close.

The Butterfly Life Cycle Wheel is an excellent tool for helping young learners grasp the fascinating transformation process that butterflies go through. By creating this interactive wheel, children not only learn about the stages from egg to butterfly but also develop important skills such as sequencing, fine motor coordination, and comprehension.

This simple, hands-on activity can easily be integrated into a unit study on insects or life cycles, and it offers a memorable way for kids to engage with the natural world. Whether used as part of your homeschool lessons or as a fun craft, this wheel will undoubtedly spark curiosity and deepen your child’s appreciation for nature’s wonders.

Enjoy watching your little ones grow their knowledge as they spin their way through the butterfly’s magical journey!

Tara

Tara is the brains behind Homeschool Preschool, where her journey from preschool and public school teacher to homeschooling mom of three fuels her passion for early childhood education. With a blend of expertise and firsthand experience, Tara’s writings offer practical tips and engaging resources to support families in creating meaningful learning adventures at home.