We began the morning by checking on our caterpillars, which the children have been carefully observing and caring for. There was great excitement when we discovered that one of the caterpillars had emerged from its chrysalis and transformed into a beautiful butterfly. We looked closely at it and decided it was ready to be released. The children and our older friends watched as it gently spread its wings and took flight, creating a wonderful moment of curiosity and connection with nature.

Inspired by our caterpillar friends, we then took part in a woodwork session where the children and older friends worked together to create their very own caterpillars. Using bottle tops and colourful beads, they began creating wonderful designs. Our older friends shared their skills with the children, and showed determination to ensure the nails were securely in the wood.

Continuing our butterfly theme, the children spent time drawing detailed pictures of butterflies, carefully choosing colours and patterns. We then extended the activity by making lifecycle models where the children sequenced the stages from caterpillar to butterfly by sticking them onto lolly sticks. Some children also chose to use clay to mould each stage. This further developed their understanding of the butterfly lifecycle.

We also used paints to create our own colourful representations of the butterfly we had seen, exploring different patterns and colours. It was a really busy day full of exploration, creativity and learning, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. We are excited for our next visit to see how many more butterflies will be waiting for us.