The Butterfly Song: a Song to Teach Colours

During the Summer months children can discover an endless supply of fascinating things outside in nature. Country walks and picnics can uncover all sorts of treasures and children are often amazed by the variety of incredible insects.

Butterflies are a particular favourite as they flutter so prettily and you feel so special if one gently lands on you. The Butterfly Song is a lovely one to sing when you spot a butterfly outside. It’s so simple to pick up and is really brilliant for teaching and practicing colour recognition too.

 The Butterfly Song

Butterfly, butterfly, butterfly blue,

I’d like to fly like you,

Butterfly, butterfly, butterfly blue,

I’d like to fly like you!

*

Butterfly, butterfly, butterfly pink,

What do you think, butterfly pink?

Butterfly, butterfly, butterfly pink,

What do you think, butterfly pink?

*

Butterfly, butterfly, butterfly yellow,

Let me catch you, just to say Hello!

Butterfly, butterfly, butterfly yellow,

Let me catch you, just to say Hello!

*

Butterfly, butterfly, butterfly green,

Where have you been, butterfly green?

Butterfly, butterfly, butterfly green,

Where have you been butterfly green?

*

Lovely butterflies flutter your wings,

Flutter your wings, flutter your wings,

Lovely butterflies, flutter your wings,

That’s what everyone sings!

The Butterfly Song is so easy to pick up largely due to its repetitive phrases. If you combine this song with the craft activity below, the children can make their own butterflies to flutter as they sing the song. These little butterflies are very simple and quick to make and are a lovely way to bring The Butterfly Song to life.

How to make fluttering butterflies

What you need

• Floristry wire
• File sheet protectors (plastic wallets)
• Sharpie markers or similar permanent markers

After the children have coloured in their butterfly wings, you simply thread the wire through the plastic along the folded edge between the wings so that the butterflies flutter nicely. Allow enough wire to attach to the end of a twig or stick which helps them move well. You can do this with two or three butterflies on one stick, as you can see in the Vine video above.

If you go ahead and make some of these fluttering butterflies, we’d love you to come and share them on our Facebook page!

Check out our Caterpillar & Butterfly themed lesson plan for a 35 minute fun packed music lesson, with lots of fluttering and imaginative movement.

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