Making Metamorphosis Meaningful for Young Children

Abstract

Although butterflies are a common topic of study in many early childhood classrooms, integrating art production broadens the scope of the study and allows children to deepen their knowledge and understanding through creative self-expression. This article presents a set of integrated activities that focus on helping children fully grasp the process of metamorphosis by making observations, asking questions, and using visual arts to communicate ideas. In all the activities, children actively engage in discussing the life cycle of the butterfly and using concept-specific vocabulary to explore relationships among the butterflies' different stages, as well as relationships between butterflies and their environment.

Keywords:

• art
• butterflies
• life cycle
• metamorphosis