Discover the Wonder of Butterflies—and the Beauty of New Beginnings
There is something captivating about a butterfly. What begins hidden and unseen becomes something beautiful, transformed, and full of life. And that story isn't just found in nature, it's a reminder you can share with your child:
God is always at work, even when we can't see it.
In this hands-on Butterfly Unity Study, your child will explore the fascinating life cycle of butterflies along with meaningful books, creative activities, and real-life observation. Learning becomes more than information, it becomes something they experience, remember, and carry with them.
What Your Child Will Learn
Butterflies are more than just beautiful, they're full of incredible design and purpose.
In this unit study, your child will:
- Discover the four stages of the butterfly life cycle (metamorphosis)
- Learn about host plants, camouflage, and survival in nature
- Explore butterfly habitats and geography
- Observe transformation firsthand by raising caterpillars into butterflies*
This rich, literature-based approach helps children not only understand science, but connect with it.
A Complete Hands-On Learning Experience
This isn't just reading, it's doing, creating, and experiencing.
Your child will engage in:
- Science exploration
- Arts & Crafts projects
- Geography
- Creative writing and vocabulary
- Fun butterfly-themed recipes
- Raise their own butterflies (caterpillars not included*)
They'll also build a personalized butterfly lapbook, a keepsake that captures what they've learned along the way.
What's Included
This four week Unit Study includes an Instructor's Guide, Activity Sheets, literature, supplies kit and project videos. Learn more about each of these below.
Instructor's Guide
Your guide to a meaningful, organized experience.
- Daily schedules for reading and activities (for a 4-day week, approximately 45 minutes a day)
- Step-by-step instructions
- Lapbook templates
- Answer Key for the activity sheets
- Bonus activities for older students
Student Activity Sheets
Reinforce learning in a simple, engaging way.
- Vocabulary review
- Comprehension questions
- Matching, true/false, and fill-in-the-blank activities
Literature That Brings Learning to Life
This unit study includes engaging, memorable stories including;
- Caterpillars and Butterflies, which lays the foundation for this unit study. How do caterpillars turn into butterflies? What do they eat? How do they protect themselves? All these details and more in pages full of beautiful pictures.
- Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly tells the story of first-grader Velma who is the youngest in her family. Follow along as she changes from living in the shadow of her older siblings to a confident young scientist.
- Butterflies for Kiri celebrates one girl's creativity as she experiments with colorful origami. It's the perfect lead-in to creating your own origami butterfly.
Project & Craft Supplies
This unit study comes packaged in a durable cardboard box with the supplies you need to complete each activity or project, except for a few household items. Inside the unit study box you'll find the following supplies:
- Lapbook file folder
- Index cards
- Wooden clothespin
- Pipe cleaner
- Assorted colorful pompoms
- Wiggle eyes
- Pop-up Mesh Hamper. Note: this unit study does not contain caterpillars. You will find instructions in your kit to purchase before you begin.
- Coffee filters
- Origami papers
- Craft glue
- Black twine
- Sheet of bubble wrap
- Craft sticks
- Colored tissue paper
Hands-On Activities Your Child Will Love
With this hands-on unit study your children will spend approximately 45 minutes per day in engaging activities and captivating stories. The activities engage your student with what they are studying and reinforce all the fascinating details they are learning. Children will explore the world of butterflies from larva to butterfly through creation of their own butterfly lap book.
Activities include:
- Vocabulary development
- Geography
- Arts & Crafts projects
- Butterfly identification
- Creation of a lapbook
- Creative writing
- Fun butterfly-themed recipes
- Raising your own butterflies
- And much more!
BONUS Video
Follow along with Sonlighter Lindsay who raises Monarch butterflies with her family! As you complete your unit study tune in for video instruction including the do's and don'ts of raising butterflies, live lifecycle footage, tips for identifying plants and tracking butterflies, get free printables downloads, and so much more! Watch the videos on Sonlight's YouTube channel here.
Designed for Ages 7-12 (With Flexibility)
Perfect for elementary and middle school students, with optional activities for older learners who want to join in.
Simple, Structured, and Meaningful
- 4 weeks (4 days per week)
- 45 minutes a day
- Ideal for spring and warmer seasons
Butterflies should be released when temperatures are consistently above 55°F.
*Caterpillars are not included, but the kit includes information on purchasing caterpillars.