Spring Time Caterpillars
By Caroline Wyman
Objective: The students will be able to learn simple addition and subtraction by using the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Grades k-2
Initiation: Read the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle and discuss what happens to the caterpillar, how many pieces of fruit, candy, leaves... and so on does the caterpillar eat. Ask outloud "what if the caterpillar ate two more apples? How many apples would he have eaten?"
Development: After talking about the apples, and adding a few more pieces of fruit, ask the class "now what if the caterpillar had eight oranges and could only eat three of them? How many oranges would have been left over?" Continue giving the class verbal problems using the fruit and or candy as an example while writing the numbers and number sentences on the board depending on the skill levels. For the younger students, have an apple, orange, and strawberry cut out for each group of students to use. Cut a whole in each piece of fruit to represent the fruit that the caterpillar ate. They can then add pieces of fruit and write down as a group the number sentence. For example if they have three apples and add four more, their number sentence would be 3+4=7. Or they can use the apples with the holes in them and make a subtraction number sentence. For example they might have four whole apples and then two apples with holes in them so the number sentence would be 4-2=2. Use all kinds of foods to make it fun. Be creative!
Closure: Pass out apples to everyone to eat or give them a cut out apple with their name on it as a math reminder for The Very Hungry Caterpillar lesson.
Materials: The Very Hungry Caterpillar book, fruit cut outs, paper, pencils, apples.
Time: 30 minutes.
Caroline Wyman has a degree in Sociology and a Masters in Elementary Education and is the administrator for TeacherNet.com.