One hands-on activity for teaching the butterfly life cycle could be creating a butterfly life cycle wheel. Here’s how you can do it:

Materials needed: - Paper plate - Scissors - Markers or crayons - Brass fastener - Pictures or drawings of each stage of the butterfly life cycle (egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly)

Instructions: 1. Begin by drawing a large circle on the paper plate, leaving a small circle in the center. 2. Cut out the large circle, leaving the small circle intact. 3. Divide the large circle into four equal sections using a marker or crayon. 4. On each section, write the name of one stage of the butterfly life cycle: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly. 5. Attach pictures or drawings of each stage to the corresponding section of the wheel. You can either draw the pictures yourself or print them out from online resources. 6. Poke a small hole in the center of the small circle and in the center of each section of the wheel. 7. Align the holes and secure the wheel by inserting a brass fastener through the holes and opening it at the back of the plate. 8. Spin the wheel to see the different stages of the butterfly life cycle.

During the activity, you can discuss each stage of the butterfly life cycle, explaining the characteristics and changes that occur in each stage. You can also ask questions to engage the children, such as “What do you think happens inside the chrysalis?” or “Why do you think butterflies lay eggs on specific plants?” This hands-on activity allows children to visually see and interact with the different stages of the butterfly life cycle, enhancing their understanding and retention of the topic.