The very hungry caterpillar, by Eric Carle

Check out one or all of these versions

Read Aloud - The Very Hungry Caterpillar https://youtu.be/c8RBVbvwMd4

An animated version - The Very Hungry Caterpillar https://youtu.be/75NQK-Sm1YY

Eric Carle reads - The Very Hungry Caterpillar https://youtu.be/vkYmvxP0AJI

Before listening to the story, talk about:

-The title and pictures you see.

“What do you think the story will be about?” “What do you think will happen in the story?”

-The author and what an author does (writes the story)

-The Illustrator and what an illustrator does (creates the pictures)

While the story is being read, you can pause the video in different places to discuss what might happen next, what the children’s ideas are, count the fruit and talk about the different colours. Asking open ended questions to predict what will happen next.

After the reading, more discussion…retell it…talk about what the caterpillar ate…the order/ sequence… Is that what caterpillars eat?

Activities that can be done to further discuss the story.

(All the supplies you will need are easily accessible at home)

-Use your imagination…pretend to be a caterpillar and re-enact how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly. Add some colourful scarves and pretend to emerge and fly like a butterfly

-Draw and colour 2 pictures of each (from the story)…leaf, caterpillar, butterfly, sun, moon, apple, pear etc. and play a memory game by finding the 2 that match

-Make some patterns…caterpillar patterns…draw and cut multiple circles in a few different colours. Create a pattern and have your child recreate it. Now see if you can re-create a pattern that your child has created. You could, also, sort the colours, count the circles

-Let’s get creative and make a butterfly. Using a coffee filter (or napkin/paper towel) drop food colouring (or use markers with a little water) to create different colours and designs. Gather the coffee filter with a clothespin to create the wings of the butterfly. Or simply play with the colours and see how they change and create different designs