"B" is for Butterfly

Make a Butterfly…and Celebrate the Letter B!

Every letter makes at least one sound.  Seems simple, right?  But to most kindergartners, it’s anything but.  In teacher talk, this is a fundamental skill called “letter-sound correspondence.”  And it could not be more important—in fact, it’s one of the most crucial steps in early reading.

For parents, helping your child learn this concept outside of the classroom couldn't be simpler.  Every time you talk about a letter or its sound and  explore that connection with your child, you’re helping him build his fundamental reading skills…especially if you can do it in a way that is fun and relaxed.

So here’s a simple butterfly refrigerator magnet that you and your child can make together.  It starts with the letter B—and ends up as a practical everyday tool!

What You Need:

Clear plastic contact paper
Colored tissue paper
Metallic gold pipe cleaner
Round refrigerator magnet (available in craft stores)
Glue gun
Permanent marker


What You Do:

1. Help your child cut several colors of tissue paper into 1-2” pieces, and lay them onto a sheet of sticky, clear contact paper.  Overlaps are just great—your child will enjoy seeing blue and yellow make green, for example, or red and yellow make orange.

2. Now help your child lay a second sheet of contact paper on top of the tissue layer.  Parents, this part may be tricky, so don't hesitate to help your child with this step.  Gently smooth the top layer down to make a flat, sealed sheet.

3. With a Sharpie, help your child mark two capital "Bs" on the plastic sheet, each about 3” high, touching back to back so that they resemble a butterfly.

4. Make sure the letters are clearly marked off.  Then help your child cut around the outer edges, leaving a ¼” margin all the way around.  You’ve made the shape of a butterfly, working with the letter B.

5. Twist the pipe cleaner around the middle of the butterfly, making the middle scrunch up slightly so the wings fan out.  Use the two ends of the pipe cleaner to make two antennae. 

6. Use the glue gun to fasten the back of your butterfly to a refrigerator magnet and then let it dry. 

7. Stick it to your fridge, and enjoy the daily reminder: “Butterfly starts with B!”


Keep Crafting!!