I didn’t realize that there were locations around the United States that hold an annual butterfly site count on of the 4th of July at until we read the book Butterfly Count by Sneed Collard III (2002-03-01). Butterfly Count is the story of a little girl named Amy and how she and her mom participate in a butterfly count.
Amy and her mother find a wonderful variety of butterflies during their butterfly site count. They even find a very rare butterfly that many had thought was no longer in the area. What a wonderful way to spend the 4th of July.
This wonderful story teaches children how to attract and identify butterflies where they live. It also gives you information on finding 4th of July Butterfly Site Count sites near you hosted by the North American Butterfly Association. I wasn’t able to find one near us maybe you will be able to find one near you.
Butterfly County Extension Activities
Butterfly Wing Experiment
This experiment using several layers of tissue paper, construction paper and a balloon was to explore how static electricity stored in a balloon can be transferred to tissue paper. During the transfer of electricity, the wings of the tissue paper butterfly would flap just like a real butterfly.
We started by cutting the outline of a butterfly out of tissue paper that had been layered to give us several layers of tissue to flap when the balloon was stroked over it.
The tissue layers were then stapled to a piece of construction paper.( Next time I think we will staple our butterflies to cardboard. It would give them some more support.)
We started the experiment with six layers of tissue we soon learned that that was way too many layers. Only the top two layers of wings flapped. We pulled some of the tissue butterflies of the stack. The remaining butterfly layers flapped or lifted up more easily when we rubbed a balloon over the tissue. Rubbing the balloon on your head and then the tissue butterflies really helped the wings to flap. We had a great time exploring electricity with this experiment.
Butterfly Sight Word Match
I asked him to read me the word on each butterfly and then find its match on the paper. When he had found all the matches, I had him remove each word butterfly and read it to me.
Butterfly Number Count
This was so easy to put together. I just placed the butterfly outline from the first activity under a piece of copy paper. Then I wrote groups of number JDaniel has trouble with in the butterfly shape on the white copy paper.
I put various colors of bingo markers on cards featuring each number. JDaniel was to use that stamp to place dots on that number to create a beautiful butterfly. After or before stamping each number, JDaniel read me that number. Yes, it was a lot of repetition, but he sometimes he forgets what these numbers are. I was hoping to put them into muscle, visual and auditory memory.
How did you explore books this week? If you have a post you would like to share, please link it up below. Once you have added your post, please visit at least three others.
That sounds like an awesome book and I love the activity with the balloon. What a great idea!
What a neat book. My boys love butterflies.
Great activities to go with this book! I think my kids would love these activities, too. (We LOVE book-based units.)
Great activities to keep those young minds working during the summer! Love the butterflies.
That static electricity experiment is brilliant. The book looks good too. Too bad we don’t get a lot of butterflies where we live (except in winter when monarch butterflies visit)
I wish I saw more butterflies in the world these days. Seems like there are fewer than ever before.
“/
PS. I hope your boy spots a few this summer!
The book sounds lovely, and I love your experiment!
love your site words activity 🙂
I always love exploring what you share and this link-up. thank you!
I love all these activities, especially the butterfly wing experiment. What fun bug-inspired play! Thank you for sharing it at the Kids CoOp. So thrilled to be featuring this post as part of my bug-a-boo play roundup. xo Pauline
I need to do these with my oldest. The sight word one would be perfect for us! Featuring you today on the kids co-op! http://www.frogsandsnailsandpuppydogtail.com/2013/07/10-want-to-try-with-kids-activities.html
These are such fun and simple ideas! Thanks for linking up with Tuesday Tots. I’m featuring this post on my blog this week. http://www.oneperfectdayblog.net/2013/07/09/math-games-for-kids/
I love these butterfly activities and was delighted to feature them on The Sunday Showcase – such fun way to learn!