Butterfly Symmetry Project tutorial

Symmetry Butterfly Preschool Art

Below you will find an easy Butterfly Symmetry project to compliment your Caterpillar and Butterfly preschool theme.  This art experience is an excellent opportunity to talk about symmetry and shapes with your preschoolers.

Supplies: 

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Supplies: tempera paint, paintbrushes, 12x18" White Sulphite paper 1-piece per child,
1 pc. 8 1/2" x 11" Cardstock, Writing Utensil, Scissors

​This fun activity is one of 200 hands on preschool activities featured in our Pre-K Play Ideas eBook! Purchase our eBook to have all of these activity pages at your fingertips.

Directions: 

Step 1: Fold 1- 12x18" paper for each of your children in half, and set aside.

Step 2: Draw 1/2 of a Butterfly Wing on Card stock and cut it out to use as your template.

Step 3:  Use your template to trace an image on each folded sheet of paper. The folded edge should be in the center of the butterfly
(on the right hand side of the image below) .

*Note: If your children are too young to cut the image, you only need to trace the top sheet and then you can cut them all out at the same time. 
(*Note: Before Cutting-Make sure your fold is to the right when you stack your folded sheets).

You should now have folded wings that look like the photo below.

Step 4: Place each wing on a tray or a protected surface for painting.

Step 5: Encourage the children to add paint to the wing.
With this project, thicker blobs of paint actually work better, than thin streaks.

Step 6: Help the child gently unfold the right side of the butterfly from behind their painting.

Step 7: Gently fold the right side of the butterfly, over the left side. Pat Down.

Step 8: This is where the magic happens! Have the child gently peel the wing up to reveal the symmetrical Butterfly!
*Note you may want to have extra's on hand-My kiddos love making these!

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Save time planning your hands on preschool activities! Find detailed directions for this activity + 199 more in our Pre-K Play Ideas eBook! Print each activity page, or access them digitally!

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