Caterpillar Curriculum Theme

Caterpillar Painting!

10/20/2013

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Painting with Caterpillars

Materials needed:

little fuzzy caterpillars
green paper
paint
small paper plates
leaves

Directions: Pour one color per plate, about 3 tablespoons.

Set-up:
Display pictures of caterpillars around the art table, maybe a jar with caterpillars on a branch. (You can easily make this with fake caterpillars and silk leaves if you can’t find live ones.)

Directions:
Let the children hold the fuzzy caterpillar and dab it in the paint, then on to the paper.
Some will print with the caterpillar, some will smear.

The process is more important than the product.

Addition:
As a two-step process you could provide small cut out or purchased leaves for the children to glue their picture when they are done painting.

Literacy component: As the children are creating their picture, listen and write down interesting comments. Attach these to the back of the picture.

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Tissue Paper Caterpillar

10/19/2013

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Here is what you will need:

tissue paper cut into little circles
googly eyes
watered down glue (Elmer's worked great
construction paper
paint brushes

Have your child use the brushes to brush on a small amount of watered down glue directly onto the paper, and glue down one tissue paper circle for a head.
For the rest of the body parts, have your child brush some glue onto the tissue paper already on the paper then lay another circle on top.
Glue on googly eyes, and draw in a mouth, and legs and hang up your caterpillar!

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Caterpillar Songs

10/19/2013

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The Cocoon
I found a cocoon
That a caterpillar made,
Fastened to a leaf
Hanging in the shade.
He barely had room
To wiggle or wag,
Like me zipped up
In my sleeping bag.

I looked each time
That I passed his way,
But he never budged
Until just today.
Something happened!
He wagged and wiggled

And then climbed out
And carefully jiggled
Small wet wings
That grew as they dried.
He'd turned to a butterfly
Inside!

Caterpillar, Caterpillar
(to the tune of "Motor Boat, Motor Boat")
Caterpillar, caterpillar, long and slow.
Caterpillar, caterpillar eat and grow.
Caterpillar, caterpillar close your eyes.
Caterpillar, caterpillar change your size.
Caterpillar, caterpillar where'd you go?

Funny Little Caterpillar
Funny little caterpillar
crawling on the ground.
Funny little caterpillar
nowhere to be found.
Though we've looked and looked
and hunted everywhere around!

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Healthy Caterpillar Snack

10/19/2013

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Make eating a healthy snack fun! Slice an orange and add raisins for eyes and feet

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Life Cycle of the Caterpillar

10/19/2013

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Use these cards to build language and knowledge.

Read the book: “From Caterpillar to Butterfly”
by: Deborah Heiligman and Weissman

Materials needed:

3x5 index cards
pictures of the life cycle of the caterpillar (butterfly)
glue
marker
laminate or contact paper
construction paper

Directions for nomenclature cards: Glue duplicate pictures to a pair of individual cards. Laminate cards.

On one card write at the bottom what the picture is. (Use one word.) Laminate cards.

The other card will only have the picture.
Take a card, cut it in half, and write the word that goes along with the picture.

Directions, parts of the butterfly: Glue duplicate butterfly pictures, to a pair of 8x11 pieces of construction paper. The picture should almost fill the space. Laminate picture.
Label the parts of the butterfly on one picture, leave the other blank.
Cut a number of cards in half lengthwise. Write the names of the different parts of the butterfly. Laminate cards.
Instructions: Show the children the card with the description at the bottom. Let the child lead the discussion about what is on the card, and introduce the word card. Set out the card with just the picture. Let the child lead the discussion about what is on the card. Hand the child the word card and let them place it on the picture.

After introducing every card, show the children the life cycle of the caterpillar (butterfly). Let them try to put them in order. Gently assist if needed.
Set cards in one basket, and words in another basket. Place together in a tray.
Let the children use the cards on their own or in pairs. Gently assist only when needed.
Use the same process with the parts of the butterfly.

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Caterpillar Art

10/19/2013

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Caterpillar Cocoon

10/19/2013

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This is a good activity to help teach children about Cocoons.

Some caterpillars wind a silk like substance around themselves to protect them while they are a chrysalis.

This activity promotes fine motor skills as well as some insight to the life cycle of a butterfly.

This craft only needs a Popsicle stick and some yarn.

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The Very Hungry Caterpillar Math

10/19/2013

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Provide cut outs of the food that the Very Hungry Caterpillar ate giving the children the same number of each item.

Ask the children questions about the food.

How many pieces of food did the caterpillar eat through?
How many pieces of fruit did he eat?
How many oranges?
How many things were not fruit?
How many healthy choices did he make?
How many unhealthy choices did he make?
How many days from when he hatched till he turned into a butterfly?

It is easy to incorporate a discussion about healthy choices as well as the days of the week.

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Caterpillars are crawling everywhere!

10/19/2013

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Materials needed:

pipe cleaners (multiple colors)
sticks
leaves (real are best but construction leaves work just as well)
play-dough
paper plates

Making caterpillars:
First bend one end of the pipe cleaner over about 2 inches. (Older children will have fun doing this.) Wind the rest of the pipe cleaner around the length of the bent section. Tah Dah, a caterpillar!

Alternative caterpillars:
Cut 2 to 3 inch pieces of pipe cleaner. Let the children figure out how to wind the pipe cleaner around the stick themselves (and they will).

Play-dough:
Use your favorite recipe, any color. Children will each need a clump the size of a baseball. (Let the children make their own ball.)

Leaves:
Use fresh leaves, paper leaves, or store bought leaves (If you use store bought leaves you might have to cut a tiny hole to go over the stick).

Sticks:
Collect sticks on a walk, or bring in from home

Instructions

Set-up:
Display pictures of caterpillars on branches and leaves around the art table. Do not tell the children what they are making. Let them discover and design freely. Maybe put a jar of live caterpillars with twigs and leaves in the middle of the table. If you have seen caterpillars in the trees, go for a caterpillar hunt.

Have the children place the play-dough on the plate in a clump where ever they want.

Show the children how they can push the leaf over the stick at different heights, if they need instruction. Most children can figure this out themselves. Let the children use as many leaves and caterpillars as they feel are needed for their creation. If there is a limited supply, only set out the number allowed for each child, but give them several of each item.

Use smaller pieces of pipe cleaner to attach caterpillars to the stick or glue on to leaves.

When dry, if glue is used, let the children arrange the sticks in the play-do.

Some children may want to put them in the play-dough, or glue them to the plate, that’s awesome. Let them create their own sculpture.

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