Living Interactions
How do living things affect each other?
Lesson 1-Preparing for Caterpillars
Lesson 1: Preparing for Caterpillars

Objectives:
  • The student will be able to make connections and inferences based on text and prior knowledge.
  • Students will be able to express in words and drawings what they already know about caterpillars and butterflies.
  • Students will be able to express in words what they would like to find out about caterpillars.

Materials:
    Student
       1 sheet of drawing paper
     
    Teacher
       2 pieces of chart paper
                   or
       1 laptop connected to document camera
 
Procedure:

1. Discuss with the class the arrival of the caterpillars that will be living in a habitat built in the classroom.  The class will observe the growth and change of the caterpillars.  

2. The class will conduct a brainstorming session to find out what they already know about caterpillars.

3. Label one piece of chart paper What We Know About Caterpillars or create a document using your laptop (have laptop plugged into the document camera and displayed on the screen).  These tools will be used to record all student responses objectively.

4. Label the second piece of chart paper What We Would Like To Find Out About Caterpillars or create a second document using your laptop (have your laptop plugged into the document camera and displayed on the screen). These tools will be used to record student questions.

5. Keep both charts. They will be used as:
  • Pre-unti assessments. The students have shared important information about what they know about caterpillars and butterflies through discussion and the asking of questions. As the unit is taught, build upon their knowledge and experiences. As each lesson is taught, the students will be able to add new information and ideas with a differnt colored pen/font color.
  • Post-unit assessments. When the unit is completed, display the lists of ideas the students have developed. Allow students to evaluate their own progress by reviewing the lists.
6. Distribute pencils and blank paper. Ask the students to:
  • Draw a picture of what they think a caterpillar looks like.
  • Draw the life cycle of the caterpillar. These drawings and writings will be useful in later assessments.
Florida Sunshine State Standards
Science
Sunshine State Standards
PreK-2
F Processes of Life
Standard 1 The student describes patterns of structure and function in living things.
SCI-K-2-F.1.2. The student knows how to apply knowledge about life processes to distinguish between living and nonliving things.
SCI-K-2-F.1.3. The student describes how organisms change as they grow and mature.
Standard 2 The student understands the process and importance of genetic diversity.
SCI-K-2-F.2.1. The student knows that living things have offspring that resemble their parents.
G How Living Things Interact with Their Environment
Standard 1 The student understands the competitive, interdependent, cyclic nature of living things in the environment.
SCI-K-2-G.1.1. The student knows that environments have living and nonliving parts.
SCI-K-2-G.1.2. The student knows that plants and animals are dependent upon each other for survival.
SCI-K-2-G.1.4. The student knows that animals and plants can be associated with their environment by an examination of their structural characteristics.