#1061. Mother's Day Butterfly and Poem

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Posted Tue Apr 27 21:00:09 PDT 1999 by Elaine Magud (Magud@inreach.com).
Joshua Cowell School, Manteca, CA USA

Butterfly Handprint and Poem
Handprint: You will need at least 3 colors of tempera paint and black.
White construction paper - brushes

Have the child open his hand and spread his fingers.
The body of the butterfly is painted in black. Start with the tip of the child's middle finger and paint all the way to the bottom of the palm.
Next color the palm on both sides of the black line the first color - I talk about symmetry as I paint.
Then paint the thumb and pinky finger with the second color. Lastly paint the last two remaining fingers with the third color.
I like to have at least 6 colors available so that all of the butterflies are different.

Next press the hand onto a piece of white construction paper. Make sure to keep the middle finger still and move the other fingers to expand the "wings" of the butterfly. ( I make sure my paper is big enough for two prints - I just print the first one and then move the hand to another area and print again - I use the second handprint as a bulletin board butterfly or sometimes hang from the ceiling).

When the paint dries you can add antennae with a marker.
Cut out butterfly and mount on a contrasting piece of construction paper with the following poem:

This isn't just a Butterfly
As you can plainly see.
I made it with my hand
Which is a part of me.
It comes with lots of Love
Especially to say
I hope you have a very
Happy Mother's Day

Author (Elaine Magud- and you have my permission to copy and use!)

These are very beautiful if laminated.