The Very Hungry Catepillar

The Very Hungry Catepillar
By: Eric Carle
Genre: Science Fiction
Ages: 4-8

This story is about the life cycle of a butterfly.  It teaches children how the life cycle includes egg, larva, pupa and then adult butterfly. The book teaches children about each life cycle and what occurs during the different parts of the life cycle. Students will love seeing the different cycles a caterpillar goes through before becoming a beautiful butterfly!


Theme:
A butterfly is not born a butterfly. A butterfly goes through a life cycle to become an adult butterfly. It starts off as an egg. The egg turns into a larva which is another word for a caterpillar. The caterpillar then makes a pupa, or a cocoon. After being in the cocoon for awhile it turns into an adult butterfly.


About the author:
Eric Carle was born in Syracuse! He is a famous author and illustrator of children's literature. His most famous book is The Very Hungry Catepillar. It has been translated into 45 languages and sold over 30 million copies. His art work makes his work recongnizable and engaging for students. Many of his books have themes about nature. He is an author and illustrator who will be remembered for years to come.


Pre-reading activities:
Students will color and decorate a butterfly template that is given to them. They will cut it out and tape it to a Popsicle stick. They will bring the projects to the carpet to hold on to during the reading.


Post-reading activities:
The students will make their own booklets about the life cycle of a butterfly. There will be a page for each cycle and they will write one sentence about what happens during the cycles. They also will draw a picture of what that cycle looks like.

Source used:
http://www.eric-carle.com/home.html

Four Seasons Make a Year

Four Seasons Make A Year
By: Anne Rockwell
Pictures by: Megan Halsey
Genre: Science Fiction
Ages: 4-8

This is a story about a young girl who lives on a farm. She teaches the readers about all of the changes that occur during the different seasons. For example, she shows the readers how it snows in winter, leaves fall of the tree during fall, flowers bloom during spring and how it is hot during the summer. She also teaches the readers the dates of the first day of each season. This is a really fun way to teach students all about the four seasons. Students get to visually see what each season looks like.


Theme:
The year is divided up into four seasons. These seasons are fall, winter, spring and summer. The weather is different during each season and each season brings about different changes to our earth.


About the author:
Anne Rockwell has written over 100 children's books. People always said she was born reading. She also loves to paint. Her own daughter has also illustrated a picture book called Apples and Pumpkins which became very famous.


Pre-reading activity:
The teacher will have pictures of things that happen during different seasons such as snow, rain, leaves falling, sun shining, etc. The teacher will hold up one picture at a time and the students will call out which season they think the picture belongs to.

Post-reading activity:
After reading the book and discussing what we learned, the students will compose a writing piece about their favorite season. The students will use descriptive words to describe their favorite season and why it is their favorite season. Students will also write about one activity they like to do during that season. 

Source used:
http://www.annerockwell.com/