TITLE: CREATIVITY AND BUTTERFLIES
AUTHOR: Shirley LeMoine, Garfield Re-2 School District
Rifle, Colorado 81650
GRADE LEVEL: 2-5 : Creativity; Science; Art;
Language Arts; Gifted
OVERVIEW: Children love to study butterflies and use their
imagination. This lesson gives them the opportunity to do
both.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this activity, used during a study
of insects, is to provide a way to have all students use the
basic objectives of creativity, to provide for the basic
needs of gifted children and to also give your nonscientist
a chance to shine, in an area that all kids enjoy.
OBJECTIVE(s):
1. Fluency:
ACTIVITY:
Butterflies are flying insects. Make a list of
8-50 other insects that fly.
2. Elaboration:
ACTIVITY:
Caterpillars have 6 legs. Design and draw 3 pairs of
shoes, socks or gloves for them to wear. Make a model
of at least one pair.
3. Flexibility:
ACTIVITY:
Butterfly eggs hatch on their own on plants. What are
5 things a soon-to-be hatched chrysalis should know.
Make a tiny book about these facts for the butterfly
to read as soon as it emerges.
4. Originality:
ACTIVITY:
Butterflies taste with their feet. Think of five ways
your life would be different if you tasted with your
feet. Write a poem, cinquain, haiku etc. about the
differences in your life.
5. Risk Taking:
ACTIVITY:
An adventurous moth decides to fly during the daytime.
What 3 things does he fear most. Write a song about
them.
6. Imagination:
ACTIVITY:
What does a butterfly dream about when it is in the
chrysalisstage? Draw a picture of the chrysalis and
its dream.
7. Complexity:
ACTIVITY:
In the year 2020 A.D. all of the butterflies were
killed by a mysterious virus from outer space. How did
this change the life of the humans in the United
States. Write a newspaper headline and article about
this event.
8. Curiosity:
ACTIVITY:
Adult monarch butterflies have never been to their
winter home. Thing of at least 5 questions they would
ask a travel guide and make a travel brochure to answer
the questions.
RESOURCES/MATERIALS NEEDED: Normal classroom supplies and
some kind of cloth/suede etc. for activity #2.
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:
1. Make a bulletin board to display work.
2. Display little books in library.
3. Send travel brochures to local travel agent and ask
that they be displayed.
4. Send poems to local paper for publication.
5. Ask music teacher or a student to compose music for
songs. Sing some at a school assembly.
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