The Very Hungry

Caterpillar
 Summary
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is the story of a very hungry caterpillar
and his journey of metamorphosis. This is a life cycle book teaching
students the life cycle of a butterfly from the perspective of a
caterpillar. The caterpillar begins as an egg and then hatches to
become a caterpillar. The story follows the caterpillar’s journey as he
eats and eats and eats leading him to become quite plump and turn
into a BIG, FAT caterpillar. This was nothing to be concerned about
though, because the caterpillar then goes through the cocoon stage
and pushed his way out to become a beautiful butterfly.
 Lessons that can be taught with this book
This book is so diverse in content areas covered.
● English
● Science
● Math
● Days of the week
● Art

For this lesson we will focus on sequencing and life cycles.

Pre-Reading Questions: Prior Knowledge
Have you ever seen a caterpillar or touched a caterpillar?

What do you know about caterpillars?

The book is called The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Does anyone have any
predictions about this book?
Vocabulary
● Egg: 1st stage, laid on plants by the adult female butterfly, an oval or
round object
● Caterpillar: 2nd stage, the feeding stage have a segmented worm
like body
● Cocoon: 3rd stage, covering or case made by some animals to
protect themselves
● Nibble: take small bites out of

Additional Vocabulary:
● Hatch: to break open.
● Metamorphosis: process some animals go through to become
adults. It is a series of physical changes.
● Life cycle: the series of changes in the life of an organism including
reproduction
 During Reading
I will ask students to order the story using sequencing cards as I
read.
● If in person have all students have all cards cut up on their desk
in bags
● If online use jamboard as a way for students to order their
sequence of events
 Activities
● Comprehension of Important Ideas
○ Review of sequencing the story in small groups
● Fluency
○ Using the sequencing cards discuss in your groups your
favorite part of the story.
● Connection Beyond the Text
○ Stages of the life cycle of a butterfly
Activity 1: Comprehension of Important Ideas

Review of sequencing the story in small groups

Group Blue: Advanced Students

These students will review their sequence cards to make sure they all
agree.
They will label the back of each card with what the event or picture is of.
EX: “2 Pears”
Using the cards write COMPLETE sentences for beginning middle and
end of the story.
Activity 1: Comprehension of Important Ideas
Review of sequencing the story in
small groups

Group Yellow: Average Students

These students will review their

sequence cards to make sure
they all agree.

They will then Paste OR draw

the sequence cards into the
correct day of the week

They will also label each event

card with that the event is
Activity 1: Comprehension of Important Ideas
Review of sequencing the story in small groups

Group Orange: Struggling Students

These students will review their sequence cards to make sure they all
agree with you bring the text to help guide their cards
Together the students will create a flowchart for the sequencing cards
using connector words
Ex First, Next, Then, Last
Student will glue the sequencing cards in the boxes
 First Second Next

Later After that Then

Activity Two: Fluency
Using the sequencing cards discuss in your groups your favorite part of the story.
● Why is it the most important part?
● Did you like or dislike this part of the story?
● What did this part of the story teach us?
● Is this part important to the plot of the story why or why not?

Draw a picture of your favorite part of the story.

Group Blue: Advanced Students

Write under the picture
My favorite part is… because…
Group Yellow: Average Students
Write under the picture
My favorite part is...
Group Orange: Struggling Students
Label the objects in your picture
Activity Three: Connection Beyond the Text
Stages of the life cycle of a butterfly

Life Cycle: stages a living thing goes through during its life. It should include all the stages
as shown below.
Activity Three: Connection Beyond the Text
Stage of the life cycle of a butterfly

Group Blue: Advanced Students

They have to write a complete sentence on the stage using transition words and draw
a picture next to it.
 First is the egg
stage

Last is the Next is the

butterfly stage caterpillar stage

Then is the
cocoon stage
Activity Three: Connection Beyond the Text
Stage of the life cycle of a butterfly

Group Yellow: Average Students

They have to label the stage and draw a picture next to it
 Egg stage

Butterfly stage Caterpillar stage

Cocoon stage
Activity Three: Connection Beyond the Text
Stage of the life cycle of a butterfly

Group Orange: Struggling Students

They have to cut and paste the pictures that match with each stage along with the
stage that correlates

Standards for
reading
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.2
With prompting and support,
retell familiar stories, including
key details.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.4
Ask and answer questions
about unknown words in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7
With prompting and support,
describe the relationship
between illustrations and the
story in which they appear (e.g.,
what moment in a story an
illustration depicts).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.10
Actively engage in group
reading activities with purpose
and understanding.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.K.4
Read emergent-reader texts
with purpose and
understanding.
Kindergarten Standards
Standards for Comprehension Fluency Connection
all (Writing and (Opinion pieces) (Science
understanding) integration)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.K.2 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.K.6 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.K.1 K-LS1-1.
Use a combination of drawing, Use words and phrases Use a combination of drawing, Use observations to describe
dictating, and writing to acquired through dictating, and writing to patterns of what plants and
compose conversations, reading and compose opinion pieces in animals (including humans)
informative/explanatory texts in being read to, and responding which they tell a reader the need to survive
which they name what they are to texts. topic or the name of the book
writing about and supply some they are writing about and state
information about the topic.. an opinion or preference about
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.K.3 the topic or book (e.g., My
Use a combination of drawing, favorite book is...).
dictating, and writing to narrate
a single event or several
loosely linked events, tell about
the events in the order in which
they occurred, and provide a
reaction to what happened.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.1
Participate in collaborative
conversations with diverse
partners about kindergarten
topics and texts with peers and
adults in small and larger
groups.
Thank You!!!