The Caterpillar(with hand actions)

Caterpillar, caterpillar,Lots of feet.

(fingers crawl over surface: desktop or knees)

Caterpillar, caterpillar, Lots to eat.

(fingers and thumbs form jaws and chew)

Caterpillar, caterpillar,Spin, spin, spin.

(fingers of each hand intertwine, wriggling

rapidly).

Caterpillar, chrysalis,Change within.

(hands mesh with fingers tucked inside, still

wriggling)

Chrysalis, chrysalis,Long, dark night.

(thumbs hook into each other, fingers still

wriggling)

Chrysalis, butterfly,Take to flight.

(hands spread flat becoming flapping wings,

thumbs still hooked together)

by Ian Larmont

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. resources_lifecycles_R003LR1

The Hungry Caterpillar – caterpillar life cycle pictures Cut out each picture. Display them randomly. Describe each picture. Sequence them to show how the caterpillar grows and changes.

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. resources_lifecycles_R003LR1

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. resources_lifecycles_R003LR1

Sequencing words

First Next Then

After Later Finally

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. resources_lifecycles_R003LR1

Cut out each word. Display vertically: begin with

First and end with Finally. Read them.

Days of the Week

Monday TuesdayWednesday Thursday

Friday SaturdaySunday

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. resources_lifecycles_R003LR1

Cut out the days of the week and display them randomly.

Read each word. Sequence them correctly.

Caterpillar lifecycle

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1. Cut out each picture.2. Discuss and describe them.3. Sequence them.4. Display them in a circle.5. Draw arrows between each stage.

When did the hungry caterpillar eat it?

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Cut out the pictures. Identify each type of food. Match them to the day the caterpillar ate them!

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. resources_lifecycles_R003LR1

The life cycle of a caterpillar

First Next Then After Finally

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Read each sequencing word. Think carefully about how an egg grows into

a butterfly. Write your ideas as sentences.

The life cycle of a caterpillar

First

Next

Then

Finally

Could be enlarged for bigger writers

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. resources_lifecycles_R003LR1

Look at each picture. Think carefully about how an

egg grows into a butterfly. Finish each sentence.

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. resources_lifecycles_R003LR1

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. resources_lifecycles_R003LR1

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. resources_lifecycles_R003LR1

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. resources_lifecycles_R003LR1

Baby Clinic Role-Play Teacher notes

A baby clinic role-play will allow children to use and rehearse their emerging vocabulary associated with lifecycles.Encourage children to use a range of different terminology to explore and consolidate the differences between babies, children and adults.They should consider what babies need to grow and thrive, and how emotional nurturing is as important as physical care.

Resources:dolls (variety of ethnicities, shapes, sizes), clothing, nappies, baby bottles,

wet wipes, changing mat, scales, telephone, pad of paper, pencils, dummy, cup, thermometer, syringe, highchair, blanket, bib, cot, medical

equipment, baby buggies, strips of paper for name labels, jars of baby food, bowls, spoons,

Roles:baby, toddler, doctor, nurse, parent/guardian, friend, receptionist

Activities: Take telephone messages. Organise appointments. Write name labels and place them on the wrist of each baby. Weigh the baby – record the name and weight. Wash the baby, change their nappy and dress them. Use medical equipment to check the baby, e.g. temperature, listen

to chest, look in ears etc. Prepare bottles for baby to drink from. Get baby ready for bed and tuck them into a cot. Prepare the buggy and take baby for a walk. Select baby food and feed baby – describe the flavour, texture and

smell of the food. Comfort baby when they are crying and distressed by singing

calming songs, playing games and cuddling them.

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. resources_lifecycles_R003LR1

The Very Hungry Caterpillar fingerprints

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. resources_lifecycles_R003LR1

Read each number. Use your finger to print that

number of caterpillar segments.

Butterfly collage

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Print the template onto white card.

Cut out each butterfly. Provide a range of different

types and colours of paper. Tear or cut pieces of paper to

cover the butterfly. Glue in place.

Remove any pieces that overlap the sides.

Repeating Patterns Teacher notes

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Activities: Identify the colour of each

pompom. Recognise most/least

favourite colours. Explain the repeating

pattern. Clip two pegs together to

create a long caterpillar.

What to do:1. Create a repeating pattern

of 2 or 3 colours, from the selection of pompoms.

2. Glue the pompoms onto the clothes peg.

3. Add googly eyes.

You will need: A range of different coloured

pompoms. Wooden clothes pegs. Googly eyes. PVA glue: a pot to put it in

and a brush to apply it.

Playdough Recipe Teacher notes

Playdough is a quick and easy medium for children to manipulate. They can practise and perfect fine motor movements and use language to

describe their actions and the textures they are experiencing.

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The challenge:

Use the playdough to make a short, medium and long caterpillar.

What to do:1.Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. 2.In a separate bowl mix together the water, a few drops of

food colouring and the oil.3.Pour the coloured water into the flour mix and bring

together with a spoon.4.Dust a work surface with a little flour and turn out the

dough. Knead together for a few minutes to form a smooth dough. Add a few extra drops of food colouring if you would like the colour to be more intense.

TOP TIP: Store playdough in plastic sandwich bags (ensuring you squeeze the air out of the bag) and

place it in the fridge to keep it fresh.Activities Add glitter to make sparkly playdough. Provide tools: rolling pins, cutters, wooden knives to cut

and shape the playdough. Press materials into the playdough to add textures to the

surface.

You will need: 8 tbsp plain flour 2 tbsp table salt 60ml warm water food colouring 1 tbsp vegetable oil

How to make a caterpillar gardenTeacher notes

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Activities Identify and sequence the different stages in a

butterfly’s lifecycle. Describe how caterpillars and butterflies move. Consider and describe what caterpillars and

butterflies eat. Invent a story about a butterfly that goes on an

adventure! Retell the story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Garden Small World SettingA garden small world setting will allow children to explore each stage in the lifecycle of a butterfly. Children will rehearse and consolidate the language associated with growing and changing to describe how caterpillars develop. They will also enjoy interacting with the different textures and aromas provided by the materials. They will retell the story of The Hungry Caterpillar and invent their

Things to collectTray/Tuff spot, rocks, pine cones, dried and fresh leaves, ferns, bark chippings, sticks, round pieces of wood, circular piece of blue fabric, green fabric, compost, moss, small world plastic caterpillars and butterflies, people and fruit, small pompoms (to denote butterfly eggs). Suggestions for making a Woodland Setting 1. Find a large tray or Tuff spot2. Line the tray with green fabric. 3. Add compost to sections of the fabric, to look like bare

soil.4. Scatter stones, sticks and leaves over the green fabric.5. Add a circle of blue fabric to make the pond.6. Create height by layering sticks and leaves – to make

shady spaces.

Languagelifecycle, egg, caterpillar, pupa, chrysalis, butterfly, water, food, drink, wing, feelers, leaf, hatch, eat, energy, jaws, legs, move, camouflage, hang, flap, proboscis, body, poisonous, friendly, predator, prey.

Fruit Kebabs Teacher notes

Making fruit kebabs is a fun way to encourage children to eat healthy food. It allows them to explore and describe the colour, flavour, texture and aroma of familiar and unusual fruits and to appreciate that healthy

snacks are fun and delicious!

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Safety Tips: Be considerate of children’s food allergies and always find an

alternative. Ensure children wash hands before and after the activity and wear an

apron.

Activities Help the children describe the colour, flavour, texture and

aroma of different fruits. Encourage children to arrange the fruit on their kebab into a

repeating pattern. Count the amount of each fruit and the total number of all

fruit used.

What to do:BEFORE THE ACTIVITY1. Clean the fruits. Wash and towel dry them.

2. Prepare the fruits by peeling, pitting, slicing or chopping them. 3. Place the fruit onto plates or into bowls.THE TASK4. Give each child a wooden kebab stick.5. Children select the type and amount of fruit for their kebab. 6. Carefully thread the fruit onto the wooden kebab sticks.

You will need: A wooden kebab stick for each child, Sharp knives to prepare the fruit, Plates/bowls to display fruit, Provide a selection of fruits. This could

include: peeled and sliced kiwi fruit, raspberries, strawberries, cubes of peeled mango, tangerine segments, pineapple chunks, grapes, blueberries, cubes of water melon, halves of pitted plum or peach or nectarine or apricot, slices of star fruit or dragon fruit, slices of passion fruit.

Caterpillar Printing Teacher notes

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. resources_lifecycles_R003LR1

printing using the bottom of a paper cup

printing using the top of a paper cup

Activities: Identify each colour. Include a repeating

pattern. Make a long and short

caterpillar. Count the number of

segments. Explore different facial

expressions to draw on

What to do:1. Dip the top or bottom of the

cup into the paint. 2. Press the cup onto the white

paper. 3. Print between 4 – 6 circles,

in any colour or pattern you choose.

4. Let the paint dry.5. Draw on a face, legs and

You will need: A4/A3 white card, Paper/plastic cups, Poster paint in a variety of

colours, Felt-tip pens, wax crayons or

pencil crayons.

Tiny Caterpillar

This is a fun action song to help children sequence the life cycle of a butterfly! Sing it several times and enjoy each of the actions!

There’s a tiny caterpillar on a leaf (wiggle, wiggle)

There’s a tiny caterpillar on a leaf (wiggle, wiggle)

There’s a tiny caterpillar, tiny caterpillar,

There’s a tiny caterpillar on a leaf (wiggle, wiggle)

He will eat the leaves around him ‘til he’s full (munch, munch)

He will eat the leaves around him ‘til he’s full (munch, munch)

He will eat the leaves around, eat the leaves around

He will eat the leaves around him ‘til he’s full (munch, munch)

A cocoon is what he’s spinning for his home (spin, spin)

A cocoon is what he’s spinning for his home (spin, spin)

A cocoon is what he’s spinning, cocoon is what he’s spinning,

A cocoon is what he’s spinning for his home (spin, spin)

Then he’ll be a butterfly and fly away (flap, flap)

Then he’ll be a butterfly and fly away (flap, flap)

Then he’ll be a butterfly, be a butterfly,

Then he’ll be a butterfly and fly away (flap, flap)

Sung to the tune of She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain

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Days of the Week

This fun song can help children to learn the order of the days of the week. Sing it several times until everyone is confidently able to sequence the days of the week correctly.

There’s Sunday and there’s Monday,

There’s Tuesday and there’s Wednesday,

There’s Thursday and there’s Friday,

And then there’s Saturday.

Days of the week! (CLAP CLAP)

Days of the week! (CLAP CLAP)

Sung to the Adam’s Family theme tune. Online versions are available …

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. resources_lifecycles_R003LR1