Week 21: Butterflies

This week marks the beginning of a more 'laid back' schedule for us.

This gives me more time to spend

with my children having fun and learning!

We are all very intrigued by butterflies,

and with the first signs of summer upon us,

what better than to learn about butterflies!

I have ordered our caterpillars from www.insectlore.com

where we will receive 5 caterpillars + food!

Hopefully they will come soon...

the girls are getting anxious

(and by girls, I mean me).

The first part of the week will be about Caterpillars,

then we will talk about the life cycle of a butterfly.

We will be using the Eric Carle book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar

to learn about the life cycle, but also about the days of the week.

Books:

A butterfly grows by Swinburne, Stephen R.

Adios, Oscar! : a butterfly fable by Elwell, Peter

Fancy Nancy : bonjour, butterfly by O'Connor, Jane.

Velma Gratch & the way cool butterfly by Madison, Alan.

My, oh my-- a butterfly! by Rabe, Tish.

Butterfly eyes and other secrets of the meadow by Sidman, Joyce.Wings of light : the migration of the yellow butterfly by Swinburne, Stephen R.

Butterfly count by Collard, Sneed B.

Are you a butterfly? by Allen, Judy.

The butterfly jar by Moss, Jeffrey.

The butterfly alphabet by Sandved, Kjell Bloch, 1922

Crafts and Activites:

1) We will be taking care of our caterpillars by making sure they have enough food and are ready for their next phase of life!

2) Caterpillar Craft- Handprint Caterpillar ( I am such a sucker for handprint crafts)

3) Butterfly Craft- Footprint Butterfly (Why not?) This was done on Canvas from Come Together Kids!

4)Butterfly Life Cycle Craft- Plate Craft ( I love the simplicity of this )

Songs: (Source)

Flutter, Flutter, Butterfly

(Original Author unknown)

Tune of: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"

Flutter, flutter, butterfly.

Floating in the summer sky.

Floating by for all to see.

Floating by so merrily.

Flutter, flutter, butterfly,

Floating in the summer sky.

Pretty Butterfly

(Original Author Unknown)

tune of: "Up on the Housetop"

First comes a butterfly

Who lays an egg.

Out comes a caterpillar

With many legs.

Oh, see the caterpillar

Spin and spin.

A little chrysalis to sleep in.

Oh, oh, oh, look and see,

Oh, oh, oh, look and see.

Out of the chrysalis, my, oh, my,

Out comes a pretty butterfly!

Roly-Poly Caterpillar

(Original Author Unknown)

Roly-poly caterpillar (wiggle right pointer finger)

Into a corner crept. (place right pointer finger in left cupped hand)

Spun around himself a blanket (spin around)

Then for a long time slept. (place head on folded hands)

Roly-poly caterpillar (wiggle right pointer finger)

Wakening by and by. ("stretch" right pointer finger)

Found himself with beautiful wings

Changed to a butterfly. (flutter arms like wings)

Snacks: (Source)

These look super fun!

...Salty chocolate anyone? Yes Please:)

We'll also do some butterflies with

Apples and Raisins for a little more healthy snack!

Additional Fun Things I will try to do with them:

1) When learning about the chrysallis, the girls will wrap each other in TP and imagine themselves in a cocoon turning into a beautiful butterfly.

2) Here's a link for a butterfly bookmark...always want to encourage reading!

3) You gotta love the butterfly wings they can put on to flutter around the house in!

Thanks!