Add a little pizzaz to your calendar this spring with these free printable butterfly calendar numbers! Be sure to add them to your collection of calendar numbers so you have them on hand when you need them.
The butterfly calendar numbers are perfect for your next butterfly theme or as part of a bug unit! You can even pull the colorful cards out just to add a whimsical touch to the classroom calendar. Regardless of when you use them, the free printable number cards can be used to explore a multitude of early math concepts.
The butterfly numbers can be used for lots of fun and hands-on learning activities for the kids. And they allow for easy differentiation to suit the needs of individual students. Cute, colorful, versatile, and full of so much learning potential? That’s a win in my book!
Read through this post for some tips and tricks on how to prep the cards. I’ll also go over some of my favorite activity ideas using the butterfly number cards.
Then scroll down and fill out the form at the bottom of this post. You’ll receive a copy of the free printable in your email. Next, print and prep the cards. And they’re ready for the kids to use – easy as that!
Butterfly Calendar Numbers
Below, you’ll find simple instructions for prepping the butterfly calendar numbers along with some fun activity ideas. But please keep in mind that the number cards are super versatile. And you don’t have to do things the same way I do.
Feel free to make adjustments based on your specific group of students, materials you have on-hand, or just personal preference. There’s no “right” way to use the butterfly numbers, as long as the kids are learning and having fun!
How to Prep the Butterfly Number Cards
Prepping the butterfly calendar numbers is super simple. You’ll only need a few things to get started. And, as a teacher, you might already have everything you need in your classroom! Here’s what you’ll need (I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post):
See? Just a few items and you’re ready to prep! Now that you’ve got all of the supplies on-hand, it’s time to prep the cards. It’s really simple. Here’s what to do:
- First, save the printable to your computer.
- Then print out as many copies as you’d like.
- After that, cut the individual butterfly numbers apart.
- Finally, laminate all the numbers.
If you’ll recall, I mentioned there are lots of different ways to put the butterfly number cards to use. And That’s true! But your list of materials might change based on your activities of choice. Here are a few other things that will come in handy:
- Pocket calendar
- Wall calendar
- Linear calendar
- Classroom set of whiteboards
- Dry-erase markers
- Butterfly counters
- Dry pasta
- Liquid watercolors
- Plastic bin
- Play sand
- Shallow sensory tray
The supplies I’ve listed are based on the activities I’ve outlined below. You can edit or alter the list based on how you choose to use the cards.
How to Use the Butterfly Calendar Numbers with Kids
Now, on to my favorite part – using the butterfly numbers with the kids! The first, and most obvious use of the butterfly cards is right there in the title of this post. Use them as calendar numbers!
The butterfly number cards pair well with traditional wall calendars, pocket chart calendars, and linear calendars. The 3-inch square size tends to fit most classroom calendars. If they don’t quite fit your calendar, you can always just adjust your printer settings to make the cards smaller or larger.
Some teachers like to start the day with a circle time routine which includes learning about the date. If that’s you, consider using the butterfly calendar numbers as a tool for the kids’ learning. They can take turns putting the date in the correct place each day.
Expand on the learning by having students count to the number of the day’s date with you. They can clap, stomp, or jump along as you count each number. Alternatively, have students practice number formation by writing the number on a personal whiteboard and holding it up to show you.
Some teachers aren’t huge fans of circle time and others don’t include the calendar in their learning objectives. And both of those scenarios are perfectly okay! In that case, just place the butterfly numbers on your classroom calendar at the beginning of the month. If students ask about it, great! If not, the calendar can serve as your own, personal reference. Or as a countdown to summer break!
A Few More Options for the Butterfly Numbers
As I mentioned above, there are several ways to use the butterfly calendar numbers apart from the calendar. They’re a great tool for teaching all sorts of early math concepts! Here are a few of my favorite activities:
- Have kids put the cards from 1 to 35. Then, once they’ve mastered that, challenge them to line the cards up in reverse order!
- Print out two sets of the number cards. Then set up a memory-matching game. Start with a small batch of matching cards and add more as the players progress.
- Pair the cards with a set of small butterfly counters or pompoms. Then let the children practice one-to-one correspondence by placing the appropriate number of butterflies next to each number card.
- Add the butterfly calendar numbers to a butterfly sensory bin. The kids can hunt for the numbers as they interact with the sensory materials.
- Create a shallow sensory writing tray with sand. Have students practice number formation, writing the numbers in the sand with their fingers and using the butterfly numbers as reference.
I’m sure you’ve got some interesting activity ideas of your own. If so, please share them with us in the comments below!
What are Kids Learning with the Butterfly Calendar Numbers?
The butterfly number cards can lead to some super fun activities. And I’m certainly not opposed to planning kids’ activities “just” for fun. In fact, I would encourage it! But these number cards are full of so many learning opportunities, too!
Here are a few of the skills and concepts you can expect to encounter with the butterfly calendar numbers:
- Counting
- Number identification
- Number formation
- Numerical order
- One-to-one correspondence
- Patterns
- Skip counting
- Calendar skills
- Matching
This list is just a few concepts the kids can learn. It’s certainly not exhaustive. It really depends on how you plan to incorporate the butterfly number cards into your lesson plans.
Don’t forget to request a copy of the butterfly calendar numbers at the bottom of this post.
More Butterfly Activities for Kids
The butterfly calendar numbers can be used in so many fun and meaningful learning activities! But, perhaps you’re looking to expand on the butterfly theme with even more activities. Here are some other fun, hands-on butterfly activities:
- Free Printable Butterfly Beginning Sounds
- Chromatography Butterfly Science for Kids
- Butterfly Art Activities for Preschoolers
- Bubble Art Butterflies
- Free Butterfly Lifecycle Printable
- Counting Butterflies Roll and Cover Math Game
- Butterfly Sensory Activities
- Parts of a Butterfly Play Dough Mat
- Butterfly Books for Preschool
So many butterfly activities! And they cover a wide variety of early learning concepts. You can easily form some well-rounded lesson plans around butterflies.
Butterfly Lesson Plans
Let my sister site, Preschool Teacher 101, save you tons of planning time! We’ve created hundreds of done-for-you preschool lesson plans, activity packs, and other teaching resources. Our mission is to help reduce the stress teachers experience by providing them with with meaningful, hands-on lesson plans and activities.
Check out our Preschool Butterfly Lesson Plans. They’re full of hands-on reading, math, and science activities, all geared toward learning about the lifecycle of a butterfly. Click on the image below to learn more about this product.
The Butterfly Lesson Plans are perfect for spring! But don’t let the fun end there. Check out some of our other spring-inspired products. Click the images below for information about each product.
If these products are in line with your teaching style, consider a Preschool Teacher 101 membership. Members get regular access to our products at a steeply discounted rate!
Free Printable Butterfly Calendar Numbers
This free printable is available to members of Fun-A-Day’s free email community. If you’re a member, fill out the form below and the download links will be sent to your inbox. If you’re not a member, you can join us by entering your information in the form. Then you’ll receive the printable butterfly calendar numbers as a welcome gift!
Be sure to check out my printing FAQ page if you run into any issues.
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