We always get painted lady caterpillars in the spring and watch the transformation from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly; we then have a release party to set them free. In our Maple room the children paint egg cartons to look like caterpillars. Then as our real caterpillars transform into the chrysalis stage, we have them put their caterpillar inside a paper bag to be their chrysalis. They stay in there a couple of weeks having on a bulletin board in the room. Meanwhile the children paint "wings", we used eye droppers and folded paper to make them look symmetrical, but you can do any creative art process. Then the fun part begins. When the children are not there, we take their caterpillar out of the bag, add wings and put it back in the bag and back on the bulletin board. Then we wait and when our real butterflies start to emerge we do something really fun. We added to the paper bag on the end a piece of fishing line and when the children are sitting at circle time, one of the teachers is gently pulling on the fishing line, to shake the bag until one of the children notices the noise or movement. Then we announce the butterflies are trying to emerge from their chrysalis and take the bags down. The children open the paper bag (chrysalis) and find their butterfly inside! They are beyond excited! We tie this all in with various books about butterflies including The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.
No comments:
Post a Comment