Materials
large, clear plastic bowl
several small Styrofoam bowls or paper cups
plastic spoons and several large mixing spoons
flour
salt
sugar
cornstarch
baking soda
food coloring in water
gelatin
soap flakes
liquid detergent
ketchup
vinegar
chart paper
Instructions
1. Read The Very Hungry Caterpillar to the children.
2. Give each child six green pompoms and demonstrate how to glue them
together to make a caterpillar (see illustration). Encourage them to glue on
wiggle eyes and attach pipe cleaners for antennae.
3. Help the children make cocoons
using newspaper, plaster of
Paris, and balloons.
Pour about 2 cups
of plaster of Paris
in a bowl and add water. Show
the children how to tear strips of
newspaper, dip them in the
mixture until coated, and wrap the
coated strips around a balloon. Ask them to
add a few layers until fairly thick. Let dry.
4. After the cocoons have dried, let the children paint them green. Help the
children use yarn to tie their cocoons to a stick.
5. Trace the butterfly pattern (see illustration) on tagboard and cut out. Help
the children to trace the butterfly pattern on construction paper and cut out.
Encourage the children to decorate their butterflies with crepe paper "spots"
and markers.
6. Have a "hungry caterpillar" party! Provide fruit and other foods from the story
and let the "hungry caterpillars" munch away!
