Quick answer
Lightly draw a big guide circle in pencil and place four stages around it: at the top the egg on a leaf, on the right the caterpillar made of connected circles, at the bottom the chrysalis hanging from a twig, and on the left the butterfly with symmetrical wings. Connect the stages with curved arrows numbered 1 to 4 and erase the guide circle at the end.
⬇️ Download the full-size example drawing for printing (PNG)
The butterfly life cycle, simply
A butterfly lays a tiny egg on a leaf; a caterpillar hatches, eats leaves and grows fast; then it hangs itself up and turns into a still chrysalis; after some days a colorful butterfly comes out, flies away and lays new eggs. This full change is called complete metamorphosis, and it is one of the loveliest things a child learns in science.
Materials
A4 paper, a pencil, an eraser, a thin black pen, colored pencils (green, yellow, brown, orange, blue, purple).
Drawing steps
1. Guide circle: draw a big circle with a very light line in the middle of the page; the stages will sit on its edge and it will be erased later. 2. Stage 1 — the egg: at the top of the circle draw a leaf (an oval with a pointed tip and a vein in the middle) and a tiny egg on it: a small circle with faint vertical lines. 3. Stage 2 — the caterpillar: on the right draw 6 touching circles in a slightly curved row; the first one a bit bigger for the head, with two eyes and two tiny antennae, and short legs under each circle. 4. Stage 3 — the chrysalis: at the bottom draw a short twig and, hanging from it, a long oval with a pointed end at the bottom and faint curved lines on it. 5. Stage 4 — the butterfly: on the left draw a thin oval body, then two big upper wings and two smaller lower wings — draw the left side first, then copy it on the right to keep the symmetry. Add two curved antennae with tiny balls at the ends. 6. Arrows and numbers: draw 4 curved arrows turning clockwise between the stages, write the numbers 1 to 4 inside small circles, then erase the guide circle.
Coloring
The leaf and egg in light green and yellow, the caterpillar green with yellow dots, the chrysalis light brown, and the butterfly in only two colors so the symmetry stays easy (orange and black, for example). Leave the background white.
Extra ideas for homework
- Write an approximate duration under each stage as in the school book (egg: days; caterpillar: weeks; chrysalis: 1–2 weeks).
- Draw a nibbled leaf next to the caterpillar to show that it eats.
- For little ones: drawing the four stages in a single row from left to right is enough instead of the circle.
FAQ
What is the difference between a chrysalis and a cocoon?
In butterflies the resting stage is a chrysalis; a cocoon is the silk case moths spin. Some school books use the words loosely, so write whatever your child's book uses.
How do I make the wings symmetrical?
Fold the paper lightly down the middle before drawing, draw one wing with a strong line, then press the paper so the lines leave a trace on the other side and trace over it.
How many stages for grade 1?
Only four stages, without durations.
From school drawings to a little artist
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