Poetry Lesson Ideas

Fuzzy  Wuzzy, Creepy Crawly 
poem by Lilian Schulz.
Fuzzy wuzzy, creepy crawly
Caterpillar funny,
You will be a butterfly
When the days are sunny.  
Winging, flinging, dancing, springing
Butterfly so yellow,
You were once a caterpillar,
Wiggly, wiggly fellow.

Poetry Lesson Plan

*Theme Focus: Caterpillar/Butterfly Cycle

* Language Focus: Winging, Flinging, Dancing, Springing, Wiggly

 

Reading: 

Read the poem Fuzzy Wuzzy, Creepy Crawly give each child a different colored caterpillar you have cut from felt.  Tell them to hold up their caterpillar when it is mentioned and then place it on the felt board.  After the poem is over count how many butterflies are on the felt board.

Literacy:  

Use the poem in a pocket chart and have the kids predict the rhyming words that will fill in the last word of each stanza. Have children complete actions that complement words such as: winging, flinging, dancing, springing, and wiggly.

Fingerplays:  

Use the finger play below to demonstrate how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly.

Caterpillar

Caterpillar creeping,
Caterpillar crawl.
Caterpillar climbing
All along the wall.
Caterpillar spinning,
Caterpillar snug.
Caterpillar changing,
What have you become?
   by Beverly Qualheim

Language Comprehension:

 

Materials: glue, pencils, paper, butterfly/caterpillar cut-outs, pictures demonstrating focus words

 ~Give each child two pieces of paper and cut-outs of a butterfly and a caterpillar. Have children paste the butterfly on one paper and the caterpillar on the other. 

~Give children pictures demonstrating the words: springing, winging, flinging, dancing, and wiggly.  

~Let children paste each picture on either the butterfly or the caterpillar according to which insect can complete the action best.

~Ask children to draw more actions on their pictures that demonstrate 'focus language'.   

 

Craft:

Egg Carton Caterpillars

Supplies:  Egg cartons, paint/paint brushes, wiggly eyes, pipe cleaners, glue, and scissors.

Directions: 

~Ask kids how many sections their caterpillar should have three or four. 

~Let them help you count out the sections and cut their caterpillar out of the egg carton.  

~Let the kids paint their caterpillar how ever they would wish.  

~When they are dry help them glue eyes on and poke holes through the egg carton to add legs and antennae with pipe cleaners.