Caterpillars Lesson Plans

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Theme

Caterpillars Poems, Songs and Action Rhymes

Spring Lesson Plans

Caterpillar Finger Puppet

Lesson Plan:

​Activity:  ​Caterpillar Finger Puppet
Lesson plan developed by Ms. Erika Geelhoed, BA Ed

Age Group:

Mobile Infants

* Lesson plan objective and assessment can be adapted to use this activity with toddlers or preschoolers.

Objectives:  

Child will

• be introduced to early counting skills

• develop new vocabulary through poetry

CDA Competency Standard:   

II.6.2b

• Activities promote language development
  • b) Activities advance the development of language acquisition and writing skills

Caterpillar Finger Puppet

Click on the photos to enlarge.

Materials: 

• Gardening glove
  
• green felt
  
• glue
  
• black marker
  
• clothespin
  
• pom poms
  
• pipe cleaners
  
• googely eyes

Procedure: 

1. Prep for lesson by making the clothespin caterpillar.
   
2. Glue pom poms onto the clothespin (you can use a slightly bigger one for the head if desired).
   
3. Cut and glue pipe cleaners for make antennae.
   
4. Glue on googely eyes.
   
5. Next, start on making your leaf glove. Cut leaf shapes out of green felt and write numbers 1-5 on them. Glue them on to each of the fingers of the glove.
   
6. When dry you can put on the glove and read the following poem to the child:

Munchy little caterpillar,
Crawling oh so slow,
Munching up leaves
Everywhere you go,
So much work,
No time to play,
How many leaves
Will you eat today?
(Touch the caterpillar to each leaf as you count numbers 1-5)

Assessment: 

• Observe and record the child’s reactions and vocalizations

Online Early Childhood Education

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Supporting Language Development

A solid foundation in language development in the years before a child enters school will promote success in reading and writing in the future. Some studies have linked the number of words a child hears before the age of four to future academic achievement. The more often parents and caregivers talk to their children in everyday situations, the more opportunities children have to learn new words and practice their communication skills.

Singing songs and reciting simple nursery rhymes are one way to promote children’s language development.  They help to give children a sense of the natural rhythm of the language and its sentence patterns.