Creepy Crawly Caterpillars Lesson Plan

What We Are Learning

caterpillars

observe, creepy crawly, metamorphosis

movement

reading a flowchart

Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr. is a wonderful read-aloud to introduce your students to caterpillars. As you read, have them count along! Then say that they’ll learn more about caterpillars in the magazine! paired text

Science: Fingerprint Life Cycle

Materials: Fingerprint Life Cycle skill sheet, finger paints, markers

This is a hands-on way to reinforce the life cycle of a butterfly!
Display page 4 of the issue. Discuss the steps of a caterpillar’s metamorphosis. Then tell children they will show these steps using their fingerprints!
Give each child a copy of the Fingerprint Life Cycle skill sheet. Help them follow the instructions to put fingerprints on the gray spots.
- For the egg, make a yellow pinkie print.
- For the caterpillar, make several colorful index fingerprints.
- For the chrysalis, make a green thumbprint.
- For the butterfly, make two colorful thumbprints and two colorful index fingerprints.
When children have finished, reinforce their learning by asking them to tell you the different steps in a caterpillar’s life cycle. fine motor skills

Materials: two leaves, pipe cleaners, pencil, number cube

This math game for pairs helps children practice counting skills.
To prepare, create 30 “caterpillars” by twisting pipe cleaners around a pencil, then cutting them into short pieces.
Give each child a leaf and put all the caterpillars in a center pile. Have children take turns rolling the number cube and placing that many caterpillars on their leaf.
When the caterpillar pile is gone, have children count to see which leaf has the most. comparing amounts