Even those of us who don’t like insects would have trouble not seeing the beauty in dragonflies. They are found all over the world and come in a variety of colours and sizes.
Today, on my walk, I spotted a dragonfly that had a red body and a larger one that was a green blue shade.
No matter what their size, they all have the same body plan: a head with 2 large eyes, a long and narrow abdomen and two pairs of clear, veined wings.
They are amazing fliers and have been clocked at very fast speeds. They are also able to fly backwards, change direction in mid air and hover for up to a minute.
Check out the varieties of dragonflies here.
Here’s how to make a dragonfly by using a Popsicle stick and a pompom. Check out the website before you start to get some ideas of all the beautiful colours they can be.
You can add a magnet to the bottom and attach it to your fridge or tie a thread behind the two sets of wings to make it “fly”.
Supplies:
- Popsicle stick
- Paint or felts
- Pompom
- 2 Movable eyes
- A sheet of white paper but opalescent wrapping paper makes extra beautiful wings
- Fine tip black marker
- Glue
- Scissors
Instructions:
- If your stick isn’t already pre-tinted, paint or colour the Popsicle stick in any colour you like.
- Cut out 4 wings in a tear drop shape. As dragonflies have large wings, make each one about half the length of the Popsicle stick.
- Draw a dotted line around the wings with a black marker.
- Glue the eyes side by side at the very front of the Popsicle. Next glue the pompom right behind the eyes. Behind the pompom glue the wings to the underside of the Popsicle stick putting 2 wings on each side.
As this dragonfly craft is so quick and easy, make more in all your favourite colours.
[Photograph by Linda Dunbar. Reproduction prohibited]
