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The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is a classic book for children. It has beautiful pictures and a presentation of the story that is engaging. You can use this book to teach many different things: Life cycle of the butterfly, days of the week, food categories, healthy eating habits, counting and many more.
Teaching Ideas:
1. Have a green ribbon or string represent the caterpillar. Shorten and lengthen it according to the size. Give each student one to practice with. You can tie a red bead to the end of the string for the caterpillar’s head.
2. Use your voice to change from a teeny tiny caterpillar to a big fat caterpillar. The children love using a high squeaky voice and a big, low voice.
Caterpillar/ Butterfly Song Sung to “The Wheels on the Bus”
The caterpillars are wiggling around
Wiggling around, wiggling around
The caterpillars are wiggling around
All around the yard
The caterpillars are munching and a crunching
Munching and a crunching
The caterpillars are munching and a crunching
All around the yard
The caterpillars are building a cocoon
Building a cocoon, Building a cocoon
The caterpillars are building a cocoon
All around the yard
The butterflies are flying around
Flying around, flying around
The butterflies are flying around
All around the yard.
Teaching Idea:
1. Have a scarf for each student and use that in the song. Wiggle it around, cover yourself in a cocoon and flap it up down for the butterfly.
I’m a caterpillar, wiggle with me,
I’m a caterpillar, wiggle with me,
I’m a caterpillar, wiggle with me,
What’ll I be, my darlin’?
A chrysalis, now sleep like me…..
What’ll I be, my darlin’?
A butterfly, come fly with me…
Come fly with me my darlin’.
Now all together, lets do all three.
A caterpillar, a chrysalis, a butterfly — three.
Move your body like this with me.
The life of a butterfly, darlin’.
