Butterflies and Caterpillars Unit for Preschool Children

CATERPILLAR AND BUTTERFLY

BONUS UNITS

PLANNED ENVIRONMENT for

Caterpillars and Butterflies Theme

These materials are in addition to the materials you already have in these centers.

Manipulative Center Puzzles of butterflies Puzzles of fruits Insect puzzles The Very Hungry Caterpillar floor puzzle Dramatic Play Center Insect tablecloth Insect hats and wings Food from the book, The Hungry Caterpillar (pears, strawberries, Library Center Books about butterflies and caterpillers Flannel board and flannel cut outs of the books, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Ladybug’s Birthday. Art Center Butterfly and caterpillar stencils, green and brown play dough, magazines with pictures to cut out, large butterfly drawn on newsprint for easel painting, brown and green paper to make a caterpillar paper chain,

Block Center Small, medium and large plastic butterflies Science Center Plastic Caterpillar stages Butterfly diorama Butterfly kit that children can watch the caterpillar go through the cycle first hand Math Center Plastic butterflies to sort, classify and count Writing Center Journals with the cover designed as a caterpillar or butterfly

SHARED READING BOOKS For Caterpillars and Butterflies

The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (Big Book) A Butterfly is Born by Melvin Berger (Big Book) Butterfly Magic by Melissa Getzoff (Big Book)

From Caterpillar to Butterfly by Deborah Heiligman (Big Book) The Big Butterfly Book by Susanne Santaro Whayne- (Big Book)

SHARED READING POETRY Life of a Butterfly by Meish Goldish

Five Fuzzy Caterpillars by Margaret Allen

READ ALOUD BOOKS

I'm a Caterpillar by Jean Marzollo Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert

Charlie the Caterpillar by Dom DeLuise Where Does a Butterfly Go When it Rains? By May Garelick

Butterfly Express by Jan Belk Moncure Hi Butterfly by Taro Gomi

I Wish I Were a Butterfly by James Howe Caterpillar Diary by David Drew

Where Butterflies Grow by Joanne Ryder From Egg to Butterfly by Marlene Reidel Amanda’s Butterfly by Nick Butterworth

Hope for the Flowers by Tina Paulus The Butterfly Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta

Butterfly House by Eve Bunting The Caterpillar and the Polliwog by Jack Kent

The Lamb and the Butterfly by Arnold Sundgaard Miss Emma’s Wild Garden by Anna Grossnickle Hines

Small Group Activities

Theme: Caterpillars and Butterflies Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Read the book to the children either at Whole Group or Small Group prior to the activity.

Small Group Activity: Art Blot paint butterfly Objective: Children are being exposed to cutting with scissors. Materials needed:

Assorted colors of construction paper with traced butterflies on them for children to cut

Assorted colors of tempera paint in small plastic cups Scissors Procedure: Have butterflies arranged on the table for children to choose. The children cut out the butterfly- assist the ones who need help with the scissors.

The children choose the colors they want and put on butterfly and fold the butterfly in half, pressing together all over. The child opens up the butterfly and sees the beautiful creation that was made.

Small Group Activities

Theme: Caterpillars and Butterflies Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Read the book to the children either at Whole Group or Small Group prior to the activity.

Small Group Activity: Art

Dip and paint fruit on paper Objective: Create using fruits, colors and textures Materials needed: Use the fruits in the story: apple, pear, plum, strawberry and orange.

Several colors of paint for the children to choose from- or one color if they are learning a specific color.

Paper Procedure:

Cut the fruit in half and have each child dip the fruit in the paint and stamp the paper

Small Group Activities

Theme: Caterpillars and Butterflies Book: The Big Butterfly Book by Susanne Santaro Whayne- (Big Book) Read the book in Whole Group Time.

Small Group Activity: Art Cutting and pasting Objective: Children being exposed to cutting Materials needed: Construction paper with a butterfly traced on it. Glue and water mixture with brushes

Scissors Various sizes (1, 2, or 3 inch) square pieces of tissue paper- use lots of colors Procedure: Two day activity Day 1 Children “paint” the glue on their butterfly and then add the tissue paper. Day 2 The children cut out their butterfly.

Small Group Activities

Theme: Caterpillars and Butterflies Book: Butterfly Magic by Melissa Getzoff

Read the book to the children either at Whole Group or Small Group prior to the activity

Small Group Activity: Art Making butterflies Objective: Creative representation Materials needed:

Various colors of construction paper shaped into a butterfly for the children to choose

Mixture of glue and water Colored tissue paper Procedure:

Each child will “paint” the mixture of glue and water onto their butterfly. Place little pieces of colored tissue paper to the glued areas and dry.

Small Group Activities

Theme: Caterpillars and Butterflies Book: The Butterfly Alphabet Book by Brian Cassie and Jerry Pallotta Read the book in Whole Group Time.

Small Group Activity: Word Wall Objective: To learn the letter and sound of ‘C’ Materials needed: Crayons, markers Procedure:

The teacher makes circles using green paper representing the caterpillar’s body. Make the face using markers and pipe cleaners for the antennae. Review the letter ‘C’ and the sound. Have children draw pictures of the ‘C’ sounding words on the circles. Review and display the caterpillar in the Word Wall.

Whole Group Activities

Theme: Caterpillars and Butterflies Book: The Butterfly Alphabet Book by Brian Cassie and Jerry Pallotta Read the book in Whole Group Time

Whole Group Activity: Butterfly Word Wall Objective: To learn the letter and sound of ‘B’ Materials needed: Crayons and markers Procedure: Make a butterfly and place on bulletin board. Review the letter ‘B”- how it sounds and looks.

The children say a word that sounds like the letter “B”. The teacher writes the word on the Butterfly Word Wall and the child draws a picture of it. This activity can be done every day until the butterfly is filled with words and pictures of the letter ‘B’. You can also use the letter ‘C’ by making a caterpillar with large green circles and place the words and pictures on the Caterpillar Word Wall.

Small Group Activities

Theme: Caterpillars and Butterflies Book: Waiting For Wings by Lois Ehlert

Read the book to the children either at Whole Group or Small Group prior to the activity.

Small Group Activity: Literacy

The children will make their own story about the book. Objective: Having one’s own language written down and read back Materials needed: Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert Paper Variety of crayons and markers Procedure:

After the book is read, each child will have their own paper and choice of art materials. The children make their own collage of butterflies and caterpillars and then tell you what their caterpillar did while waiting for their wings. The teacher writes down exactly what the child said and reads it back to them. This is a great bulletin board activity.

Small Group Activities

Theme: Caterpillars and Butterflies Book: I’m a Caterpillar by Jean Marzollo

Read the book to the children either at Whole Group or Small Group prior to the activity

Small Group Activity: Math Making a Caterpillar using circles and rectangular shapes Objective: Recognize shapes Materials needed: Preschool scissors Construction paper Circles for the children to cut out Glue Black markers Procedure: Give each child 4 circles and 2 rectangular shapes to cut out.

Have the children paste the circles and rectangular on construction paper to form a caterpillar. Use markers for eyes. As they are making the caterpillars, talk with the children about the circle and rectangular shape.

Small Group Activities

Theme: Caterpillars and Butterflies Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Read the book to the children either at Whole Group or Small Group prior to the activity.

Small Group Activity: Math Fruit counting book

Objective: Count and identify objects to 10 Materials needed: Paper, crayons Procedure:

The teacher will write what the caterpillar ate on the days of the week on paper for the children to make a book. Have the children draw the amount of fruit that was eaten on that particular day.

Small Group Activities

Theme: Caterpillars and Butterflies Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Read the book to the children either at Whole Group or Small Group prior to the activity.

Small Group Activity: Math Fruit counting book

Objective: Learning to count, days of the week and language skills Materials needed: Paper, crayons Procedure:

The teacher will write what the caterpillar ate on the days of the week on paper for the children to make a book. Have the children draw the amount of fruit that was eaten on that particular day.

Small Group Activities

Theme: Caterpillars and Butterflies Book: The Butterfly Counting Book by Jerry Pallotta

Read the book to the children either at Small Group prior to the activity. Small Group Activity: Math Counting Butterflies Objective: Recognize simple patterns and colors Materials needed: Butterflies of various colors and sizes made prior to activity Procedure:

The teacher makes butterfly patterns and the children copy the patterns while discussing the sizes and colors of the butterflies.

Small Group Activities

Theme: Caterpillars and Butterflies Book:

I’m a Caterpillar by Jean Marzollo

Small Group Activity: Math Making a Caterpillar using circles and rectangular Objective: Recognize circle and rectangular shape Materials needed: Preschool scissors Construction paper Circles for the children to cut out Glue Black markers Procedure: Give each child 4 circles and 2 rectangular shapes to cut out.

Have the children paste the circles and rectangular on construction paper to form a caterpillar. Use markers for eyes. As they are making the caterpillars, talk with the children about the circle and rectangular shape.

Spring Unit

Small Group Activities

Theme: Caterpillars and Butterflies Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Read the book to the children either at Whole Group or Small Group prior to the activity.

Small Group Activity: Science Tasting assorted fruits Objective: Children to be exposed to the different flavors and textures of fruit Materials needed:

Choose three pieces of fruit that was included in The Hungry Caterpillar story: apples, pears, plums, and oranges. Plastic knives, paper towels,

Procedure:

Give each child a paper towel, napkin and plastic knife. Select one fruit at a time, and talk about the name, color and shape. Cut each fruit and taste. The children talk about the different tastes of the fruit. Make a chart of the answers of how they liked the fruit. For example, choices could be sweet, sour, like, and dislike.

Small Group Activities

Theme: Caterpillars and Butterflies Book: Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert

Read the book to the children either at Whole Group or Small Group prior to the activity.

Small Group Activity:

Science Making caterpillars, cocoons and butterflies.

Objective:

Expose the children to the life cycle of a butterfly Materials needed:

green pom poms, clothespins, toilet papers rolls, glue that has been watered down, green and brown tissue paper, coffee filters and assorted colors of tempera paint. Make sure there are enough materials for each child.

Procedure: You can complete this activity in two days if you would like:

Day 1: Have the children make the caterpillar by gluing green pom-poms to a clothes pin. The children put their caterpillars in a cocoon by painting the outside of a toilet paper tube with watered down glue. They cover the toilet paper roll with their choice of brown or green tissue paper by covering one end, and placing caterpillar inside, then covering the other end. Day 2: Blot Paint Butterfly: Give each child a coffee can filter and they paint one half of the coffee filter- fold in half, press together all over, open up and see their creation. Poke the cocoons open to make their butterfly.

Spring Unit

Small Group Activities

Theme: Caterpillars and Butterflies Book: Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert

Read the book to the children either at Whole Group or Small Group prior to the activity.

Small Group Activity:

Science Making the life cycle of a butterfly from macaroni

Objective:

Expose the children to the life cycle of a butterfly

Materials needed:

Paper plate, macaroni (elbow, spiral, shell and bowtie shaped macaroni), rice, glue and paint

Procedure:

Divide the paper plate into four parts. For eggs-use rice, caterpillar-use spiral, cocoon-use shell, butterfly-use bowtie. Glue rice, spiral, shell and bowtie onto the divided parts of the paper plate. Paint the macaroni and rice.

Spring Unit

Small Group Activities

Theme: Caterpillars and Butterflies Book: Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert

Read the book to the children either at Whole Group or Small Group prior to the activity.

Small Group Activity:

Science Making caterpillars, cocoons and butterflies.

Objective:

Introduce the children to the life cycle of a butterfly Materials needed:

Cardboard egg cartons, toilet papers rolls, tongue depressors, colored pipe cleaners, green paint and other colors for children to choose to paint the eyes and the cocoons. Make sure there are enough materials for each child.

Procedure: This is a two day activity Day 1

Each child will paint their egg carton, eyes and make antennae’s from pipe cleaners. Day 2 Each child paints their own toilet paper roll. Give children butterflies to cut out and paste on the tongue depressor. Stick the tongue depressor with the butterfly in the cocoon and pull it out. The children will be able to see the butterfly coming out of the cocoon.

Whole Group Activities

Theme: Caterpillars and Butterflies Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (Big Book)

Whole Group Activity: Active learning- the children are involved with the reading of the book Objective: Learning the names of certain fruits and foods Materials needed: Long green sock All the food in the story made out of felt with Velcro attached Procedure:

Teacher, wearing the sock, reads the story and the children take turns placing the food on the ‘caterpillar sock’ as each food item is read.

Small Group Activities

Theme: Caterpillars and Butterflies Book: The Big Butterfly Book by Susanne Santaro Whayne Read the book in Whole Group time , prior to the activity

Whole Group Activity: Math Matching butterfly halves Objective: Matching Materials needed: Precut butterflies that are cut in half Butterfly music Procedure: Cut out butterflies from different colors of construction paper and half them.

Play butterfly music and the children pretend they are butterflies by flying round the room looking for the other child that has the matched wing. When they find their wings that match, they sit down and wait until everyone is done.

Whole Group Activities

Theme: Caterpillars and Butterflies Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (Big Book)

Whole Group Activity: Literacy Shared Reading Objective: Introducing concepts about print Materials needed: Big Book text copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Procedure:

Activate the children’s prior knowledge by reading a familiar rhyme, song, or asking them if they have ever seen caterpillars and butterflies outside. Take a picture walk with the children and make predictions about the story. Read the story dramatically to the children while pointing to the words. Invite children to talk about the story by asking open ended questions.

Whole Group Activities

Theme: Caterpillars and Butterflies

Whole Group Activity: Physical Development Express creativity on movement Objective: Movement to music Materials needed: The music of Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini Streamers for each child Procedure: Explain to the children how butterflies fly with their wings stretched out.

Give each child a streamer, play the music and have the children pretend to be butterflies. This is best done outside.

Whole Group Activities

Theme: Caterpillars and Butterflies Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Whole Group Activity: Literacy Storytelling Objective: Enjoyment of storytelling Music and Movement Materials needed:

Props from the story such as plastic food, caterpillar and buttlerfly placed in a container with a lid

Butterfly music Procedure:

The children sit in a large circle with the teacher sitting on the floor. Teacher has the container with the props in front of her on the rug. The teacher prepares the children, tells the story and pulls out the caterpillar and each food as it is being read. Music is playing in the background. Use much expression when telling the story. When the story has ended, have the children dance and move their arms as butterflies.

Whole Group Activities

Theme: Caterpillars and Butterflies Book: Waiting For Wings by Lois Ehlert

Read the book to the children at Whole Group.

Whole Group Activity: Pretending to be Butterflies while dancing to music Objective: Music and Movement Materials needed: Antonio Vivaldi’s “Spring” Colorful scarves Procedure: Provide children with different colored scarves.

Give the children examples on how to move the scarves pretending they are butterfly wings. Play some butterfly music such as Antonio Vivaldi’s “Spring”