Planned learning intention
Communication, language and literacy Resources
Small paper plates, pipe cleaners, crayons, paper fasteners
Step by step
* Provide each child with a small paper plate. Ask them to colour the plate to make the head portion of a caterpillar. Add the eyes and mouth and pipe cleaners as antennae.
* Ask the children to write the first letter of their name on another plate. Then write each subsequent letter on another plate. For example, a child called Sam would have three plates, with a fourth for the caterpillar!s head.
* Colour around the edges of the plates with crayons or felt-tipped pens to make patterns.
* Fasten all the plates together with paper fasteners with the caterpillar's head at the front.
* The children can then count the number of letters in their name and compare it with names of other children in the group.
* Find out whose 'name bug' is the longest and whose is the shortest.
* The name bugs can be displayed around the room and changed when children leave or enter the playgroup.