The Very Hungary Caterpillar

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The Very Hungary Caterpillar

• By Shauna Moss

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Analyze Learners

• This lesson targets children in the first grade.
• Students need to be able to read, write, and be
  able to identify what a caterpillar is. 
  
• This lesson is for young children who are
  improving reading, creative writing, memorization
  skills, and understanding cause and effect.

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Objectives

•        RLA 1.1.8        Recognize basic
  comprehension concepts (e.g. story elements main
  ideas sequence cause/effect predictions).
  
•        RLA 1.1.9        Respond to both literal
  and interpretive comprehension questions after
  reading a short story selection that is
  developmentally appropriate.
•        RLA 1.1.11      Use meaning clues to aid
  comprehension and make predictions about content
  (e.g. pictures picture captions title cover
  story structure topic action events).
•        RLA 1.1.12      Read with accuracy and
  comprehension instructional level texts designed
  for the first grade to use self-correction
  strategies (e.g. search for clues identify
  miscues reread ask for help).
•      RLA 1.1.14      Establish purpose for
  reading (e.g. for information pleasure to
  identify a specific view point).

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Selecting Methods, Media, and Material

• Sites Used
• http//www.atozteacherstuff.com/pages/452.shtml
• http//www.swallowtailfarms.com/pages/educationalp
  roducts_brk.html
  
• http//jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?pageC
  raftDisplaycraftid11038
  
• http//www.readwritethink.org/materials/timeline/i
  ndex.html

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Materials

• The book The Very Hungary Caterpillar
• Blank books
• Caterpillar/butterfly kit
• Scissors
• Glue

• Pipe cleaners
• Tissue paper
• Crayons
• White/chalk board
• Internet access for the class
• A flowered area outside.

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• Day One

• Start out by gathering all students together on
  carpet and show students the cover of the book,
  The Very Hungary Caterpillar.  Then ask students
  what a caterpillar is, what they think
  caterpillars eat, and what they think will happen
  in the story.  Asking students these questions
  will allow them to make predictions. 
• After discussing their predictions read The Very
  Hungary Caterpillar to the class being careful to
  show each illustration clearly. 
  
• After reading the book have each student log onto
  http//www.readwritethink.org/materials/timeline/i
  ndex.html and create a timeline of the days of
  the week and what the caterpillar ate on each
  day.

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Day Two

• Give each student a blank book and ask them to
  draw each item of what the caterpillar ate, in
  order, on each page. 
  
• When they have finished this, ask students to
  draw what the caterpillar looked like after he
  ate each item.  This is teaching the students
  cause and effect.

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Day Three

• Explain that they are creating their own
  caterpillar/butterfly books and to have a book
  they must have a cover page.  At this time the
  students will do the craft from the site,
  http//jas.familyfun.go.com/artsandcrafts?pageCra
  ftDisplaycraftid11038. 
• After the craft is complete, it will be time to
  introduce the class to their new class pets, but
  before telling them what they are, explain to the
  class that when the pets are mature they must let
  them be free.  Then, introduce the class pets,
  caterpillars!

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The Next Few Days

• Have the students observe the life cycle of the
  caterpillars and butterflies. 
  
• While observing each day, ask the students to
  write words to their personal books on what the
  caterpillar/butterfly is thinking.

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Last Day

• This day depends on when the butterflies come out
  of their cocoons.  Find an area outside where
  there are a lot of flowers.  Tell the students
  that its time to release their class pets but
  also explain to them that the butterflies may
  stay around in this area and to keep watch for
  them each day. 
• Have the class say goodbye to their pets and
  release. 
  
• After releasing the butterflies, gather students
  on carpet to read their books to the class.

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Learner Participation

• Having the students create their own book
  will keep kids on task because it is something
  that they will have personal interest in.  This
  is an activity that shows each students
  individuality, something they can be proud of. 
  Also, the live caterpillars will keep the
  students active because they are the class pets
  in which they will raise until time for
  releasing.  After the butterflies are released
  the students will still be able to look for
  their butterflies each day in the area that we
  released them at.

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Evaluations

• Class discussion
• Prediction
• Comprehension
• Online timeline
• Students book
• Viewing their drawings
• Cause/effect and sequence of the items the
  caterpillar ate