Colorful Butterfly Symmetry Paintings

Let’s learn about symmetry with butterfly paintings! This colorful STE(A)M project teaches preschoolers math in a fun way. Besides butterfly symmetry paintings, you could change it to other animals – check out the paint blob penguin Big Brother helped create when he was a toddler.

How to make the Butterfly Symmetry Paintings

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Supplies Needed:

• Cardstock
• Paints
• Paintbrushes
• Glitter Glue – optional
• Jumbo Craft Sticks
• Googly Eyes
• Glue
• Pipe Cleaner
• Marker

Fold a sheet of cardstock in half. Make an outline of half a butterfly. I used glitter glue for this part since the tip makes it easier to outline quickly. Place blobs of paint inside the wing. You could use a paintbrush if using paint that doesn’t pour. Little Sister made a lots of colorful blobs all over the wing including glitter glue blobs.

*Make sure not to put too much paint that it squeezes way out of the outline in the next step.

Fold the paper in half and ask your little one to lightly rub their hands over it to flatten the paint. Open it up and see the colorful design on both sides of the paper. Little Sister loved opening up our paintings and it was cute to watch her reaction to them. Talk about how butterflies are symmetrical, what it means and how the opened paper represents that. Let dry.

Once dry, glue a jumbo craft stick in the center to create the body. Add two googly eyes and draw on a mouth. Cut a small piece off of a pipe cleaner. Poke a hole on top of the butterfly’s head (take it back out). Fold it in half and shape the ends if you’d like. Stick the bent end through the hole slightly. Flip the page over and bend the end upwards to help it stay in place.

More Butterfly Themed Activities and Crafts:

Learning with Butterfly Activities

1. Find the Letter B is for Butterflies from 3 Boys and a Dog 
2. Butterfly Life Cycle for Kids (Free Printables) from The Natural Homeschool
3. LEGO butterflies from Planet Smarty Pants 
4. Butterfly Science from Schooling a Monkey 
5. Butterfly Sensory Bin with Scavenger Hunt and Life Cycle Activities {Free Printables} from Living Montessori Now 
6. Butterfly I Spy Game from Simple Fun for Kids
7. Life Cycle of a Butterfly Worksheet from Living Life and Learning 
8. Exploring Butterfly Wing Patterns from Craft Create Calm

Crafty Butterflies

1. DIY Ruffle Butterfly Bookmark from Living Ideas
2. Easy Kid Craft: Colorful Spring Butterfly Suncatcher from Crafty Mama in ME
3. Where to see Butterflies in Nature from FrogMom
4. Cupcake Liner Butterfly Craft from Raising Little Superheroes 
5. Butterfly Sensory Painting from Parenting Chaos 
6. Butterfly DIY Window Clings from Gym Craft Laundry
7. Marshmallow Stamping Butterflies & Other Bug {with free printables} from Play Dough & Popsicles

Exploring Butterflies

1. Butterfly Books for Children from The Jenny Evolution
2. Where to see Butterflies in Nature from FrogMom
3. How to Meet a Butterfly from Bambini Travel
4. Planting a Butterfly Garden from Our Daily Craft
5. Preschool Butterfly Songs from Preschool Powol Packets
6. Visiting a Butterfly House from Something 2 Offer
7. How to Raise a Butterfly {with Free Butterfly Journal} from Books and Giggles

Hang the Butterfly Symmetry Paintings up on the refrigerator or art wall!

Check out our penguin symmetry painting!

Amanda

Artsy Momma

Amanda is an ‘artsy momma’ to 2 kids who love making crafts just as much as she does. Follow their creative journey over on the blog titled Artsy Momma. Besides crafts, they share fun food ideas, hands-on learning activities, mommy DIY, + lots more! If you love handprint art, head over to their Fun Handprint Art blog where you will find hundreds of their projects all made with little hands and feet.