Libraries are more than books. Some kids need a little direction to get the creative juices flowing. I gleaned the following from PUBYAC contributors. If you're a member, check out the archives. Please add YOUR comments. Your colleagues would appreciate hearing what works, and what didn't!
(see also: http://www.eric-carle.com/bb-VHC.html;
http://www.teachingheart.net/veryhungrycaterpillar.html)
THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR, by Eric Carle
b. June 25, 1929
REFRESHMENTS:
- VHG Fruit Salad
- Butterfly cupcake, sandwich, snack--see Recipes for Storytime
CRAFTS:
- Mobile
- Caterpillar crafts
- Butterfly crafts
- Flower crafts
GAMES AND ACTIVITIES:
- Read as an interactive story with the children acting out the various stages of the life-cycle
- Egg--Have the children hold their ankles, bend down, with a rounded body
- Larva--Have the children squirm like a worm
- Pupa--Have the children take turns crawling into a sleeping bay or king-size pillow cases, (With colorful scarves tucked inside)
- Butterfly--Have the children emerge dancing and darting with their colorful scarves
PROGRAM:
- Read the book--talk about bugs
- Sing songs
- Read poetry
- Dance
- Have one or two stations for crafts
- Have plenty of word searches and coloring sheets on hand as the children work their way through the stations
- End with refreshments
