CATERPILLAR SNACK
wrap any healthy dry snack food with green tissue paper. Tie the open
end with string. Leave the end long enough to allow you to tie it to
a tree branch. The children will have fun selecting their cocoon to
open and will enjoy eating the prize inside.
A
Caterpillar
Submitted by Sally
A Caterpillar
A caterpillar crawled to the top of a tree,
"I think I'll take a nap," said he.
Under a leaf he began to creep,
To spin his cocoon,
And he feel asleep.
All winter long he slept in his bed,
"Till Spring came along one day and said,
"Wake up, it's time to get out of bed,
So he opened his eyes that sunshiny day,
And he was a butterfly, and he flew away.
THE LITTLE CATERPILLAR
Tune: Itsy Bitsy Spider"
The little caterpillar climbed up into a tree (climb fingers of one
hand up other arm)
Spun his cocoon and slept so quietly (spin hands and sleep)
All through the winter he didn't make a sound (shake head no with finger front
of lips)
He dreamt of his new life when he'd be flying around. (pretend to sleep)
While he was sleeping the snow did gently fall (fingers wiggle down)
Winter came and went then he heard the robin's call
"Come on Mr. Butterfly, out of your cocoon -(hands to mouth and shout)
Spread your wings and fly for me while I sing my tune." (spread arms and wave)
CATERPILLAR SONG
Caterpillar, Caterpillar (Freer Jacques)
Children can act out the words to the song.
Caterpillar, Caterpillar,
crawl, crawl, crawl, crawl, crawl, crawl,
Crawling on the ground,
crawling all around,
crawl, crawl, crawl, crawl, crawl, crawl
Caterpillar, caterpillar
eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat,
eat all day,
eat all night,
eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat.
Caterpillar, caterpillar,
spin, spin, spin, spin, spin, spin,
spin a great cocoon,
spin a great cocoon,
spin, spin, spin, spin, spin, spin
Caterpillar, caterpillar,
sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep,
sleep in your cocoon,
sleep until you bloom,
sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep.
Caterpillar, caterpillar,
wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,
wiggle out of your cocoon,
wiggle till your through,
wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle.
Caterpillar, caterpillar,
fly, fly, fly, fly, fly, fly,
'cause your not a caterpillar,
your a great big butterfly,so,
fly, fly, fly, fly, fly, fly.
HANDI-PILLARS
Paper
Paint
Markers
To make this very cute caterpillar, make a palm print with yellow paint
to represent the caterpillar's head. Use a different color of
paint to make each hand print segment of the caterpillar's body, creating
a pattern. When the paint is dry, use a marker to add more details.
COCOON SURPRISE
Submitted by Stephanie
Materials:
Fingerpaint paper
Fingerpaints
Brown paper lunch bags
Stick or small branch (one for each child)
Brown and black tissue paper strips
Brown Yarn
Glue
Have the children fingerpaint using bright colors on large paper,
and let dry. When he children are gone for the day. cut the paper
into the shape of a butterfly. The next day, the children stuff a
brown paper lunch bag with scrap papers, and then glue long, thin
strips of brown and black tissue paper around the bag. When the children
are gone again, put their butterflies in the bag and twist the top.
When they return the next day, have them tie the top with brown yarn
and attach it to a stick. Display them. When you are ready to send
the cocoons home, attach a note to the parents asking them to talk
aboutthe stages of a caterpillar and what happens to the cocoon.
Tell them there is a surprise inside their cocoons. When they opem
the bags, imagine the looks of their faces when they find a butterfly
inside!!!
CHILDREN DRAMATIC PLAY COCOONS
Children can wrap each other in toilet paper (excluding their head)
so they can feel what it would be like to be a caterpillar in a
cocoon. Have them close their eyes and imagine that they are about to
become butterflies.Have them stretch their "wings" and tear through the toilet
papter cocoons.Recycle toilet paper to be used with a different project!
Caterpillar Song
(To the tune of the Addams Family theme song)
My tummy is fat (snap! snap!)
I like it like that (snap! snap!)
I wiggle around,
I jiggle around,
It's fun being fat. (snap! snap!)
Oh, I'm a fat caterpillar,
Such a fuzzy feller.
I like to eat and eat,
This leaf is such a treat.
(repeat from beginning)
ROLY-POLY CATERPILLAR
Roly-poly caterpillar (wiggle right pointer finger)
Into a corner crept, (place right pointer finger in left cupped hand)
Spun around himself a blanket (spin around)
Then for a long time slept. (place head on folded hands)
Roly-poly caterpillar
(wiggle right pointer finger)
Wakening by and by, ("stretch" right pointer finger)
Found himself with beautiful wings
Changed to a butterfly. (flutter arms like wings)
COCOON
Papier-Mache' Cocoon
Materials
Oblong balloons
Mixing bowl or shallow tub
water
flour or liquid laundry starch
strips of newspaper
scissors
brown paint
paintbrushes
scarf or pieces of fabric
3+
What to do
1. Blow up the balloons ahead of time.
2. In a bowl or tub, make a mixture of two parts water to one
part flour, or one part water to two parts liquid laundry starch.
3. Ask the children to dip strips of newspaper into to the mixture and
lay them across their balloon, covering it.
4. Allow to dry for one or two days.
5. When the newspaper has dried, cut a flap in the top and pop the balloon.
6. Have the children paint the outside of the balloon "cocoon" brown.
7. Help the children tie a scarf or piece of fabric into the shape of
a butterfly.
8. When the cocoon is dry, invite the children to place the butterfly
inside.
Caterpillar, Caterpillar (sing to the tune of "Teddy Bear,
Teddy Bear")
Caterpillar, caterpillar (arms up high)
Turn around. (turn around)
Caterpillar, caterpillar (all fall down)
slither on the ground. (wiggle on the floor)
Caterpillar, caterpillar (stand up)
Spin a co-coon. (twirl around)
Caterpillar, caterpillar (sit down)
Sleep until noon. (pretend to sleep)
Changing Caterpillar (sing to the tune of "Mary Had a Little
Lamb")
I eat leaves so green and long, green and long, green and long.
I eat leaves so green and long. They help me grow up big and strong.
Fast I spin so one day soon, one day soon, one day soon,
Fast I spin so one day soon, you'll find I've spun a big cocoon.
My body changes while I lie, while I lie, while I lie.
My body changes while I lie, so I can be a butterfly.
Books:
Bugs! by David T. Greenberg (This one is gross and the kids LOVE IT!)
I'm a Caterpillar by Jean Marzollo
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
The Grouchy Lady Bug by Eric Carle
Bugs, Bugs, Bugs by Bob Barner
Amazing Bugs; Sticker Activity Book Author: Time
Life Books
Bugs, Beetles, and Butterflies Author: Harriet Ziefert,Harriet
Zeifert
Let's Look at Bugs Author: Nicola Tuxworth (Board Book)
Crunchy Caterpillars
Spread PNB on celery sticks or bread sticks, and then sprinkle coconut
over it that has been colored with green food coloring.
Fuzzy Wuzzy Creepy Crawly
Fuzzy wuzzy, creepy crawly
caterpillar funny.
You will be a butterfly
when the days are sunny.
Winging, flinging,
dancing, springing.
Butterfly so yellow.
You were once a caterpillar,
wiggly, wiggly fellow.
Lillian Schulz
Only My Opinion
Is a caterpillar ticklish?
Well, it's always my belief
that he giggles, as he wiggles
across a hairy leaf.
Monica Shannon
Caterpillar
(Let the words describe the actions)
Little fuzzy caterpillar
In your warm cocoon
The cold winter's over and you'll be hatching soon.
Then you'll spread your wings
On a warm summer's day
And wave us all good-by
As you fly, fly away.
LIVE COCOONS TO BUTTERFLIES
Submitted by Marilyn
The number for the butterflies is 1-800-live-bug. It is a very
enjoyable activity for both the teacher and the children. The
entire process, from start to finish is approximately 17-20 days. That
is relatively short. When you place the order over the phone,
ask the person about the temperature requirements. I only know
that it has to be at least 55 degrees to release
them into the air.
There are so many wonderful activities that you can work into the development
of the butterflies that it is almost endless. We have a releasing "ceremony" on
the day that we let the butterflies go and invite the moms to attend. It
is special. Please contact me if I can help you with anything else.
Releasing Butterflies
Today was the day to release our butterflies back to nature. Since we
have been enjoying watching their development, I wanted to make something special
for the occasion. It was a beautiful day in New York just right to set
them free.
A Fun Caterpillar:
You will need a straw that has a paper covering. Squish the paper covering
down to the bottom of the straw. (Just as if you were going to use
it) Take the straw paper the rest of the way off. You should have
a little squished tunnel resembling a caterpillar. Now, take a drop
or two of water and drop it right onto this paper caterpillar. Look--IT
MOVES--Just like a caterpillar.
Estimation:
Estimation jar filled with caterpillars (those styrofoam peanuts again, decorated
with dots and lines).
VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR
Submitted by Mary of the KOS Loop
We have had fun doing activities based on the book The Very Hungry
Caterpillar by Eric Carle.
I made felt board pieces from the story so the children could re-tell
the
story themselves. I got my patterns for pieces from the book 2's Experience
Felt Board Fun by Liz and Dick Wilmes. This book has great patterns if
you
aren't very good at drawing, like me!
We made pictures of caterpillars using round sponges for the body
and our
finger tips to add details- face, legs. Then we used the pictures to
make
our own version of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Each child picked a food
that the caterpillar found to eat. Some of the foods our caterpillar
found
were cornbread muffins, hot dogs, yummy pizza and doughnuts. At the end
our
caterpillar turned into a butterfly and flew home to her Mom. The children
have enjoyed being able to "read" this book by themselves.
We made fruit prints with some of the fruits from the beginning of
the
story.
Everyone brought in their favorite piece of fruit. We counted
the different
kinds of fruit then made a graph. After that we made fruit salad for
snack
time.
We used nap time blankets to act out this poem-
Fuzzy wuzzy caterpillar into a corner will creep.
He'll spin himself a blanket and then go fast to sleep.
Fuzzy wuzzy caterpillar wakes up by and by,
To find he has wings of beauty, changed to a butterfly.
We used sequencing cards to tell the story. We had these pictures
on cards-
egg, small caterpillar, food and a leaf, big, fat caterpillar, cocoon and a
beautiful butterfly.
We made a caterpillar with little balls of colorful tissue paper glued
to a
big popsicle stick. We used a little styrofoam ball for the head and
added
a face with markers. A toothpick broken in half were poked into the head for
antenna.
We colored coffee filters with markers then sprayed them with water.
When
the filters were dry we gathered them in the middle with a pipe cleaner to
make a butterfly.
Egg Carton Caterpillars: Cut off the tops of cardboard egg
cartons and save them for other uses. Then cut the bottom sections
of the egg cartons in half lengthwise. Turn the sections over
and have the children paint them green, brown or orange (or whatever
color they desire) to make caterpillar bodies. Help them poke pipe
cleaners into the tops of their caterpillar heads to make antennae.
Then have the children draw eyes and mouths on their caterpillars with
felt-tip markers.
Pattern Caterpillars: Cut a large number of 1 inch circles
from black and orange construction paper. Have the children create
caterpillars by gluing the circles together, alternating colors to
form patterns. Let them add circle stickers for eyes and construction
paper antennae, if desired.
Read the poem below. Then ask the children what they would eat
if they were hungry caterpillars.
What do caterpillars do?
Nothing but chew and chew.
What to caterpillars know?
Nothing much but how to grow.
They just eat what by and by
Will make them be a butterfly.
But this is more than I can do
However much I chew and chew!
Caterpillar Crawl: Have the children form a "caterpillar" by
lining up in a row on their knees. Ask each child to hold onto the
back or the legs of the person in front of her. Then have the
children crawl together in a line by taking steps first with their
right knees, then with their left knees.
Sleeping Caterpillars: Bring in a sleeping bag to use as a
chrysalis and place it on the floor. Let one child at a time pretend
to be a caterpillar and crawl inside the sleeping bag. Then have everyone
sing the first verse of the song below. When the child crawls out of
the sleeping bag, have everyone sing the second verse
Sung to "Goodnight Ladies"
Goodnight caterpillar,
Goodnight caterpillar,
Goodnight caterpillar,
You'll be a butterfly.
Merrily you fly away,
Fly away, fly away.
Merrily you fly away,
Pretty butterfly.
Crawling All Around (Freer Jacques)
Caterpillar, caterpillar,
Crawl crawl crawl, crawl crawl, crawl.
Crawling on the ground,
Crawling all around.
Crawl crawl crawl, crawl crawl crawl.
The Fuzzy Caterpillar (Itsy Bitsy Spider)
The fuzzy caterpillar curled up on a leaf,
Spun her little chrysalis and then fell fast asleep.
While she was sleeping, she dreamed that she could fly
And later when she woke up She was a butterfly!
The Caterpillars (London Bridge)
Caterpillars crawl around,
Crawl around, crawl around.
Caterpillars crawl around,
Down on the ground.
Caterpillars climb up high... Looking for some food.
Caterpillars find a leaf... To eat for a snack.
Caterpillars spin around... Making a cocoon.
Caterpillars stay inside... All winter long.
In the spring they wake right up... with wet and shiny wings.
Now they are pretty moths... and soon they'll fly away.
Caterpillar
Caterpillar, caterpillar, brown and furry (move cupped
hand along arm)
Winter is coming, you'd better hurry. (move hand faster)
Find a leaf under which to creep. (Hold one hand over cupped hand)
Spin a cocoon in which to sleep. (Spin hand round and round cupped
hand)
Then when springtime comes ne day, (Open arms in a large
circular motion)
You'll be a moth and fly away! (Hook thumbs and wave fingers
in a flying motion) |
