DIY: Butterfly kindness rocks

Make a Rosh Hashanah version of kindness (chesed) rocks!

The Hebrew word for butterfly is Par-Par. We thought it would be special for children to take a "butterfly" home from the butterfly garden (read how butterflies can help children learn about Rosh Hashanah here), so it could watch over them as they grow and change throughout the New Year.

In our take-home version of a butterfly, we decided to make them out of rocks - kindness (Chesed) rocks!

It's really easy to make a butterfly rock! First have your child paint a rock. Then help them glue on google eyes (a low-temp hot glue gun works best)! Next come the wings, which are made by folding one inch sides into a 3 inch strip of duck tape. With the center sticky tape side up, stick it to the bottom of the rock. There you have it! A butterfly rock!

The most special part of this project comes next when your child creates a habitat for the pet butterfly rock! Find a recycled a box, and let your child fill it with straw grass, flowers and pebbles. When we make this special environment for the butterfly, children learn about the Jewish value Tza'ar Ba'alei Chayim (kindness to animals...and insects too) and G'milut Chasadim, (acts of loving-kindness).

You can read more about how butterflies help children learn about Rosh Hashanah here and how to make your own DIY butterfly wings. Discover more family outings and activities for the New Jewish Year, like a visit to a honeybee farm, a special apple and honey picnic breakfast, a sweet way to say goodbye to mistakes and a Birthday of the World nature walk! Let us know how you’re celebrating Rosh Hashanah in the comments below!

Shana Tova! Happy New Year

~Jennifer