Free Printable Butterfly Worksheets for Kids
Butterfly worksheets have always been one of our favorite ways to sneak some learning into spring and early summer days.
Whether we’re indoors tracing and counting or out spotting butterflies in the backyard, there’s something about these colorful creatures that just clicks with young kids.
This collection of printable butterfly activities covers everything from pre-writing and simple math to life cycles and coloring pages.
They’re easy to prep, fun to use, and work well whether you’re following a full insect unit or just leaning into the season.
**This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and a participant in other affiliate programs, I earn a commission on qualifying purchases.**
Butterfly Worksheets for Preschool
Preschool is the perfect age to introduce butterflies, they’re familiar, bright, and full of learning opportunities.
These printable activities focus on building fine motor skills, number sense, and early literacy in a way that feels more like play than school.
We’ve come back to these sheets over the years anytime we’ve needed something light but purposeful, especially when the weather starts warming up and attention spans start to wander.
Preschool Pack
This preschool butterfly worksheet includes six pages, letter tracing, color-by-number, an alphabet maze, simple counting, and a few extras that rotate well through the week.
It’s always the one I print first when we’re starting a butterfly theme. Quick to prep, easy to explain, and just enough variety to keep it interesting.
Memory Activity
This butterfly matching game builds visual discrimination using colorful wings and simple shapes.
We’ve used it as both a quiet-time option and a one-on-one activity during our morning routine. Bonus: it’s good scissors practice if your child cuts out the pieces themselves.
Tracing Practice
These five butterfly tracing worksheets are great for kids still mastering pencil control.
I used to keep a few in a sheet protector and pair them with dry erase markers, perfect for repetition without using more paper.
Counting Math
This butterfly math worksheet focuses on numbers 1–5 and uses butterfly images to keep things fun.
I usually sit nearby while Freddie counts aloud and points, works well for quick reinforcement without needing manipulatives.
Scavenger Hunt
This butterfly scavenger hunt is a favorite every year. We’ve done it in the backyard, at the park, or just on walks around the neighborhood.
It’s a great excuse to get outside, and the focus on colors, shapes, and motion turns a walk into a little science observation session.
Patterns
This AB butterfly pattern worksheet from Homeschool Preschool uses simple butterfly images for cut-and-paste sequencing. It’s one of those quick wins—doesn’t take long but sneaks in both logic and fine motor work.
Addition
The butterfly addition worksheet from Darcy & Brian pairs well with counting bears or other small manipulatives. We’ve used it as a warm-up before jumping into a bigger math lesson, especially in early spring when we’re shifting out of winter themes.
Butterfly Science Worksheets
Butterflies are one of the easiest ways to introduce early science, and these worksheets make it feel more like exploration than a lesson.
Whether we’re talking through life cycles or labeling parts of a butterfly, these printables have helped connect simple biology to something kids can actually see in the world around them.
Life Cycle
This life cycle of a butterfly worksheet is a staple for introducing the four main stages, egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and adult butterfly.
We’ve used it both as a cut-and-paste and a discussion tool, especially after reading Caterpillar to Butterfly. It’s a great visual for sequencing and early science vocabulary.
Life Cycle Coloring Sheet
If your kids like to color while they learn, this butterfly life cycle coloring page is a nice follow-up. Each stage gets its own space to color, making it easy to review what they’ve just learned without feeling repetitive.
We’ve used this during quiet time as a simple way to reinforce the concept.
Anatomy of a Butterfly
This parts of a butterfly worksheet breaks down the butterfly’s parts, antennae, wings, thorax, and more.
I’ve found it useful for observation walks: we’d label the sheet first, then head outside and try spotting some of those features on real butterflies (or even photos if we’re stuck indoors).
Butterfly Coloring Pages
Coloring is one of those activities we always come back to, especially when we need a quiet reset during the day. These combine creativity with early learning, from simple outlines to dot-to-dots and color-by-number sheets.
Types of Butterfly
These butterfly coloring pages include a mix of butterfly styles, which has been fun when pairing them with science books or trying to color real species we’ve read about. It turns into a low-pressure way to sneak in some extra observation and nature study.
Color by Number
The butterfly color by number from Homeschool Preschool keeps things simple, just four colors, but it’s a nice way to reinforce number recognition and color matching. We’ve used it as a calm morning starter or a quick in-between task.
Dot to Dot
The butterfly dot to dot worksheet from Simple Everyday Mom is great for working on number order and pencil control. Freddie used to love connecting the dots just to see what picture would appear, and it made number practice feel like a game.
Coloring Sheet
These butterfly coloring pages from Living Life & Learning range from detailed to very simple, which makes them ideal for mixed ages. I like having a few on hand for early finishers or those moments when a bit of quiet creativity is all we need.
Butterfly Word Puzzles
When we’re working on vocabulary or just need something a little more focused for quiet time, these butterfly-themed word puzzles are a solid go-to.
They sneak in spelling and problem-solving without it feeling like a lesson, great for early finishers or as part of a spring literacy center.
Word Search
The butterfly word search includes simple, themed words hidden in a grid—perfect for practicing letter recognition and spelling patterns. We’ve used it as a calm afternoon activity, and it’s always fun to see how competitive kids get trying to find all the words first.
Word Scramble
This butterfly word scramble is a bit trickier but just as fun. The jumbled words get kids thinking as they try to rearrange the letters to uncover insect-related terms. It’s great for building vocabulary and stretching their brains a bit, especially if you work through it together.
Books About Butterflies for Kids
We’ve found that pairing butterfly worksheets with picture books helps the learning stick, especially when kids are curious about what butterflies actually do.
These read-aloud butterfly books have been on repeat during our butterfly units, and each one ties in nicely with the printable activities.
- Caterpillar to Butterfly – A simple nonfiction pick that clearly walks through the life cycle. We usually read this before starting the life cycle worksheet, it’s straightforward and just the right length for preschool attention spans.
- Pinkalicious and the Little Butterfly – This one blends fiction and nature in a way younger kids really connect with. The story of caring for a butterfly until it’s ready to fly works well when we’re doing the scavenger hunt or life cycle coloring page.
- Make Way for Butterfly – A newer favorite with a gentle mix of facts and storytelling. It fits perfectly if you’re also planting or observing flowers, great for sparking questions about butterfly habitats.
- Little Ant and the Butterfly – This story follows a curious ant learning all about butterflies. It’s light but introduces basic ecology, and we’ve used it as a conversation starter before diving into labeling the parts of a butterfly.