Reception Care For Caterpillars

Reception Care For Caterpillars

What an exciting half term we have had in Reception! As part of our 'growing and changing' topic, we have been caring for caterpillars.

When the caterpillars first arrived, we took great pleasure in watching them eat and grow as they got bigger and bigger. After reading 'The Hungry Caterpillar' we knew how hungry caterpillars can get!

'This one is big but this one is still tiny!' - Rosie

Look! It's bigger than yesterday I think' - Nathaniel

The next fascinating stage of the life cycle was watching the caterpillars make cocoons. Some changed overnight and we were surprised to find them in the morning but we were lucky enough to see some changing right before our eyes! We read 'Tadpoles Promise' and 'The Teeny Weeny Tadpole' which helped us to compare the lifecycle of a frog to the lifecycle of a butterfly, considering the changes that happen over time.

'One is actually moving! It's spinning!' - Freddie

'They have made cocoons, but not one. I will watch that one' - Maya

Finally, the real fun began as the cocoons opened and the beautiful butterflies emerged. We enjoyed feeding them sugar water and fruit and had lots of discussions around what we should do next.

After reading 'Bog Baby', we discussed how it was important to let the butterflies go. Although some of us were sad at first, we understood that it wouldn't be fair to keep butterflies inside forever! After a few days of feeding and watching them as their wings dried, it was time to take them outside and release them.

'It's on your leg Miss Davis! Is it going to fly?' - Charlie

'Mrs Davey has it! Fly away, fly away' - Domanic