INTRODUCTION: This poem about caterpillars is a wonderful addition to Eric Carle's *"The Very Hungry Caterpillar." Although the poem and book are about caterpillars, it would probably be best to share the book first to allow anticipation to build as the caterpillar changes. CATERPILLAR Brown and furry Caterpillar in a hury; Take your walk To the shady leaf or stalk. May no toad spy on you, May the little birds pass by you; Spin and die, To live again a butterfly. Christina G. Rossetti From "Flit, Flutter, Fly! Poems about bugs and other crawly creatures." selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins Illustrated by Peter Palagonia (Doubleday, 1992) *"The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle (Scholastic, 1969) EXTENSIONS: After sharing "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and this poem, have your students make butterfly print paintings. The butterfly print paintings could be displayed on a bulletin board with this poem in the center. Another extension could be to have students think of other things for "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" to eat and make individual books. |