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Topic: 2B Plants and animals in the local environment
World Book Day is the biggest annual celebration of books and reading in the UK and Ireland. This activity complements the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.
In this activity children will learn the life cycle of a butterfly. Children will create and label a life cycle diagram. They will use their knowledge to decide what caterpillars would eat at a Caterpillar Café.
You will need Acrobat
Reader installed to open the activity sheets.
You will also need the latest version of the flash player to be able to play swf files.
· what caterpillars eat
Children will demonstrate this by completing the task on page 2 successfully and extension task on page 5
· where caterpillars can be found
Children will demonstrate this by completing the task on page 2 successfully
· how one animal changes as it grows
Children will demonstrate this by completing the task on page 4 successfully
Science:
QCA Unit 2B: Plants and animals in the local environment
· that animals reproduce and change as they grow older
· describe how one animal changes as it grows e.g. tadpole to frog or baby bird to adult
Literacy
· Speaking and listening- discussions about what the caterpillars are eating and where they live. Discussions about the different stages of the life cycle
· Discursive writing - describing different types of food on a menu
Numeracy (optional)
· measuring the length of the model caterpillars
Introducing the activity
· Display Page 1 of the activity through a data projector or on an OHT.
- Discussion about the story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
- Discussion about why caterpillars eat so much.
Leading the main activity
· Display Page 2 through a data projector or on an OHT. Look at the photographs and discuss what the caterpillars are eating. Look at the pictures and discuss where you would find caterpillars.
· Display Page 3 through a data projector or on an OHT. Introduce the idea of how the animal changes as it grows older. Look at the photographs and discuss the different stages of growth. Introduce the term life cycle.
· Display Page 4 through a data projector or on an OHT. Print off copies for the children as appropriate. Discuss with children the correct sequence of pictures to show the life cycle of a butterfly. Scissors and glue sticks will be required. Read the text with the children and discuss which description matches each picture. Children will cut out the pictures and glue them in the correct sequence on another sheet of paper. Children can
- glue the text under the correct picture
- copy the text under the correct picture
- write their own descriptions under each picture
(Differentiate accordingly)
Possible extension activity
Write a menu for the Caterpillar Café.
· Display Page 5 through a data projector or on an OHT. Print off copies for the children as appropriate. Discuss with children the different types of leaves caterpillars could eat. Drinks may be restricted to rain water and puddle water.
NGfL-Cymru
Part 2 concerns the life cycle of a butterfly. Interactive activity for children.
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Hungry Caterpillar Jun 20th, 2012
Reviewer: Carolyn Hall
Children enjoyed going through the activities especially the caterpillar cafe as it made them think about what caterpillars ate and also that plants are not just there to look pretty but they help the caterpillar to change into a butterfly too.
