Skip to content

Session 12: Butterfly Wonder 🦋

Overview

Grades: 1-2 | Duration: 30 minutes | Session: 12 of 17

Students explore the butterfly life cycle and metamorphosis, discovering God's design for transformation and new life.

Session 12: Butterfly Wonder

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students will:

  • Identify the four stages of butterfly metamorphosis

  • Understand transformation as part of God's design

  • Create a butterfly life cycle model

  • Connect metamorphosis to spiritual transformation

Session 12: Butterfly Wonder

Materials Needed

  • 📸 Pictures of butterfly life cycle stages

  • 📦 Life cycle model materials (pasta shapes work well)

  • 🎨 Paper plates, paper, crayons

  • 📓 Design Detective journals

  • 🦋 Butterfly specimens or photos

Catholic Integration

Saint Connection

St. Paul — He was completely transformed on the road to Damascus, like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly!

Scripture

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" — 2 Corinthians 5:17

Opening Prayer

Dear God, you designed the amazing butterfly transformation. Thank you for making all things new! Help us be transformed by your love. Amen.

Lesson Procedure

Opening Circle (5 minutes)

  1. Transformation Wonder — "Does a caterpillar LOOK like a butterfly?"
  2. Complete Change — "The caterpillar becomes something TOTALLY different!"
  3. Four Stages:
  4. 🥚 Egg
  5. 🐛 Caterpillar (larva)
  6. 🛖 Chrysalis (pupa)
  7. 🦋 Butterfly (adult)
  8. St. Paul Connection — "He was changed completely too!"

Main Activity: Life Cycle Exploration (19 minutes)

Part 1: Learn the Stages (6 minutes)

  • Show pictures/video of each stage:
  • Egg — Tiny, laid on a leaf
  • Caterpillar — Hatches, eats LOTS, grows
  • Chrysalis — Hangs and transforms inside

  • Butterfly — Emerges with wings!

  • "The caterpillar doesn't just get wings—it completely changes!"

  • Time frame: 3-4 weeks for most butterflies

Part 2: Life Cycle Model (10 minutes)

  • Create paper plate life cycle:
  • Divide plate into 4 sections
  • Add each stage:
    • Draw or glue small shape for egg
    • Pasta spiral or drawing for caterpillar
    • Pasta shell or folded paper for chrysalis
    • Drawn or cut-out butterfly
  • Add arrows showing cycle direction
  • Label each stage

Part 3: Transformation Connection (3 minutes)

  • Discussion: "How can WE be transformed?"
  • Learning new things (growing smarter)
  • Becoming kinder

  • Growing closer to God

  • "God wants to transform us into something beautiful too!"

Design Detective Journal (4 minutes)

  1. Draw the butterfly life cycle
  2. Label: Egg, Caterpillar, Chrysalis, Butterfly
  3. Write: "God transforms..."

Closing Circle (2 minutes)

  1. Life Cycle Share — Show your models!
  2. Easter Preview — "Easter is about the greatest transformation—Jesus rising to new life!"
  3. Closing Prayer — "God, thank you for transformation. Change us to be more like Jesus. Amen."

Assessment

Observation Checklist:

  • Named four life cycle stages in order

  • Created life cycle model

  • Connected to transformation themes

  • Related to spiritual growth

Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Focus on caterpillar → butterfly change

  • Pre-made model to assemble

  • Partner work

For Advanced Students

  • Add details and facts to each stage

  • Compare to other animal life cycles

  • Write about transformation

Wonder at Home 🏠

Family Activity: Look for butterflies and caterpillars outside! Read a book about butterflies. If possible, get a butterfly kit and raise real butterflies at home. Talk about how God transforms us.

Teacher Notes

  • Consider raising butterflies in classroom (kits available)

  • Great timing before Easter (transformation theme)

  • Connect to resurrection discussion

  • See Kindergarten lesson for simpler version

Previous: Session 11 — Lenten Love
Next: Session 13 — Easter Joy