Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Preschool Storytime: Caterpillars and Butterflies

Book: Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr.




Book: Are You a Butterfly? by Judy Allen

I wanted to incorporate nonfiction for a little background on the lifecycle before I plunged into the next rhyme. I used the illustrations and shortened some of the text.




Flannelboard Rhyme: “Five Little Caterpillars” 
(design based on Miss Mary Liberry's)


I added an egg on a leaf to represent the entire life cycle.













Five little caterpillars and not one more
One spun a cocoon and then there were four.
Four little caterpillars sitting in a tree
One spun a cocoon and then there were three.
Three little caterpillars looking at you
One spun a cocoon and then there were two.
Two little caterpillars sitting in the sun
One spun a cocoon and then there was one.
One little caterpillar left all alone
He spun a cocoon and then there were none.





But one cocoon opened under the sun
Out came a butterfly and that makes one.
The second cocoon opened and out he flew
Here came a butterfly and now there are two.
A third cocoon opened and he felt so free
Here came a butterfly and now there are three.
A fourth cocoon opened making one more
Here came a butterfly and now there are four.
A fifth cocoon opened, so happy to be alive
Here came a butterfly and now there are five.*

*I didn't have immediate access to the entire original rhyme, so I improvised a bit. 




Fingerplay: “Two Little Butterflies”
Two little butterflies sitting on a hill
One named Jack, and one named Jill
Fly away Jack, Fly away Jill
Come back Jack, Come back Jill


Shaker Song: “Shake Your Shaker” 
(to the tune of: "Old MacDonald Had a Farm")
Shake your shaker in the air, shake it in the air.
With a shake-shake here and shake-shake there,
Here a shake, there a shake, everywhere a shake-shake.
Shake your shaker in the air, shake it in the air.

Shake your shaker way down low, shake it way down low.
With a shake-shake here and a shake-shake there,
Here a shake, there a shake, everywhere a shake-shake.
Shake your shaker way down low, shake it way down low.

Shake your shaker way up high, shake it way up high.
With a shake-shake here and a shake-shake there, 
Here a shake, there a shake, everywhere a shake-shake.
Shake your shaker way up high, shake it way up high.


Shaker Song: “Egg Shakers Up

Egg shakers up,                                            (shakers above head)
And egg shakers down,                                (shakers on the floor)
Egg shakers dancing all around the town.    (move shakers back and forth)     
Dance them on your shoulders
Dance them on your head
Dance them on your knee
And tuck them into bed                               (fold shaker inside hands, under head)


Shaker Song: “We Tap the Floor Together
We tap the floor together
We tap the floor together
We tap the floor together
Because it’s fun to do!

(Repeat: clap our hands, wave hello)


Book: Where’s my Mom? by Julia Donaldson



Game: “Little Caterpillar, Are You Behind the  (color)  butterfly?”
Knock, knock, knock
Little caterpillar, little caterpillar
Are you behind the ______ butterfly?




Fingerplay: “My Friend Caterpillar”
My friendly little caterpillar                   (fingers crawl up arm)
Made its cocoon one day                        (cup hands together)
It turned into a butterfly                         (open hands with thumbs hooked)
And quickly flew away                          (flap hands)
(Credit: SurLaLune Storytime)


Book: Don’t Worry Bear by Greg Foley 



Flannelboard: “Butterfly Colors”
The first to come to the garden bed
Is a lovely butterfly of brilliant RED.
Then in comes another and that makes two.
Fly right in, my friend of BLUE.
“The garden is fine, the best I’ve seen,”
says the butterfly of darkest GREEN.
Our garden needs a sunny fellow,
Fly on in, butterfly with wings of YELLOW.
Little friend of PURPLE, fly in too.
The garden is waiting for a color like you.
ORANGE, orange, you’re waited so long.
Fly right in, where you belong.
Butterflies, butterflies, you’re such a sight!
Flying together – what a delight!
(Credit: Miss Meg’s Storytime)


I added participation to this rhyme by passing out the butterflies and having each child put their butterfly on the board when I said their color. 


Story/Activity: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

This was such a fun way to retell a familiar story. Thanks to Lisa at Thrive After Three for the idea and instructions. It was a hit!

Start with a knee-high stocking and googly eyes for the caterpillar.













These pieces are all made of craft foam. I drew them freehand.


Add details with more foam and glue or puffy paint.


Cut a hole in the middle that fits over your arm.


Make sure you have lots of red foam and try to find tan!
My cherry pie is a sad, sad blueberry...something.


Have the kids add pieces to your caterpillar arm
as you tell the story (and make munching sounds).

Finish up with the cocoon and butterfly.





For our scarf songs today, we pretended the scarves were colorful butterflies.

Scarf Song: “Flutter, Flutter Butterfly”
(to the tune of: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”)

Flutter flutter butterfly
Floating in the springtime sky
Floating by for all to see
Floating by so merrily
Flutter flutter butterfly
Floating in the springtime sky


Scarf Rhyme: “Fuzzy Little Caterpillar”
(to the tune of: “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”)

A fuzzy little caterpillar curled up on a leaf
Spun her little chrysalis and then fell fast asleep
While she was sleeping, she dreamed that she could fly
And later when she woke up, she was a butterfly!


Scarves: “Bibbity Boppity Boo”
(to the tune of: "Willaby Wallaby Woo)
Bibbity Boppity Boo
A butterfly sat on my shoe
Bibbety Boppity band 
A butterfly sat on my hand 
Bibbity Boppity Bed
A butterfly sat on my head
Bibbity Boppity Bee
A butterfly sat on my knee
(Credit: Storytime with Miss Tara and Friends)



I could NOT skip the Popcorn Kernel song or there would have been trouble. It is a huge favorite!

Scarf Song: “Popcorn Kernels
(to the tune of “Frere Jacques”)

Popcorn kernels, popcorn kernels              (wave scarf)
In the pot, in the pot                                   (hide scarf inside cupped hands)
Shake them, shake them, shake them        (shake cupped hands)
Shake them, shake them, shake them
Til they pop! Til they pop!                        (throw scarf into the air)


Book: Butterfly, Butterfly by Petr Horacek


The gorgeous pop-up butterfly at the end of this book was a great way to finish storytime.


Closing Song: “The More We Get Together
The more we get together, together, together
The more we get together, the happier we'll be
'Cause your friends are my friends 
And my friends are your friends
The more we get together, the happier we'll be.


Craft, Manipulatives, Exploration:



Playdough
Lacing shapes and beads


Inspiration for this storytime came from the lovely folks at: 



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