Lesson eleven - pages 22/23 Dream of freedom

Aim for the book

To explore real and visionary journeys encountered in life.

Learning objectives

• To know the life cycle of a butterfly.
• To be able to identify changes in nature as they occur.
• To understand that change is a part of life's journey.

Key words

• Life cycle
• Journey
• Change
• Freedom

Background

Every classroom must have enjoyed the story of 'The Hungry Caterpillar' on its journey through the chrysalis stage to become a butterfly. The caterpillar's journey means that if it is to reach it potential, it has to 'die' to be born again. Christians understand something of the experience - they believe that they too have to 'die' to be born again. Like the caterpillar, they have to break free of this life in order to reach their full potential - to be in the presence of God. Each stage of the caterpillar's journey to become a butterfly is important and the butterfly doesn't live long. So in the Christian scheme of things, one's human life is ery short compared to an everlasting life with God.

Bible reference

Isaiah 58.6

Activity one - life cycle

• You will need
  The book The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.
  A large sheet of paper and felt pens or a board and board marker.
  Paper, paints, coloured gummed paper circles, felt pens.
  An extension of this activity is to purchase a Butterfly Garden from an educational supplier, so that the children can observe the life cycle over several weeks.
• Start
  Read the story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
• Develop
  Arrange circles overlapping to make caterpillar shapes.
  Add face and antennae.
  Make blob paintings on half a sheet of painting paper.
  Fold in half to make symmetrical pattern.
  When dry, cut into butterfly shapes.
  Caterpillars and butterflies can be part of a wall display.
• End
  Question and discuss the life cycle.
  Beginning with the egg on a leaf, draw a circular diagram for the class to see.
  Draw attention to the fact that the butterfly is the final stage, but then has to lay eggs for the cycle to continue.

Activity two - stages of life

• You will need
  The picture 'Dream of Freedom' from the book In Journeys.
  Pictures of people at various stages in life.
  Pencils and paper.
• Start
  Show the picture and read the poem a few times. Talk about the stages in the life journey of a caterpillar.
• Develop
  Show the sequence of pictures depicting human life journeys. Discuss the stage of life that each picture shows. Consider how appearances change. Point out that at each stage a person is more skilful and has slightly more freedom to make choices and decisions.
  Using the pictures to prompt discussion, ask what skills and abilities the children think they will have/have had at each of the stages.
  In what ways will they have more freedom in the future?
  Individually, write and draw about how the children see themselves as adults (appearances, family, work and so on).
• End
  Gather children together again and choose some volunteers to share their written thoughts with everyone.

Activity three - moving on

• You will need
  The picture 'Dream of Freedom' from In Journeys.
  Poem 'The End' by A.A. Milne
  Art materials.
• Start
  With the children, look at the picture and talk about the stages in the butterfly life cycle.
  Read the poem on the picture two or three times.
• Develop
  Draw attention to the phrase 'longing to soar to the sky'.
  Can the children say what it means?
  Have the children longed to be older? Discuss their longings.
  Consider the saying 'wishing your life away'.
  Read the poem 'The End' by A.A. Milne.
  Discuss what children could do at each age the poem represents.
  Do they like the age they are now? Why? Why not?
• End
  Can the children think of anything they can do that an adult cannot do now?
  Will this change as an adult gets older?
  Remind the children of the person in the poem and lead them to think of being patient and enjoying the age they are now.
• Assessment opportunities
  Provide pictures and arrows for the children to construct the life-cycle of a butterfly. Have they constructed it in a circle to show the continuation of the cycle?
  Using the pictures from Activity Two, can the children construct a life journey for people?
  Provide pencil, felt pens, paper for the children to draw themselves at each age of their life to the present day. Can they see a progression in their skills and abilities?

Web site links

http://www.eric-carle.com/

The official web site of Eric Carle, the author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. It includes a page of ideas from teachers on ways they have used the book with their class.

http://www.ex.ac.uk/bugclub/cater.html

Ideas for teachers and children on rearing caterpillars with handy tips on housing, feeding and the pupation process

http://www.mesc.usgs.gov/butterfly/butterfly-life-cycle.html

A site designed specifically for children on the life cycle of butterflies.

Activity checklist

Activity one - life cycle

The book The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.
A large sheet of paper and felt pens, or a board and board marker.
Paper, paints, coloured gummed paper circles, felt pens.
An extension of this activity is to purchase a Butterfly Garden from an educational supplier, so that the children can observe the life cycle over several weeks.

Activity two - stages of life

The picture 'Dream of Freedom' from the book In Journeys.
Pictures of people at various stages in life.
Pencils and paper.

Activity three - moving on

The picture 'Dream of Freedom' from In Journeys.
Poem 'The End' by A.A. Milne.
Art materials.

© Lorna Halcrow