What You’ll Need

• Shallow dish (such as a pie pan or a saucer from a plant pot)
• Rich soil
• Flat rocks (light- and dark-colored)
• Sponges
• Scissors
• Water 

What to Do

1. Spread a thin layer of soil in the dish.
2. Arrange the rocks in the dish.
3. Cut the sponge into shapes, then place them between the rocks.
4. Pour water on the sponges so that some of the water seeps into the soil below. Add just enough so that there’s no standing water.
5. Place your butterfly puddle in a sunny area near flowers. Try to keep it out of the wind. Make sure it stays moist.

Extend the Fun

Younger children: Sit with your child and just watch the butterflies. After you silently observe the puddle together, talk about the different sizes and colors of the butterflies. If there’s one your child is fascinated by, look up more information about that type.

Older children: Give your child colored pencils and sketch paper. She can sketch the different butterflies she sees at the puddle. Encourage her to write down what else she observes, such as the time of day the butterflies come and how long they stay at the puddle.