THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR
UNIT TITLE:
The
Very Hungry Caterpillar
Author:
Kimberly Cajka-Schmit
E-Mail
Address: kimcajka@hotmail.com
School:
Dearborn
Heights & Columbus Manor: Oak Lawn, IL 60453
School
Home Page URL:
(optional)
THEME:
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
BROAD
CONCEPT: Determination, Perseverance, and Caring towards
themselves and others
GRADES:
Preschool
INTEGRATED
SUBJECTS:
Math, Language Arts, Reading, Art, Computers, Nutrition, and Technology
UNIT GOALS AND PURPOSE:
The goal of this unit is to create a positive awareness of the basic characteristics the caterpillar displayed and to develop a desire in the children so that they will want to incorporate these characteristics into their daily lives. Students will also gain an understanding of determination, perseverance, caring, and self-discipline through stories and through interacting with the teacher.
Through this unit, the students will also gain knowledge and learn about the life cycle of a butterfly. They will also realize that there's more to caterpillars than just butterflies. The students will be using technology to explore and investigate on the web (teacher assisted), collect and organize data. The students will be using many different forms of technology to learn as well as graphic organizers to collect and organize their data. As the learning continues, the students will learn how to graph, use a digital camera, search on the web, use Kid Pix, and Microsoft word. Students will be adding daily activities/ assignments to their portfolio, until the end of the unit. Many of the activities will be displayed in class. Their portfolios as well as my classroom observations will be used as an evaluation tool in order to evaluate their understanding of the concepts taught during this unit. The assessment for this unit will be ongoing and performance based.
The teacher will address the needs and
interests of all his/her students and will promote cooperative group learning.
TIME
FRAME: 2-3 weeks
OBJECTIVES:
In
this lesson, students will:
understand
what determination means
identify
the details of the story and sequence the events
understand
the life cycle of a caterpillar
use
KidPix with success and help
At
the end of this unit the students will be able to:
cite examples of perseverance, caring, and self-discipline in the characters studied in literature
exhibit
acts of courage, kindness, perseverance, etc., in and out of the classroom
MATERIALS:
Fruit (apples, pears, plums,
strawberries, and oranges)
Construction Paper (different colors)
Glue
Scissors
Paper Plates
Mixing Bowl
Large Spoon
Knife
Magazines
Insect Lore – Butterfly House and
caterpillars
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Computers
Color Printer
Internet
Digital Camera
Computer Presentation Projector
Spreadsheet Excel, The Graph Club,
PowerPoint
Multimedia KID PIX DELUXE
Word Processing Microsoft Word
Database Microsoft Works
STATE STANDARDS ADDRESSED BY THIS UNIT:
1.A.1b Comprehend unfamiliar words using
context clues and prior knowledge; verify meanings with resource materials.
1.B.1a Establish purposes for reading,
make predictions, connect important ideas, and link text to previous experiences
and knowledge.
1.B.1c Continuously check and clarify for
understanding (e.g., reread, read ahead, use visual and context clues, ask
questions, retell, use meaningful substitutions).
1.B.1d Read age-appropriate material
aloud with fluency and accuracy.
1.C.1a Use information to form questions
and verify predictions.
1.C.1b Identify important themes and
topics.
1.C.1d Summarize content of reading
material using text organization (e.g., story, sequence).
1.C.1e Identify how authors and illustrators express their ideas in text and graphics (e.g., dialogue, conflict, shape, color, characters).
1.C.1f Use information presented in
simple tables, maps and charts to form an interpretation.
Literature
2.B.1c Relate character, setting and plot
to real-life situations.
Writing
3.C.1b Create media compositions or
productions, which convey meaning visually for a variety of purposes.
Listening and Speaking
4.A.1b Ask questions and respond to
questions from the teacher and from group members to improve comprehension.
4.A.1c Follow oral instructions
accurately.
4.A.1d Use visually oriented and
auditorily based media.
B. Analyze and evaluate information
acquired from various sources.
4.B.1a Present brief oral reports, using
language and vocabulary appropriate to the message and audience (e.g., show and
tell).
4.B.1b Participate in discussions around
a common topic.
A. Locate, organize, and use information
from various sources to answer questions, solve problems and communicate ideas
5.A.1a Identify questions and gather
information.
5.A.1b Locate information using a variety
of resources.
5.B.1a Select and organize information
from various sources for a specific purpose.
Math
6.A.1a Identify whole numbers and compare
them using the symbols <, >, or = and the words "less than",
"greater than", or "equal to", applying counting, grouping
and place value concepts.
6.C.1a Select and perform computational
procedures to solve problems with whole numbers.
6.D.1 Compare the numbers of objects in
group
Science
11.A.1a Describe an observed event.
11.A.1b Develop questions on scientific
topics.
11.A.1d Record and store data using
available technologies.
11.A.1e Arrange data into logical
patterns and describe the patterns.
11.A.1f Compare observations of
individual and group results.
11.B.1a Given a simple design problem,
formulate possible solutions.
11.B.1b Design a device that will be
useful in solving the problem.
11.B.1c Build the device using the
materials and tools provided.
11.B.1d Test the device and record
results using given instruments, techniques and measurement methods.
Physical development and growth
24.A.1a Differentiate between positive
and negative behaviors (e.g., waiting your turn vs. pushing in line, honesty vs.
lying).
24.A.1b Identify positive verbal and
nonverbal communication skills (e.g., body language, manners, listening)
FINE ARTS
Language of the Arts
26.B.1d Visual Arts: Demonstrate
knowledge and skills to create visual works of art using manipulation, eye-hand
coordination, building and imagination.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Social Systems
Understand the roles and interactions of
individuals and groups in society.
18.B.1a Compare the roles of
individuals’ in-group situations (e.g., student, committee member,
employee/employer).
18.B.1b Identify major social
institutions in the community.
N.C.T.M. STANDARDS ADDRESSED BY THIS UNIT:
STUDENT ACTIVITIES WHICH WILL PROMOTE ENGAGED LEARNING:
Activity
#1
Technology-Language Arts-Art
This lesson will be the introduction to
the unit. In Lesson 1, the students will listen to the story, The Very
Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle. The teacher will lead a large group
discussion about the story. Following the story, the class will engage in
language arts and comprehension activities to identify the character of the
story, determine if this could really happen, and sequence the events of the
story. The students will also be asked about the illustrations in the
book. Large group instruction will be used and all students will be
involved in the discussion. The broad concept will be introduced at this time.
Comparisons between the story and real events in the students’ life will be
explored. The student will use KidPix Deluxe to draw a picture of
their favorite food from the story. This will be printed out and put into
their portfolio. There would need to be a 6th grade helper or a
parent volunteer for every preschool child.
Activity #2:
The students will help the teacher
identify each of the foods that the caterpillar ate. Using clip art from
the Internet or Microsoft Works, the teacher will then add the picture to the
top of the graph underneath the food word. The teacher will then let the
children taste each of the foods the caterpillar ate. The students will
then tell the teacher which food they liked best and the teacher will enter
their name on the Excel graph under the food item they picked. The teacher
will guide the students into a discussion to read and analyze the graph, which
food was liked the most and which food was liked the least?
Activity #3:
The students will make a butterfly hat
out of construction paper, they will be tracing the butterfly, cutting out the
pattern and gluing the hat together, the teacher will assist with attaching it
to the strip for their head. They will then each take a digital picture of
a fellow class member while they hold their favorite food the caterpillar ate
and wear a butterfly hat that they made.
Activity #4:
The individual pictures from activity #3
will then be downloaded onto the class/school website along with the Excel
food graph from activity #2.
Activity
#5:
Technology-Math-Art-Nutrition
The teacher will help the students follow the Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Fruit Salad Recipe. The children will help wash the fruit and will help count to make sure that the right amount of each fruit is going into the bowl. Each child should also get to do at least one thing during the process. While the students are waiting for their turn, the teacher will talk about each of the fruits. The students will then be able to eat the fruit salad. The teacher assistant will be taking pictures with the digital camera, so to can be put on the website. The students will then be able to use the Internet (with a helper) to try and find each of the foods the caterpillar ate. Once all the foods have been found the children will print them out. Once printed out the children will cut them out and glue them onto a paper plate.
Fruit Salad Recipe
1 Apple
2 Pears 3 Plums 4 Strawberries
5 Oranges
Activity
#6:
The teacher will read the online
storybook Blue Potatoes, Orange Tomatoes. to the class. The teacher will ask the students
what foods in the story were healthy and what foods were unhealthy snacks.
The teacher will give the students a piece of paper with the heading “Is It
Healthy or Unhealthy?” on the top, there will be a line down the center with
both words at the top. Next to the word healthy there will be a smiley
face and next to unhealthy there will be a sad face. The students will use
an assortment of magazines to find healthy and unhealthy foods to glue to their
page.
Activity
#7:
Technology-Art-Language Arts
Using the information gathered from
reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar and from the class Internet search, the
students will produce a picture using KidPix. Students will be
expected to draw a caterpillar and at least two pieces of food. The
students will be asked to tell about their caterpillar, the helper will type the
sentence onto the page for the preschooler.
Technology-Math
As a class we will work together to
collect data, organize data, and develop conclusions on the data. We will
be looking at the different caterpillar pictures the children made using KidPix.
We will compare and contrast the pictures, using PowerPoint.
Technology-Language Arts
The class will visit the Eric Carle Web
Site. The children will each be given a chance to click on the part of the
website they would like to see; the results will be shown up on the computer
presentation screen. Each section will be read aloud to the class.
The class will read about the author. After searching the Eric Carle
website the class will brainstorm a list about the author as the teacher types,
we’ll use Microsoft Word.
Technology-Language Arts
After visiting the Eric Carle website and reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar, the class will come up with a list of things they liked about he book and write a letter to the author. The class will then go back to the website and visit the guest book and send their response to Eric Carle. A copy of the letter sent will be placed in every child’s portfolio.
Technology-Math
After reading The Very Hungry
Caterpillar, the class will graph all the food the caterpillar ate. The
teacher will use The Graph Club. When done with the graph the
children will count up all the food the caterpillar ate during the week.
The children can also be asked questions like how much food did the caterpillar
eat on Tuesday and Friday?
Technology-Math
After reading and doing all the
activities, the children will go to the computer lab where on every screen they
will be given all the foods the caterpillar ate during the week. Pictures
of the food will be all over the screen and the children will have to move them
around and put them in the correct order the caterpillar ate them in. They
will then print out the page when they are all done putting the pictures in the
correct sequence.
Technology-Language
Arts-Art
The teacher will reread The Very Hungry
Caterpillar by Eric Carle to the class. The teacher will guide the
students into a discussion about how the caterpillar showed determination,
perseverance, and caring for themselves and others. The students should
come to the conclusion that the caterpillar showed determination, perseverance,
and caring for himself and that they should try to use these qualities in
preschool. The class will then get caterpillars for their butterfly house
and watch them over the next few weeks spin a cocoon and turn into a butterfly.
The teacher will use Microsoft Works to create a calendar so that a chart can be
kept on it. The chart will read as follows, on Day 1 the caterpillar…,
Day 2 the caterpillar…, and so on until it turns into a butterfly.
Digital pictures will be taken daily as the children observe the cocoon.
Once the caterpillar turns into a butterfly, the children will use KidPix and
draw a picture of a butterfly and the chart will be put on the website along
with the rest of the graphs and information used in this unit.
SHARE YOUR IDEAS:
The
students will share their work with others by putting their work on display in
the hallway cabinet or on the bulletin board. The activities that the
children did during this unit allowed the children to create an artifact that
they can share to others.
These
activities will all be placed in the student’s portfolio and will be given to
them at the end of the unit, so that they are able to share their work with
their family. By using authentic assessment it allow students to show and
share their information with others. The rubric will be inside of the
folder and each assignment will be graded as it's turned in.
Rubric
This
rubric will be used during the entire project. Since this is a unit for
preschool age children the rubric is very simple, the children will either
receive a check mark under good or very good. Each check under good earns
the child 1 smile and every check under very good earns the child 2 smiles.
.
|
Name
of Child__________ |
Good
|
Very
Good
|
|
Class
Participation |
|
|
|
Worked
well with class members |
|
|
Thinking Process
|
|
|
|
Creative
Process |
|
|
1-4
Smiles = The student performed satisfactory on this unit.
4-8
Smiles = The student met the expectations of the unit.
STUDENT AND TEACHER ROLES:
Teacher:
will
act as a facilitator and guide for students
will
provide opportunities for students to investigate, explore, set goals, and
develop learning strategies.
will
provide correlation between classroom activities and real-life situations.
will
use product assessment in order to allow for student independence and
creativity, and encourage higher order thinking skills.
will
create a learning environment that is flexible and open to diversity and
different perspective.
will
provide many tools and resources for students
will
guide by showing Kid Pix presentations and allowing children to make many
choices on their own
will
answer by redirecting the student to keep them on the right track without giving
them the answer.
Students:
will
take responsibility for learning
will
apply previously learned information and skills
will
take full advantage of the materials and technology provided
will
actively participate in learning by exploring, investigating, and producing work
will
be working by themselves or with a helper in order to complete work in this unit
will
be encouraged to help one another throughout the activities
will
be an active participant in their learning
are
responsible to stay on task
will
form their own opinions, based on their learning
ADDITIONAL REFERENCE PRINT RESOURCES STUDENTS MAY USE:
Magazines
THE FOLLOWING BOOKS CONTAIN
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TOPIC:
Charlie
the Caterpillar by Dom Deluise
From
Egg to Butterfly by Marlene Reidel
Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
The Country Bunny and The Little Gold
Shoes by Dubose Heyward
Apple Batter by Deborah Turney Zagwyn
Big Thoughts For Little People by Kenneth
Nathaniel Taylor
Please by Janine Amos
No, Thank You by Janine Amos
FOR ADDITIONAL ONLINE INFORMATION AND MEDIA PERTAINING TO THIS UNIT,
TEACHERS MAY WANT TO USE THE FOLLOWING INTERNET ARTICLES:
Title1: Eric Carle Teacher Resource Unit
URL1: http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/carle.htm
Description1: This site offers several
lesson plan links for The Very Hungry Caterpillar as well as numerous other Eric
Carle lesson link and titles of his work
Title2:
The Official Eric Carle Web Site
URL2: http://www.eric-carle.com/
Description2: This site features ideas to
use in the classroom for all of Eric Carle’s books. It also links you to
the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Art, his biography, and much more.
Title3: Dole Food Company, Inc.
URL3:
http://www.dole5aday.com/menu/educators/menu.htm
Description3:
This site has several resources for teaching dole 5 a day. Teachers can
order a free CD-Rom of the "5 a day Adventures" for each computer in
their classroom or lab. The activities on this CD promote eating 5
servings a day of fruits and vegetables.
Title4:
Schools of California Online Resources for Educators (SCORE) Project
URL4: http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/carle/carletg.html
Description4:
This unit, designed to supplement the teaching of The Very Hungry Caterpillar
by Eric Carle, consists of three Internet activities in which students explore
the following three questions: Who is Eric Carle and where does he live? Where
does he get the ideas for his books? How does he create his illustrations? It is
a K-3 unit designed to be used after the students have read The Very Hungry
Caterpillar and while they are reading other Eric Carle books. The Internet
activities are designed to be completed over several days by small groups.
Title5:
Teacher Vision
URL5: http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-2928.html
Description5: This website gives a list
of Books by Eric Carle, several Internet Resources and wonderful Enrichment
Activities
Title6:
Tribal fusion
Description6:
This website contains many links and many activities such as Very Hungry
Caterpillar:
Felt
Board Fun (or Puppets) and Very Hungry Caterpillar:
Story
Sequencing
Title7:
Teacher Resources
URL7: http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/carle.htm
Description7: A great
website for teachers. One will find all the
biography information, bibliographies and lesson plans on this page about Eric
Carle and his works. It was an awesome website.
Ttile8: The Very Hungry Caterpillar Sequencing activity
URL8: http://faldo.atmos.uiuc.edu/CLA/LESSONS/111.html
Description8: A lesson plan for
sequencing the events of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Title9:
Everything Preschool
URL9: http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/bugs/songs.htm
Description9: There are several
songs on this website that teachers could use while teaching this lesson.
RELEVANT INFORMATION, STUDENTS
WILL VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEB SITES:
Title1: The Very Hungry
Caterpillar
URL1:
http://olp.swlauriersb.qc.ca/webquest/caterpillar/caterpillar.htm
Purpose
of Use1: This would be a good assessment to see if the children
comprehended the book.
Description1:
An interactive worksheet page about The Very Hungry Caterpillar. It asks
the children 2questions and they click on the response if they are correct,
praise is given to them. It is very cute.
Title2: BillyBear4Kids.com
URL2: http://www.billybear4kids.com/butterfly/flutter-fun.html
Purpose
of Use2: Children are able to explore more about butterflies on their on and
have fun while doing it.
Description2:
This
website has a lot to offer. It contains clipart, games on-line and
printable, books, screen savers, information on animals, printouts of
butterflies, butterfly crafts, and even butterflies that you can send to your
friends.
Title3: Dole Food Company, Inc
URL3:
http://www.dole5aday.com
Purpose
of Use3: This site contains fruits and vegetables the students can
research. The site focuses on nutrition and provides songs to share with
students about staying healthy
Description3:
The student portion of this site features characters from the "Dole 5 a
day" program. There is a storybook, coloring pages, songs, a
scramble puzzle, and a section where the kids can write to their favorite
"5 a day" character. There are also adventures for certain kinds
of fruits and vegetables.
Title4: The Butterfly Site For Children
URL4:
http: www.TheButterflySite.com/
Purpose
of Use4: Children can explore on this site and look at different butterflies as
well as enter contests to win butterfly homes.
Description4:
- Visitors can explore the exciting world of
butterflies by visiting The Butterfly Site's dozen butterfly topics, tons of
butterfly links, contests, and awards.
Title5: The Children’s Butterfly Site
URL5:
http://www.mesc.usgs.gov/resources/education/butterfly/bfly_start.asp
Purpose
of Use5: Children will enjoy looking at all the different and unusual
pictures of butterflies
Description5:
There are real life photos of butterflies, the life cycle of a butterfly,
several activities to do with children, printable puzzles, and a list of
suggested books.
URL6:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com
Purpose
of Use6: Children can learn on their own about caterpillars when
exploring on this site.
Description6:
Under caterpillar in the "Little Explorers" section there is an art
activity children could do in the classroom or at home. There are also
several facts about a caterpillar. The children are also able to print out
three different sheets of a caterpillar for them to color.
Title7: Butterflies Love Kids
URL7: http://melanys.tripod.com/kids.htm
Purpose7:
This is a good website for primary –intermediate students. They give
good ideas about growing plants and show children how to make things i.e a
butterfly net.
Description7:
This website gives a list of different plants kids can grow, has several
different coloring pages, and show children how to make their own butterfly net.
Title8:
URL8:
http://www.milkweedcafe.com/ClubCathome.htm
Purpose8:
Children can learn more about butterflies and caterpillars and have fun
while they are learning.
Description8: You can find all sorts of fun stuff on these pages and children can learn about butterflies and caterpillars while they play. There are several different puzzles, games, activities, free downloads, and plenty of photos. They even have a newsletter you can subscribe to for free.
