The Truck Cat’s Butterflies: National Simultaneous Storytime Craft is a reflective and visually striking activity that blends symbolism, art, and comprehension. Inspired by the pivotal butterfly moment in The Truck Cat by Deborah Frenkel and Danny Snell, this meaningful task invites students to explore how a small event can lead to significant change—both in fiction and in life.

Check out this video below to see this resource in action.

After reading The Truck Cat, students will reflect on the moment when Tinka chases a butterfly—an action that ultimately leads to Mari and Yacoub’s fateful meeting. Using the included templates, students will create a silhouette image of Tinka gazing at three-dimensional butterflies. Beneath their artwork, they’ll write a paragraph explaining the symbolic importance of the butterfly, encouraging deep thinking about narrative meaning, character development and cause-and-effect in storytelling.

This craft supports both creative expression and written reflection, making it a powerful cross-curricular addition to your National Simultaneous Storytime activities. A printable banner is included to create a cohesive and visually stunning classroom display once the task is complete.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Make inferences about symbolism and character motivation
• ✅ Reflect on narrative cause-and-effect through written response
• ✅ Express comprehension and creativity through visual art
• ✅ Connect deeply with key story moments through personal reflection

What’s Included:

• Two ready-to-decorate backing pages featuring Tinka’s silhouette
• Cut-and-decorate silhouette options for student assembly
• Writing templates in 12mm and 9mm line widths
• Printable display banner for classroom use

Materials Needed:

• Printed templates
• Coloured card
• Scissors and glue
• Pencils or pens for reflective writing

How to Use:

• Read The Truck Cat with your class, discussing the butterfly moment and its impact on the story.
• Choose from the ready-to-decorate or cut-and-decorate craft options.
• Guide students in assembling their craft, using 3D butterflies to complete the image.
• Support students in writing a reflective paragraph about the butterfly’s symbolic importance.
• Mount the artwork and writing on coloured card and display using the included banner.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use as a follow-up to discussions on symbolism and theme
• 💡 Integrate into visual literacy or narrative comprehension lessons
• 💡 Create a corridor or bulletin board display that captures the beauty and meaning of small moments
• 💡 Use in conjunction with the other resources in our The Truck Cat: Book PACKAGE

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Discuss each of the guiding questions before writing to prompt critical thinking
• 💛 Allow students to personalise their butterflies and silhouettes for added engagement
• 💛 Use as a springboard for class discussion on how small actions can lead to big changes

The Truck Cat’s Butterflies: National Simultaneous Storytime Craft is a beautiful way to combine comprehension and creativity, helping students engage with story symbolism while creating a memorable classroom keepsake.