Child in a red shirt with a preserved butterfly

Butterflies

A collection of resources about butterflies that can be integrated into other programs or exhibits on butterflies. These butterfly activities and resources focus on light, color, iridescence, pigmentation versus structural color, and technology inspired by nature.

Short Activities and Longer Programs

two children looking at Blue Morpho butterfly

Exploring Structures - Butterfly

In this activity, learners investigate how butterfly wings get their color and that some wings get their color from the nanoscale structures on the wings instead of pigments.
Looking at an opal through a scanning electron microscope

Colors at the Nanoscale: Butterflies, Beetles and Opals

In this activity, learners will be exposed to the term ‘Photonic Crystals,' explore some of the well-known photonic crystals in nature and will also be able observe one method that scientists use in trying to replicate this process.
Children looking at Gecko with magnifying glass

Biomimicry: From Nature to Nanotech

In this long activity, learners will engage in activities showing various natural phenomena that scientists and engineers have emulated to address human problems.
Two children applying sunblock onto a slip of black construction paper

DIY Nano: printable PDF version

In this series of activities, families of learners can experience and learn about nanoscale science, engineering, and technology at home or on the go!
Polarized Light activity with hands holding paper and polarizing tape materials up to the window

Light Activities

A compilation of public engagement activities that explore light visible to our eyes and other wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum.
Young girl stacks large blocks with images on them

Build a Giant Puzzle!

In this activity, learners assemble blocks to make images and discover how different objects are connected to nanotechnology.

Butterfly Videos

Zoom into a Blue Morpho Butterfly video

In this 3-minute video, the viewer zooms into a Blue Morpho Butterfly from macroscale to nanoscale.
Closeup photo of Blue Morpho Butterfly

Butterfly Blues video

In this O Wow Moments video, Mr. O talks about iridescence and Blue Morpho butterflies.

Posters and Graphics

Image showing the full butterfly's wing poster with annotation

Zoom Into a Butterfly Wing poster

An illustrated poster showing a butterfly's wing across ten orders of magnitude; various printing formats with and without annotation included along with formative evaluation.
Poster of abstract art featuring large objects and zooming into the atomic level

Combined Zoom Poster: Everything Is Made of Atoms - Butterfly, Bloodstream, Computer Chip

This poster features zooms into three familiar objects - a human heart, a butterfly's wing, and a laptop computer.
What is nano about museum labels thumbnails of signs featuring signs of hot-chocolate, hamburger, glass of water, a window, and a toilet

Nano Museum Labels (Graphic Signs)

These museum graphic labels highlight everyday connections to nanoscale science including: chocolate, food packaging, water, a window, paint, a toilet, a soap bubble, fashion, a sock, a pencil, a butterfly, a gecko, a laptop, an elevator, and a local city.

Exhibits

Birdseye view of Nano exhibition with visitors.

Nano Mini-Exhibition

Nano is an interactive, small footprint exhibition that engages family audiences in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology.
Large blue and orange interactive exhibit that features the properties of blue butterfly wings on the nanoscale. Exhibit has three boxes with preserved butterflies under a light and a large sign going into detail on nanostructures

Changing Colors exhibit

An exhibit that was part of the Nanotechnology: What's the Big Deal? exhibition that shows how some high-tech nanomaterials mimic natural phenomena.

Biomimicry Resources

Photonics and LCDs Inspired by Iridescent and Structural Color Properties
Children looking at Gecko with magnifying glass

Biomimicry

A collection of biomimicry resources and examples of how technology can imitate natural phenomena and processes. Public engagement biomimicry activity examples include: self-cleaning surfaces and fabrics inspired by the lotus leaf effect observed in some plant leaves, sticky materials inspired by gecko feet, photonics crystals using structural color similar to the iridescent properties of some insects, bird feathers, and shells.

Butterfly Scientific Images

Scientific Image - Overlapping Scales of Blue Morpho Butterfly Wing

Magnified image of a blue morpho butterfly wing using a Scanning Electron Microscope.

Scientific Image - Blue Morpho Butterfly Wing (reflected light)

Magnified image of a blue morpho butterfly's wing using an Optical Microscope.

Scientific Image - Blue Morpho Butterfly Wing (non-reflected light)

Magnified image of a blue morpho butterfly's wing using an Optical Microscope.

Scientific Image - SEM Image of Blue Morpho Butterfly Wing

Magnified image of a blue morpho butterfly wing using a Scanning Electron Microscope.

Scientific Image - Nanoscale Structures on a Blue Morpho Butterfly Wing

Magnified image of a blue morpho butterfly wing using a Scanning Electron Microscope.

Scientific Image - Nanoscale Structures on a Blue Morpho Butterfly Wing

Magnified image of a blue morpho butterfly wing using a Scanning Electron Microscope.

Scientific Image - Blue Morpho Butterfly Wing

Magnified image of a Blue Morpho butterfly wing.

Scientific Image- Blue Morpho Butterfly Wing Ridges

Magnified image of blue morpho butterfly wing ridges using a Scanning Electron Microscope.

Scientific Image - Blue Morpho Butterfly Wing Microribs

Magnified image of blue morpho butterfly wing microribs using a Scanning Electron Microscope.

Scientific Image - Photonic Crystal

Magnified image of a photonic crystal using a Scanning Electron Microscope.

Scientific Image - Blue Morpho Butterfly Wing Scales

Magnified image of blue morpho butterfly wing scales using a Scanning Electron Microscope.

Scientific Image - Blue Morpho Butterfly

Photograph of a blue morpho butterfly using an optical camera.

Annual Events and Themes 

Online workshop recording

Citizen science projects

More Resources

Working with STEM Experts Guide cover including an image of expert puring a liquid and using a strainer with a girl and her family at a museum public event

Finding STEM Experts