Educational creativity

          I'm sharing some fun Eric Carle activities that can be used with the The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  It has been one of my favorite children's books.  I read it every year in the spring when we order real caterpillars.  It explains the life cycle of a butterfly by using the beautiful artwork of Eric Carle.  I do, however, read the story and change the word cocoon to chrysalis.  Because I am reading it for the science content.  I have been to Eric Carle's website, and it does explain why he uses the word that is scientifically incorrect.  Art over Science.  Do you change the word as you read the book? This is so far my favorite idea to try.  It is so easy.  Though I think I would have painted the head on the ope side of the bag.  As you read the story, children can put each item in the bag as if the caterpillar is eating it.  Great for sequencing and retelling the story....

     For Eric Carle's birthday on June 25, a large number of ideas to do with his books were posted.  Since I liked so many of them I thought I would organize them here.      First I'll share something I made when I was in college using colored magnet sheets and computer print outs.  All the pieces didn't make it through the move and my 2 year old but you get the idea. The lollipop which was real melted and the tissue paper butterfly is missing, but they are easy to make. If your interested in making a set, they make printable magnet sheets now or just print out on paper, laminate, and put a magnet on the back. Here are some neat printable sites 1+1=1   DLTK

     Watermelons went on sale this week, so we got a large one, cut it open, and enjoyed the summer food.  My daughter loves watermelon but hates the seeds.  For our summer kitchen area, we have already made ice cream and Popsicles, so here is our watermelon. First paint a paper green whatever way you want. We tried Lego's and fingers and then just went with a paint brush.  My daughter doesn't like getting messy anymore. Paint a paper red and add seeds. I had this perfect piece of cardboard off a box, so I just cut and glue paper on front and back.  It reminds me of Eric Carle's paintings and the Very Hungry Caterpillar's dinner. Check back tomorrow for corn on the cob.

This number puzzle was made from an old calendar that had Eric Carle pictures. I love Eric Carle books and probably have all of them.  Well most of them. I just glued it to note cards.  I wrote the numbers 1- 13.  Laminate and cut into strips.  The children can use numbers as reference to put the puzzle together or the puzzle as reference to order the numbers.  Most kids liked trying to guess what kind of bug it was after putting each number in order.                                                                     Finished puzzle.