Kids may struggle to grasp Jesus’ resurrection and what it means. This Resurrection Butterfly Wings Craft highlights a caterpillar’s life cycle. At one church, the leader in kid’s ministry used this craft to explain the death and resurrection of Jesus to 3- to 6-year-olds.

You’ll Need:

• clear Con-Tact paper
• masking tape
• glitter
• sequins
• a permanent marker
• craft sticks
• chenille wires
• brown paper bags
• scissors
• glue or tape

Easy Prep:

• Peel the backing off the Con-Tact paper, and tape the edges to the table with the sticky side up for each child.

Preschool Easter Craft: Resurrection Butterfly Wings Craft

Welcome kids, and introduce yourself if there are any new faces.

Ask:

• Have you heard about caterpillars before?
• What do you know about caterpillars ?

Say: Caterpillars look sort of like worms. At the very beginning of a caterpillar’s life, it crawls on the ground. Let’s pretend we’re caterpillars by wiggling on the ground.

Allow time.

Say: After some time, caterpillars make something called a cocoon—it looks kind of like a big blanket that wraps all the way around a caterpillar. Let’s pretend we’re in a caterpillar’s cocoon by wrapping our arms around ourselves and being very still.

Allow time.

Say: When caterpillars are in their cocoons, it may seem like they’re dead. Make a sad face. But the caterpillar isn’t dead! Something amazing is about to happen in the cocoon.

Ask:

• Can anyone guess what might happen to the caterpillar in the cocoon?

Welcome all answers and thank kids for participating.

Say: When the caterpillar comes out of its cocoon, it will turn into a beautiful butterfly! This is similar to what happened to Jesus.

Jesus was alive here on earth, but after he was crucified and died, his friends put him in a tomb. Our caterpillar friend only seems to die when it goes into its cocoon, but Jesus really did die. That means that something truly miraculous happened with Jesus in the tomb. God raised Jesus from the dead, and he was alive again! Let’s create a craft to help us remember Jesus’ miracle of coming back to life!

Create a Craft

• Tell kids to decorate the sticky side of their Con-Tact paper with glitter and sequins.
• When they’re finished, help lay a sticky piece of Con-Tact paper over their creation.
• Have children write their name on the back of their paper with a permanent marker.

Say: Right now, all you’re holding is a decorated piece of paper. But in a moment, it’s going to transform into something amazing.

Transform It Into a Butterfly

• Help children cut their Con-Tact paper creations into butterfly shapes.
• Help kids glue the craft stick to the center of the butterfly for the body.
• Glue the chenille wire to the craft stick to make antennae.
• Cut up brown paper bags and wrap each butterfly very loosely in the brown paper to resemble a cocoon.
• You can simply fold a piece of the brown paper over each butterfly and seal the side and ends with glue or tape.
• Write each child’s name on his or her cocoon.

Say: When I say “go,” each of you can take off the brown paper bag—or cocoon—from your creation. Ready? Go!

Give children a moment to reveal their butterflies.

Say: It’s amazing to see caterpillars turn into butterflies! But what’s even MORE amazing is that Jesus was dead and came back to life! Because Jesus came back to life, we can be friends with God forever!

Pat Sullivan

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Need more Easter ideas? You can find lots of fun and practical ideas in the book Seasonal Specials for Children’s Ministry: All-NEW Ideas for 13 Holidays.

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