Museum of Science, Boston

Books for Kids

  • A Drop of Water
    , by
    Walter Wick
  • Butterflies and Moths
    , by
    Dorling Kindersley
  • EyeWitness Butterfly & Moth
    , by
    Paul Whalley
  • The Ultimate Bubble Book
    , by
    Shar Levine

Contact Us

Contact the Discovery Center and Living Lab staff at livinglab@mos.org

Capillary Action Butterflies: Pre-Schoolers






  

    

  Capillary Action Butterflies can be a fun science activity for people of all ages. We provide these generalizations as guidelines about what children at different ages might do during Capillary Action explorations at the Discovery Center’s Experiment Station, in the kitchen at home, or at school.  Listed below are science and technology process skills that children may be practicing during their explorations. Please remember: each child develops at a different rate, so some children in each age group may be able to do some of the things described in the age group before or after their own. 


How might pre-schoolers explore Capillary Action?



  

      


  

    
Classify - Preschoolers




Preschoolers can discover that moths and butterflies are not the same.  


This activity provides opportunities to discuss some differences between butterflies and moths.  You can use pictures - in field guides and other books, or from the internet- to help as you and your child try to classify your creation as a 'moth' or 'butterfly'.


Butterflies vs. Moths


In nature, some butterflies are brightly colored, but others have very bland colors. Many real moths are dull, but some have very beautiful markings. Are the colors on the model you made more like a butterfly or a moth?


When deciding 'moth or butterfly?' it might help to know that butterflies are generally diurnal (active during the day), while moths are nocturnal (active at night).  When does your creation fly about?


Also see 'Model - Preschoolers' below.
  





  

    
Model - Preschoolers




Preschoolers can learn with their whole bodies by imitating a butterfly or a moth at rest.  


To try this at home, help kids hold their 'wings' like a butterfly does when sitting on a flower. 


Butterflies rest with their wings 'closed', while moths rest with their wings 'open' and stretched out from each side of the body.  


Can you rest your 'wings' (arms) like a butterfly?  How about resting them like you are a moth?
  





  

    
Observe - PreSchoolers




Preschoolers can observe the water as it moves through the paper.  


They can notice that the water moves to parts of the filter where they didn’t drop any water.

Preschoolers can look for and examine the small holes in the filter paper. If a grownup shows them how, they can get a closer look by using a magnifying glass.
  





  

    
Use Tools - Preschoolers




Preschoolers can probably control the amount of water that they release from the pipette in each 'drop'. They can practice making small droplets fall on the paper, one at a time, and then observe the water move through the paper.


Preschoolers can also learn to use a magnifying lens, with help from a grownup.  


The preschooler instinct is to put the lens close to their eye - adults can help out by holding the object to be examined near to the lens and then slowly moving the object away from their eye. Preschoolers can then move the lens along with the object in order to stay in focus (this also works for less-experienced Early-Elementary Schoolers).