For the last five years, we've been making our Easter eggs educational. Instead of simple colors and patterns (which we love too!) we've been taking the opportunity that a little crafting time provides to learn about everything from . . .
. . . this year's expanded look at butterflies. . .
. . . to bugs, stars. . .
. . . and planets. . .
. . . birds. . .
. . . plants. . .
. . . and continents. We've had a lot of fun, and now we've compiled all the tutorials into one post so you can too!
Educational Eggs:
1. Butterflies:
- Hard boiled or dry blown out white eggs
- Your favorite egg dye and paints (we're partial to these natural dyes and paints but whatever you have on hand would work perfectly)
- Clear or white crayons (we used these batik crayons)
- Your favorite books on butterflies
Full Color Plant Studies in a Cameo Frame:
Submerge an egg in dye leaving the top face above the liquid. Leave it in the dye until it reaches the color you like and then remove it and dry it off. I like the way it looks when there is a little color variation around the edge of the oval frame so I dipped most of my cameo eggs in two colors. Then, use a butterfly guide to help you copy the coloration of your favorite species.
Batik Butterflies:
Lightly sketch the butterfly you would like to make on your egg with pencil. Decide which colors you would like to be in each section. Start with the lightest color (white or yellow). If you are starting with white, color the sections you would like to remain white with the wax crayon and then submerge your egg in the next lightest color. Follow the same process for the parts of the butterfly you would like to remain that color. Make sure to think about what colors will look like when they combine. for instance, if your egg is already yellow, you will get green not blue if you dip it in the blue dye.
2. Insects and Bugs:
Follow the tutorial here to learn more about entomology!
3. Planets:
Get a better understanding of our solar system with this egg dyeing project.
4. Constellations and Geography:
Learn about the stars and the continents with this fun egg decorating activity!
5. Plants:
Become an expert in botany by making beautiful botanical eggs like these.
6. Birds:
Give your feathered friends a little attention in the classroom by making these wonderful tributes to their beauty.
~ Sarah
*Last time in Crafts and Activities: Plant Dyeing and Crabapple Fairies
