Color by Number Butterfly

This color by number butterfly is a fun mix of puzzle and art. Each part of the page has a number, and a color key at the bottom tells you which crayon to use. Follow the key and a bright butterfly appears with orange wings, pink lower wings and yellow spots. It uses just five colors and big spaces, so it suits ages 4 to 8.

The butterfly fills most of the sheet. Kids who can read the numbers 1 to 5 can do this on their own. It takes around 20 minutes.

Who should try it

Early learners get number practice here without any worksheet feel. Each space asks a child to read a number, look at the key and then pick the matching color. That is a lot of thinking for something that feels like play.

Teachers can use it at a math center or for fast finishers. It also works well for kids who feel unsure about art, because they know just what to do. Their picture turns out great, and they feel proud.

How to use this color by number butterfly

Look at the box along the bottom of the page. Each number sits inside a small circle with its color name next to it. For this sheet, 1 means blue, 2 means orange, 3 means yellow, 4 means pink and 5 means green.

Gather those five crayons before you begin. Then find every 1 and color those spaces. Move on to the next number when you are done. Going in order keeps it simple.

No pink crayon? Red pressed lightly works well. You can also make your own key and pick five new colors.

Tips for young puzzlers

• Lay the five crayons in order, next to the key.
• Do the big background last, because it takes the longest.
• Have your child say each number out loud before coloring.
• Color lightly over the numbers, so they can still be read.

Butterfly facts and a bit of history

Monarch butterflies can fly up to 3,000 miles each fall, from Canada and the United States down to Mexico. That is an amazing trip for an insect that weighs less than a paper clip. Butterflies also taste with their feet, which helps them find the right plants.

The idea of painting by numbers took off in the 1950s, when a company in Detroit began selling kits. Dan Robbins, an artist who worked there, is known for making the first ones. The kits became a huge hit across America. You can read about them on Wikipedia.

More ways to learn with this page

Practice math by counting spaces. How many are marked 3? How many are marked 4? Which number shows up most? Older kids can add them all up, or make a bar graph on the back of the page.

Try the butterfly life cycle. Draw an egg, a caterpillar, a chrysalis and a butterfly around the finished picture, and number each stage. This links science with a bit of writing.

Make it a game for two. One child calls out a number, and the other colors one space with that number. Then they swap.

Talk about symmetry as well. Fold the page down the middle of the body, and the two sides match. Then look for other things with matching sides, such as a leaf or your own face.

For kids still learning their numbers, make it easier. Put a small dot of color next to each number on the key, then let your child match by color first. Once that feels easy, cover the dots and try again with the numbers alone. Those who already know numbers can swap the digits for simple sums, such as 1 plus 1 for orange. Write your own sums in pencil on a blank copy, and you will have a free math worksheet that looks like art. Many children will do ten sums this way, even some who groan at a regular worksheet.

Keep going

This color by number butterfly is one of our free printables for kids. There is a similar puzzle with a fish. For a page with no numbers, try our detailed butterfly coloring page.

Questions