ROMKids Show: The One About Transformation

Audience

Families, Kids

Age

Audience

Families, Kids

Age

Tune in every Tuesday at 2:00 pm on Instagram Live as ROM Kids Coordinator and Camp Director Kiron Mukherjee combines his passion for children’s education with storytelling to bring to life science, history and art for you and your loved ones in the comfort of your own home. Kiron will share activities, easy at-home crafts, behind the scenes anecdotes and fun facts—all connected to the ROM collections.

This time on the ROMKids Show we’ll learn about the many ways the world transforms around us. We’ll look at how planets formed billions of years ago, how volcanic eruptions make new islands, and the curious journey of how caterpillars turn into butterflies. Then we’ll make our own paper towel art butterfly!

ROMKids Show: The One About Transformation

Materials

paper towel

washable markers

water and brush

scissors

clothespin

Step-by-step

Step 1

Draw a design on your paper towel with your washable markers. You can make a symmetrical design (same on both sides) like monarch butterfly wings, or go wild and make up something new!

Step 2

In a place that’s safe to get a bit messy, use your brush and water and dab at your paper towel. The paper towel will absorb the water, and colour on it will start to bleed into the colours transform into an entirely new piece of art!

Step 3

Once dry, fold your paper in half. Then on the open side, cut out your wing design. When you unfold your paper, you will find that the same wing design is on both sides.

Step 4

At this point you can use sharpies to decorate your wings with solid designs on top. If you have googly eyes, you can glue them to your clothespin, or do any other updates you would like. Once done, attach the clothespin to your wings. And there you go, your very own paper towel art butterfly!

As the ROMKids Coordinator & Camp Director, Kiron is the public face of the Royal Ontario Museum’s family and children’s programs. Kiron started volunteering at the ROM at age 14 and has never looked back. Though he majored in history at York University, Kiron also considers his early years as a ROMKids camper to be a highly formative part of his education. Now, he strives to provide engaging and educational kids’ programming so that future generations can look back on their ROM experiences as fondly as he has.