The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Early Learning Activities

This week we've been concentrating on lessons we can draw from The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

We got a copy of the book and DVD from the local library which we've read through and watched a few times.  It covers a number of learning areas including:

• Learning the days of the week
• Counting
• Memory skills
• Prediction
• The lifecycle of a caterpillar

I also downloaded a fantastic maths workbook from TES (here's a direct link) and Little Moo has completed the first exercise - matching up each circle of fruit to a numeral.

Then it was time for some arty-crafty fun. Little moo traced circles onto some green tissue paper, using a cup as a template, then practised using the scissors to cut them out.  After which she 'painted' some watered down glue onto a sheet of card and stuck the circles on making her very own hungry caterpillar. (One of the circles was cut from red tissue paper to make the head).

When I opened the craft cupboard to get some googly eyes Little Moo spotted the glitter and decided to pimp up her hungry caterpillar!!

Once it's completely dry she can use a marking pen to add legs and antennae.

Next week (and for however long it takes to complete) we'll carry on with some more maths activities in the workbook, which include counting the segments (circles) in a few different caterpillars; drawing a caterpillar using a specified number of circles; doing some fruit sums; and identifying and copying patterns.

I also have some ideas for doing more arts and crafts continuing in the theme of The Very Hungry Caterpillar but I'll put those in a separate post.

We'll also make a fruit salad using the same fruit that the caterpillar ate (I'll probably incorporate doing a shopping list, choosing the best fruit, paying for them etc into the whole learning experience).

Once we've completed all of the above then I think I trip to Butterfly World in Swindon would be a lovely way to end this theme.

What do you think?