Life Cycle Preschool Crafts

Caterpillars and Butterflies 

1. Paper plate life cycle craft

I adapted an idea from here.

Materials:
1. Tiny white pom poms for eggs
2. Leaf template
3. Two pipe cleaners for caterpillar
4. Short twig
5. Tissue paper in two colors (one color for chrysalis and one color for butterfly)
6. Pipe cleaner for butterfly
7. Paper plate
8. Labeled circle template from link above
9. Glue
10. Scissors

2. Pipe cleaner caterpillar and paper towel tube butterfly

Source of caterpillar craft: http://thekittypad.blogspot.com

Modified a craft from Pinterest

Materials for caterpillar:
1. Two pipe cleaners in two different colors
2. Pencil to twist pipe cleaners around on

Materials for butterfly:
1. Construction paper
2. Paper towel tube cut down to size
3. Googly eyes
4. Pipe cleaners for antenna and proboscis
5. Markers to decorate wings
6. Pom poms to decorate wings
7. Scissors
8. Glue

3. Caterpillar into butterfly foldable   (both toddler and preschool)

Source: https://cutesycrafts.com/2013/03/kiddie-crafts-caterpillar-into-butterfly.html

 
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Tadpole to Frog

1. Paper plate life cycle craft        (Preschool)

This craft modifies an idea from here to show all 5 stages.

Materials:

• paper plate
• pipe cleaners (for legs)
• white beads for eggs
• labels
• scissors
• small and medium pom poms in color of choice (for heads and bodies)
• felt in same color as pop poms (for tail)
• Circle divided into five parts
• Black marker (to put black dot on eggs)
• Glue gun to glue pipe cleaners, felt, and pom poms

Larva to Ladybug

1. Paper plate life cycle craft  (Preschool)

Materials:

• paper plate
• pipe cleaners
• rice for eggs
• scissors
• leaf template
• medium red pom pom
• small black pom pom
• Circle and labels 
• black marker
• glue gun to glue on antennas
• pencil to wrap pipe cleaners around

Instructions:
The larva and pupa stages are made completely of pipe cleaners. For the larva stage, wrap two pipe cleaners around pencil. Cut a black pipe cleaner into several 1.5 to 2 inch pieces. Glue three of these to the under side for the legs. Fold one of the remaining pieces in half, and glue it to the head of the larva for the antennas.

For the pupa stage, begin the same as the larva stage by wrapping two pipe cleaners around a pencil. Then wrap two more on top of them. Use two or three different colors.

2. Ladybug Life Cycle Spinner Craft     (both toddler and preschool)

I modified one from teacherspayteachers.com to make it more accurate.

Materials:
1. template from teacherspayteachers.com
2. Crayons
3. Black construction paper
4. Scissors
6. Glue
7. Brass fastener

3. Egg Carton Ladybug

I modified a craft from here.

Materials:

1. One section of an egg carton per child

2. Various colors of paint for coloring and spots

3. Black paint for face

4. Googly eyes

5. Black pipe cleaners for antennas

6. Various colors of construction paper

7. Glue gun

8. Scissors

*Note:
Ladybugs can be a variety of colors. Their spots are not always black.

4. Paper Plate Ladybugs

Source: http://learncreatelove.com/paper-plate-ladybug-craft/

Materials:

1. Half of a large paper plate

2. Googly eye

3. Variety of colors of paint for back half of ladybug

4. Black paint for head of ladybug

5. Black construction paper for antennas

6. Glue

7. Scissors

8. Paint brushes

9. Circle sponges or dot markers for spots