oshc activities
Bug Day / Pasta Butterfly Life Cycle

Pasta Butterfly Life Cycle

Younger children glue pasta shapes onto card to show the stages of a butterfly's life cycle, from egg to butterfly.

How to run it

  1. Divide card into four sections.
  2. Talk about each life cycle stage.
  3. Glue small pasta for eggs, spiral pasta for the caterpillar, shell pasta for the chrysalis and bow pasta for the butterfly.
  4. Label each stage.
  5. Add arrows to show the cycle.

You will need

  • pasta shapes
  • card
  • PVA glue
  • markers
Make it easier or harderPre-label stages for younger children; others can add written descriptions.
SafetySmall pasta pieces can be a choking hazard; supervise and check for gluten allergies.
My Time Our Place · Outcome 4Children learn about life cycles through hands-on making.

Fits these theme days

Bug DayScience WeekGardening DaySeasons DayCraft Day

More like this

After School Quick STEM · Science Week · Science Day +3

Cup Tower Book Challenge

Children engineer a tower from cups and card strong enough to hold a book, testing ideas about balance, load and stable bases.

IndoorModerateGrab-and-goPrep to Year 6After School Quick STEM · Science Week · Science Day +2

Twisted Paper Loop Magic

Children make a twisted paper loop, predict what will happen when they cut it, then discover the surprising one-sided shape that results.

IndoorCalmGrab-and-goYears 4 to 6After School Quick STEM · Science Week · Science Day +3

Spaghetti and Tape Tower

Small teams build the tallest free-standing tower they can from dry spaghetti and tape, learning about triangles, bracing and teamwork.

IndoorModerateGrab-and-goYears 4 to 6All About Australia Day · Animal Theme · Aussie Outback Day +3

Kangaroo and Koala Masks

Younger children paint and decorate paper plate masks of kangaroos or koalas, talking about the features of each native animal.

IndoorCalmSome prepPrep to Year 3