Materials
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
For each child: Poster board piece, 9 1/2 " x 12" (23.5 cm x 30 cm) Green construction paper and scissors3" (7.5 cm) colored tissue paper squares Egg carton cup sections5 small pompom balls 5 medium pompom balls
Glue
Instructions
1. Read The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
2. Give each child one piece of poster board. Talk about the life cycle of the butterfly as you proceed.
3. Glue items in a large circle formation on the poster board, starting with one green leaf near upper left corner, with a white punch dot on it for the egg (the children may design and cut out their own leaves).
4. Add five small pompom balls in a line to form the caterpillar, to the right of the leaf. Then, another green leaf with a bite cut out, to the right of the caterpillar. Five medium pompom balls show how the caterpillar has grown.
5. Trim the egg carton cup and press it down to the right of the caterpillar. Glue or tape the flared edges of the cup. This is the chrysalis.
6. Show the children how to pinch three squares of tissue paper in the center. Glue these to the right of the chrysalis. This is the emerging butterfly.
7. Print Life Cycle of the Butterfly at the top of the poster board. Draw arrows between each stage to show the cycle, ending at the butterfly.More to doGardening: Plant a butterfly garden. Butterflies are attracted to purple, yellow and orange blossoms.Try planting fuchsias, violets, zinnias or butterfly bush in your garden. Will the butterflies find them?
