Kitchen Counter Chronicles

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Activities
  • Art & Crafts
  • Holidays
  • Recipes
  • Contact

subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Activities
  • Art & Crafts
  • Holidays
  • Recipes
  • Contact

×
Home » crafts

Can you balance a butterfly on your nose?

By Jen

If you have never witnessed the Monarch butterfly migration from Toronto then let me try and explain. Imagine being down at the beach and noticing one lovely orange and black butterfly flitting by. This might excite you, and you might say "Hey, look a butterfly!" Now imagine that you notice a second butterfly, a third, a fourth...50...100 orange and black butterflies sailing along in the breeze. This is the Monarch migration. It is stunning. In fact you can read and see what I mean in the post my friend Kari has written on her site ActiveKidsClub.com. The photos are stunning.

This past weekend we celebrated my daughter's 8th birthday with an outdoor party at a local park (Riverdale Farm). Knowing that this is butterfly time, I created a butterfly craft for the children's loot bags. I clearly remember making this same craft when I was a child. My youngest daughter was at a birthday party at the Science Centre this summer, where they made a similar craft. I love the way the kids eyes light up when the butterfly floats on their fingertip!
Balancing Butterfly
white paper - 8-½" x 11"
pencil
scissors
tape
cardboard (cereal box will do fine)
crayons, markers
2 pennies
1. fold the paper into quarters, then cut along the folds - creating 4 rectangles of paper that are approximately 4-¼"x 5-½"
2. fold one of the rectangles in half and draw half of a butterfly...be sure to include a "head" and a "tail"
3. with the paper folded, cut out the butterfly...you now have a perfectly symmetrical butterfly
4. trace the symmetrical butterfly onto your piece of cardboard
5. cut out the butterfly and decorate it with markers, crayons - nothing that will add weight to the cardboard

6. turn the butterfly over and tape one penny on the top of each wing (near the "head")...the pennies must be parallel

7. turn the butterfly over again and place your finger under the butterfly's "head" - between the pennies
8. the butterfly should balance on your fingertip...if it does not balance adjust the placement of your finger and the placement of the pennies until it floats.
9. you can also try balancing the butterfly on the eraser end of a pencil...or your nose!
Balancing these butterflies is not quite as magical as witnessing the real thing, but they are pretty cool. They also introduce a conversation about the migratory path of butterflies and why butterflies are  important to our ecosystem. Have a look at the links below for more information on the Monarch butterfly. And if you live in Toronto I hope you have an opportunity to check out the butterflies before they all leave town for the winter.
Parks Canada 
PBS - Nova episode about the migration of Monarch Butterflies airs November 30th -  watch a preview
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/nature/journey-butterflies.html
Pollination Canada

More crafts

  • close up of toilet paper roll heart and pom pom garland
    DIY Toilet Paper Roll Heart Garland
  • 15+ Creative Grinch Craft Ideas for Kids
  • close up of diy glittery galaxy pumpkin sitting on black lace table cloth
    How to Make Glittery Galaxy Pumpkins
  • titile DIY EGG CARTON SUNFLOWER WREATH with image of egg carton sunflower wreath and image of egg carton leaf covered embroidery hoop and hand holding egg carton sunflower
    DIY Egg Carton Sunflower Wreath

About Jen

Jen Farr is a mother living in Toronto, Canada. She has been sharing her DIY crafts, recipes, activities and parenting advice for over 15 years on her blog Kitchen Counter Chronicle. Jen is the mom of 2 lovely daughters. She believes in the power of taking small steps that can make big impacts on the world.

Comments

  1. LeeanneA / KMullally says

    September 28, 2011 at 7:09 am

    Oh I always made these with my Girl Guide units - so fun!

  2. Terri says

    September 28, 2011 at 9:11 am

    Fun! I'm going to have to try this with my girls... they'll love it!!

  3. Lori says

    September 28, 2011 at 11:24 am

    This is so awesome and a wonderful learning activity!

  4. KitchenCounterChronicles says

    September 28, 2011 at 11:18 pm

    Thanks so much ladies..it really is a fun and educational craft...which are the best kind. Thanks for stopping by!

  5. Melissa Taylor says

    September 29, 2011 at 10:50 am

    great idea!

  6. Mummy...Mummy.....MUM!! says

    October 03, 2011 at 6:03 am

    That is brilliant! I love it. I will definitely try it with my 3! Thank you so much for linking up with Science Sparks.

    Emma @sciencesparks

  7. Gina (aka East Coast Mommy) says

    September 02, 2013 at 5:18 pm

    Cute!

jen profile picture

Hi, I'm Jen!

I’m the creative mind behind Kitchen Counter Chronicle. I’ve been making and sharing activities, crafts, and recipes for 10+ years.

Thanks for stopping by!

About Me

What's New!

  • Back to School Crafts for Tweens to Make

  • collage of back to school chapter books for featured imgae
    Best Back to School Chapter Books

SUBSCRIBE

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Feel free to use information and pictures from this site, but please credit their source and include a direct link to Kitchen Counter Chronicle. Thank you

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

Kitchen Counter Chronicle is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Copyright © 2025 Kitchen Counter Chronicle