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Home » Early Years Science » Preschool Science » Fun Sparks: Bursting the cocoon! Caterpillar Fun.

Fun Sparks: Bursting the cocoon! Caterpillar Fun.

Modified: Feb 28, 2023 · Published: Feb 16, 2012 by Emma Vanstone · This post may contain affiliate links · 25 Comments

The transformation from Caterpillar to butterfly is one that hooks in children, however old they are.

We are big fans of the Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle in this house, and it is a great way to introduce the lifecycle of a caterpillar.

Firstly we read the story.

Bursting the cocoon, Caterpillar Fun

Then we talked about a cocoon and what it must be like to be all wrapped and snuggled up. We attempted to make our own cocoon around Noah, and the twins in toilet paper, and they burst out of it from the top! They loved this game!

Bursting the Cocoon! Caterpillar Fun
The children just loved this part!

We then decided to make some caterpillars.

You will need:

An egg box

Paints

Pipe Cleaners

Marker pens

Googly eyes

Cut an egg box so that you have a strip of the carton.

Paint it green (as I thought) or red as Noah did and yellow as Little Madam did!

Bursting the cocoon! Caterpillar Fun
Messy Fun!

In each section, put a hole on each side and thread through a pipe cleaner for the legs.

Use some pipe cleaners as antennae.

Put on the googly eyes!

Place on some cutout leaves!

Bursting the cocoon! Caterpillar Fun
Three very hungry caterpillars

Last Updated on February 28, 2023 by Emma Vanstone

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Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. sunnymama

    February 16, 2012 at 7:22 am

    That looks so much fun! 🙂

    Reply
    • ScienceSparks

      February 17, 2012 at 9:12 am

      We did have fun, and they loved the cocoon part best!

      Reply
  2. Cerys @ Rainy Day Mum

    February 16, 2012 at 9:27 am

    We love The Very hungry Catterpillar and love the idea about wrapping the kids in a cacoon – I’m seriously considering getting a butterfly house and some eggs from the vegetable patch this year and going through the butterfly life cycle with J and T that way

    Reply
    • ScienceSparks

      February 17, 2012 at 9:12 am

      A butterfly house would be very cool! Some real life butterflies to watch emerge would be amazing.

      Reply
  3. maryanne @ mama smiles

    February 16, 2012 at 2:16 pm

    How fun! The caterpillars are so cute, too!

    Reply
    • ScienceSparks

      February 17, 2012 at 9:11 am

      Thank you! 🙂

      Reply
  4. TheBoyandMe

    February 16, 2012 at 3:39 pm

    That’s fantastic! I’m making some caterpillars with The Boy tomorrow. We saw a caterpillar on the way home from town earlier, beautiful.

    Reply
    • ScienceSparks

      February 17, 2012 at 9:08 am

      It is such a fun idea and my three just loved doing all the parts and did not lose interest at all!

      Reply
  5. susankmann

    February 16, 2012 at 4:28 pm

    Love this idea x

    Reply
    • ScienceSparks

      February 17, 2012 at 9:08 am

      So glad, have a go as your boys would love it! x

      Reply
  6. rachel

    February 16, 2012 at 9:00 pm

    We have been visiting the caterpillars and butterflies at Bristol zoo this week , it raised lots of questions.
    In the spring we will rear our own using a kit – the girls keep asking when it will be warm enough.
    There is a great song called a tiny caterpillar on a leaf – i’ll try and get the girls on video singing it and add it to fun sparks.
    When my 7 yr old was 3 she used to hide in her toy storage and emerge as a beautiful butterfly – its a very popular topic.

    Reply
    • ScienceSparks

      February 17, 2012 at 9:09 am

      I would love to hear their song. I did not know you could get rearing kits? Where do you get those from, as we would love to have a go?

      Reply
  7. rightfromthestart

    February 17, 2012 at 11:02 pm

    From a company called insectlore based in Cornwall. We have raised successful butterflies and also tried stick insects but they died. They have some great resources for teaching life cycles too.

    Reply
    • dllopez

      October 16, 2013 at 7:41 pm

      We ordered a painted lady butterfly kit last week. All 5 caterpillar are in cocoon stage now and kids were so excited to see the caterpillars eating anf then crawling to top of container. We are moving them into butterfly garden tomorrow to wait on them to emerge as butterflies. The kids watch them everyday to see if they are squirming in the cocoons.

      Reply
  8. Natalie

    February 18, 2012 at 6:14 am

    I like tp cocoon idea – I bet your little ones especially loved it.

    Reply
    • ScienceSparks

      February 19, 2012 at 2:16 pm

      They did, thank you. xx

      Reply
  9. MiaB

    February 20, 2012 at 8:14 pm

    We love the Hungry Caterpillar book!!! The activity looked so much fun and the craft is too cute 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing this with us at Sharing Saturday. Hope to see you again next week.

    ~MiaB
    http://www.mamamiasheart2heart.com

    Reply
  10. sunnymama

    February 23, 2012 at 3:02 pm

    Thanks so much for sharing these fun ideas with our Spring Carnival. 🙂 I’ve featured your post here: http://sunnydaytodaymama.blogspot.com/2012/02/all-year-round-week-one-7-spring-ideas.html

    Reply
    • ScienceSparks

      February 23, 2012 at 6:25 pm

      oh wow, thank you. xx

      Reply

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