Teacher Process
During this process, you will accomplish several tasks.These are easily assembled prior to student arrival.
1. You will be divided into your normal groups of four students. Each group will begin at station 1.(I already have my students in groups of four. We call these our color groups. I have a red, blue, green, and yellow group.)
2. At station 1, you will listen to the story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. You will each follow along in the story as usual at the listening station.(I have six copies of this book that I have picked up over time. I also have two big book versions of the book. I have six listening tapes that can be placed in individual tape players at the listening station.)
3. At station 2, you will make a caterpillar from an egg crate. You will take one of the egg crate strips and paint it green. Then you will take it to your desk to dry. You will color the caterpillar coloring sheet while the paint dries. Then, you will add pipe cleaner antennea and legs. You will also add wiggle eyes.(I have a table with all of the pieces needed placed in individual pie tins. I then have a step-by-step pictorial placed in a page protector for students to use to help them with this process.Students have prior knowledge of where to take their projects to dry. I have caterpillar coloring sheets from an insect coloring book that I purchased on sale at Wal-Mart.)
3. Then, at station 3, you will take the butterfly life cycle puzzle and put it together. Discuss what you see at each stage. Then, color the life cylce color sheet to match the puzzle. (I have a circular shaped floor puzzle that illustrates the life cycle of a butterfly that I found through Scholastic.)
4. At station 4, you will explore the butterfly habitat in our room. You will look at habitat 1 which contains catterpillars. Then, you will look at habitat 2 which contains caterpillars that are now in the chrysalis. Then, finally, you will observe the butterflies in habitat 3. How are they different? Draw what you see in your science journal.(I have 3 InsectLore habitats that are set up in the science station. One contains caterpillars. One contains pupa. One contains hatched caterpillars. My students have science journals that we compose monthly for them to demonstrate what we are learning in science.)
5. At station 5, you will explore butterly symetry. You will color the butterly symetry sheet with markers. Next, cut out the pieces. Finally, assemble using your glue with at craft stick in the middle.(I have a butterfly symetry sheet that I obtained from a veteran teacher. She said she made it years ago. You simply cut around it on both sides and glue a craft stick in the middle. I have studens color the butterflies to be identical on both sides to demonstrate their understanding of symetry. I have butterfly field guides that they can look through to help them decide on colors.)
6. Finally, you will use what you have learned to make a second book about butterflies. You will find the butterfly shape book at station 6. You can take this book to your seat and complete the book individually. You will find the sentences to place on each page written on board one in our room. You will copy them and draw a picture to illustrate what you are writing. (Page 1: First I am an egg. , Page 2: Next, I am a caterpillar., Page 3: Then, I am a pupa., Page 4: At last I am a butterfly. (I found this book on www.kinderplans.com. You have to pay $39.99 per year to access the site. However, there are tons of themes for kindergarten teachers. I have found it well worth the money. If you don't want to do that, you could make your own butterfly templates and create your own book using the sentences provided above.)
7. We will all share what we have learned together in class!(I have students take turns sharing information on the class rug.)