Home Grown Caterpillars

Submitted by: Ellen Wernert, special education art teacher at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.

Grade Level: Elementary / Special Education
Length of Lesson: 40 minutes

Goals / Objectives:

Students will learn about the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly
Students will be able to mix soil, seeds and water
Students will be able to share materials and take turns
Students will be able to place soil and seed mixture inside empty stockings
Students will be able to place rubber bands onto stocking and tie both ends of the stocking
Students will be able to mist with spray bottle daily
Students will be able to place with glue eyes, and antenna

Students will be able to observe different stages of grass growing

Materials Needed:
Grass seed, soil (from dollar store) Wiggle Eyes, Pipe Cleaners, old stockings, rubber bands, water mister bottle. small trays, cookie trays or egg carton lids to put caterpillars on while growing.

Books:

The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Despite its diminished state, the book is complete in every detail, following the ravenous caterpillar's path as he eats his way through one apple on Monday, two pears on Tuesday, three plums on Wednesday, and so on, through cherry pie and sausage--until he is really fat and has a stomachache.

Lesson Description:

Procedure:

Talk to students about caterpillars and how they turn into butterflies. Explain how a caterpillar stuffs itself with leaves and when they've grown as large as their skin will allow, the caterpillar begins to moult (Sheds old skin). After moulting about five times, it stops feeding, hangs upside down on a twig or leaf, and spins itself inside a cocoon. At this point, old cells are digested and self-destructed. This tissue soup help fuel cell division that forms wings, legs, antennae, eyes, etc. Once formed into a new butterfly, it pulls itself out of the cocoon.

Students will then make a hairy caterpillar using soil, grass seed, and used stockings.

Steps:
Step one: Pass out one cut stockings to each child.
Step two: Students will write their names with a sharpie marker on each stocking
Step three: Pass around bowl with soil and grass seeds (Rye grass grows fast). The mixture is a ratio of four cups of soil with four tablespoons of grass seed.
Step four: Have students take turns mixing soil and seeds.
Step five: Using spray water bottle have each student spray into the mixture.
Step six: Tie a knot on one end of the stocking. Have students spoon soil mixture into the stocking. Hair bands or rubber bands can be used to divide the concoction into segments. Once all the soil and seeds are all inside the stocking, tie a knot in the stocking to seal the other end.
Step seven: Glue eyes and antenna onto the front of panty hose. Pipe cleaners can also be stuck into the caterpillar through the stockings.
Step eight: Soak stockings filled with soil and seed for at least 10 minutes.
Step nine: Place on trays or egg cartons listed by room number
Step ten: Follow cleanup procedures.

Step eleven: Lay trays in an area with plenty of sunshine.

Assessment(s):

Students who are able to complete 6 tasks = A
Students who are able to complete 5 tasks = B
Students who are able to complete 4 and under = C

Tasks

• Put seeds into soil

• Mix seeds with soil

• Spoon soil and seed mixture into stockings

• Place rubber bans onto caterpillar

• Place antenna on head of caterpillar

• Place google eyes onto caterpillar

National Standards:
National Core Arts Standards and/or National Visual Arts Standards Covered: 9.1 a, b, c, d, e, f, g 3.1 b