Education, children's literature, teaching, literacy, ELL, Education, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Young learners

1. Picture Book: The Very
Hungry Caterpillar by: Eric Carle
Report By: Ruth Ann Dapkus
READ 515: ECE Found Literacy Development-Fall 2015
Professor: Rebecca Olien

2. Carle, E. (1987). The very hungry caterpillar
([Rev.]. ed.). New York: Philomel Books
 I choose this book because it is
something I’ve used in classes
before. It works well for ELL’s and
native speakers alike. It talks
about days of the week, the life
cycle, and healthy foods in many
ways as well.
 In the past I’ve incorporated group
projects that complement the
story. I love having the kids make
their own book. They can change
what the caterpillar eats on each
day of the week. Teachers can also
use this book to talk about the life
cycle of a butterfly. The book puts
‘metamorphoses’ in a very simple
form that young learners can
understand.
 There are math, science and
reading applications for this story.

3. Summary:
 The caterpillar is very, very hungry.
He goes out in search of food to
eat. Unfortunately, the hungry
caterpillar does not find the ideal
food to eat. Nothing it seems will
fill him up. The caterpillar tries
many different kinds of food. He
tries everything from healthy fruits
and vegetables to junk food.
Finally, he believes that he’s found
the perfect food! After he eats he
gets bigger and bigger until he is so
big he needs to take a rest. The
caterpillar goes to sleep in a small
house that he builds. This is called
a ‘cocoon’. The caterpillar remains
inside for two whole weeks. Upon
waking up he discovers something
wonderful. He has turned into a
big, beautiful butterfly.

4. ELL Support
 * Focus on answers to who, what, when, where, why, how much, or how
many.
 * Use the pop-up book as additional ‘visual’ support in storytelling and read-
alouds.
 * Count and answer ‘how many’ questions…elicit counting and number
knowledge.
• Ask sequencing questions and have them point to what happens in the:
• -beginning
• -middle
• -end (and/or 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th or last)
• Have them ‘retell’ the story in their own words.

5. Right-There Questions:
 Where did the egg start out? (on a leaf)
 Why did he eat and eat? (he was hungry)
 What did he eat first on Monday? (an apple)
 What did he eat on Tuesday…..et cetera (two pears…) listing the rest of the
foods
 What did he eat last on Sunday? (a leaf)
 What was his small house called? (a cocoon)
 Who came up through the cocoon? (a butterfly)

6. Inference Questions:
 Why did the caterpillar look for some food? (He was hungry after coming out
of the egg)
 Why did the caterpillar get a stomachache? (He ate a lot of junk food)
 When did the caterpillar get a stomachache? (On Saturday night, after he ate
all the junk food)
 Why do you think he felt much better after eating the leaf? (caterpillars are
supposed to eat leaves)

7. Personal Connection Questions:
 What did the cocoon do?
 What do you think he will do now that he is a butterfly?
 (Ask additional questions about ‘willpower’ and eating foods that are healthy
and foods that are not healthy)
 What are some ‘healthy’ foods that he ate? What are some ‘unhealthy’ foods
he ate?
 What are some ‘healthy’ and ‘unhealthy’ foods you eat?
 Student-to-student interactions: ‘Turn and talk’ How long did it take to go
from a hatched egg to a butterfly? (Show me in the book) e.g. It took MORE
than 2 weeks because he ate for one whole week! How long in all?

8. Junk food and healthy food…(examples)
Can you show me?

9. Additional ways to use the book:
A.) The story narrates its way through the lifecycle of a caterpillar and his change
into a butterfly. It is also a great way to learn about what a caterpillar can and
cannot eat.
B.) The story is fun and moves along quickly. It has excellent pictures that will
captivate young ELL’s and native speakers alike. The storyline will help with
teaching days of the week. It is such a simple book but it is filled with rich
information that can extend to science, math and counting!
C.) Eric Carle has a number of books! They are all fun to read with children.
D.) Vocabulary extension: Chrysalis, cocoon, larva, pupa, metamorphosis, lifecycle

10. Carle, E. (1987). The very hungry caterpillar ([Rev.]. ed.). New
York: Philomel Books
http://www.amazon.com/Very-Hungry-Caterpillar-Eric-
Carle/dp/0399226907/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1447559712&sr=8-
2&keywords=carle+hungry+caterpillar
References