Amazing Caterpillars
Books in this lesson:
Houdini The Amazing Caterpillar
Author and Illustrator: Janet Pedersen Publisher: Clarion Books Year: 2008 Houdini is a classroom caterpillar with “magical” abilities. He makes a leaf vanish, crawls across a high-wire stick, and grows before your very eyes. When the audience tires of his tricks, he performs one final act to amaze everyone, including himself. |
From Caterpillar to Butterfly
Author: Deborah Heiligman
Illustrator: Bari Weissman Publisher: HarperCollins Year: 1996 Simple text and colorful illustrations describe a butterfly’s life cycle within an elementary classroom. |
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Author and Illustrator: Eric Carle Publisher: Penguin Group Year: 1969 The story follows a caterpillar as it makes some unusual food choices and grows into a beautiful butterfly. |
FCS Provided Databases (click on the icon to see the available resources)
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Check out these curated resources about Butterflies from Kids InfoBits.
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Peep’s New Friend
Run Time: 11 min 40 sec Peep befriends a caterpillar, only to discover that some friendships are bound to change in this animated episode narrated by Joan Cusack. Designed to teach science to preschoolers, this Emmy Award-winning series follows the daily adventures of a newly hatched chicken living along a pond in a city park. Access the Amazing Caterpillars Playlist on Safari Montage. |
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The Lives of Butterflies
Run Time: 8 min 45 sec This video describes the characteristics of insects and documents the life cycle of the monarch butterfly. |
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Butterflies
Run Time: 4 min 32 sec The butterfly is an insect that goes through metamorphosis, and it goes through big changes. In this movie, you’ll see how a caterpillar grows and transforms into an adult butterfly or moth. First, an adult butterfly lays eggs. Then a caterpillar or larva hatches from the egg. The caterpillar turns into a pupa, or chrysalis, and then becomes an adult butterfly! In this movie, you'll also learn about the parts of this insect, including the wings, antenna, and proboscis. You’ll find out how butterflies can use camouflage to stay safe, or use bright colors and patterns to scare animals away. |
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Metamorphosis
Run Time: 2 min 17 sec How does a caterpillar turn into a butterfly? A tadpole into a frog? Tim and Moby tell you all about metamorphosis in this BrainPOP movie. Learn which creatures go through different kinds of metamorphoses, plus the difference between complete and incomplete metamorphosis. Discover all of the stages of complete metamorphosis and what type of development takes place in each stage. You’ll also find out about what happens in each stage of incomplete metamorphosis. Things sure are changing around here! |
KidVisionVPK: Butterfly World Field Trip
Run Time: 9 min
Penny and the KidVision VPK Kids learn all about butterflies. They witness metamorphosis, examine live butterflies, float with butterflies in a rainforest cave, and see a museum collection of the most beautiful butterflies in the world.
Run Time: 9 min
Penny and the KidVision VPK Kids learn all about butterflies. They witness metamorphosis, examine live butterflies, float with butterflies in a rainforest cave, and see a museum collection of the most beautiful butterflies in the world.
How a Caterpillar Becomes a Butterfly
Run Time: 3 min 57 sec
You’ve seen caterpillars, and you’ve seen butterflies. But do you know how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly? Jessi explains the wonder of metamorphosis!
Run Time: 3 min 57 sec
You’ve seen caterpillars, and you’ve seen butterflies. But do you know how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly? Jessi explains the wonder of metamorphosis!
Exploration Station: How a Caterpillar Becomes a Butterfly Explained
Run Time: 3 min 4 sec
The incredible Butterfly goes through a unique transformation. This clip is from the television series 'Animal Science'.
Run Time: 3 min 4 sec
The incredible Butterfly goes through a unique transformation. This clip is from the television series 'Animal Science'.
