Submitted by Alison
Lesson Plan: This lesson plan uses the Eric Carle book The Very Hungry Caterpillar to integrate Lang. Arts, Science, and Art.
Part 1
At the very beginning of the year, I use the book as a read-aloud. We discuss the stages of the caterpillar's life in general terms and I compare my students' journey through first grade to the caterpillar's life cycle. After reading the book and discussing, each child sponge paints a paper plate and adds legs with black pipe cleaners cut in half. After they are dry, I write each child's name on the plate and glue a picture of them that I have taken in the previous days. I make a caterpillar head (paper plate painted green, antenna of blk. pipe cleaner, wiggly eye). The head with all the student's plates are displayed on a long bulletin board and become the caterpillar's body. Above, the caption reads, "Watch us grow and change."
Part 2
After Christmas break, we read The Very Hungry Caterpillar again. This time we discuss what stage should come next in our caterpillar's life--the cocoon or chrysalis. To turn our caterpillar into cocoons, we first fold them in half (it helps to staple them to keep them in place), cover them with paper mache, let dry, and paint the colors of cocoons that we look at in various reference books. These new cocoons are then hung on the same bulletin board under the caption, "Hang out with us."
Part 3
In Springtime, we again read The Very Hungry Caterpillar (most are reading it independently by now!). We talk about what the chrysalis will become and what they will soon become--second graders! To turn cocoons into butterflies: 1)use cacoon as body of butterfly, paint it black and let dry; 2)using a pattern for wings students can decorate wings with colorful tissue paper, markers, glitter, yarn, etc. (whatever you have) 3)the body is attached to the wings. All the butterflies are hung under the caption, "We are beautiful!"
My students never get tired of hearing the story and they love that the project that lasts throughout the year!
