Materials
File folders or poster board
Scissors
Egg cartons
Newspaper
Paint and paintbrushes
Small containers
Green construction paper, 12" x 18" (30 cm x 45 cm)Pencils
Hole punch
Pipe cleaners, cut in half
Stapler
Instructions
1. Ahead of time, cut used file folders or poster board to make large leaf stencils. Cut the bottomof the egg cartons in half lengthwise.
2. Cover table with newspaper and set out paints in small containers. Place one-half of an egg cartonand a paintbrush at each child's seat.
3. Ask the children to paint their egg carton caterpillars.
4. While the caterpillars are drying, have the children trace the leaf stencils on construction paper,then cut out the leaves.
5. Punch out caterpillar nibbles in the leaves with a hole punch. Poke a hole in the top of thecaterpillars for the antennae and have the children insert a piece of pipe cleaner.
6. Staple the egg carton caterpillar to the leaf.More to doDramatic play: Wrap children up in a cocoon made from a sheet and encourage them to emergeas a butterfly and "fly" around the room.Science: Order caterpillar eggs from a teacher supply catalog and observe them in your classroom.
