Understanding%20Change%20Though%20Metamorphosis

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Understanding Change Though Metamorphosis

• Iris Ponte
• CD171

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Curriculum Goals

• The basic goal of this curricular activity is to
  help 3-year-old children understand the concept
  of metamorphosis
• This lesson is also geared to expose children to
  the complicated concept of change

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Materials Needed

• 1 Lego Mindstorm Kit
• 1 Cocoon Puppet
• 1 Caterpillar Puppet
• 1 Butter Fly Puppet
• Masking Tape
• Construction Paper
• Precut Leaves with holes, Branches, and
  Clouds
• 3 pieces of white construction paper
• Glue Sticks (for the whole class)
• Blue Markers

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Process/Method

• Step 1 First with the class reread The Hungary
  Caterpillar, by Eric Carle.
• Step 2 Divide the class into three groups.
• Step 3 Explain to each group that they will be
  creating the environment for one part of the
  caterpillars life.
• Step 4 After all three environments have been
  completed, hang the finished work on the wall and
  use the puppets to reenact the process of
  metamorphosis.

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Method/Process (cont.)

• Step 5 Explain to the class that they will all
  have a chance to help the caterpillar go through
  his/her changes in groups of three with the
  programmed lego heart.
• Step 6 Tape the three environments down flat on
  a long table. Place the corresponding puppet on
  the environment.
• Step 7 Take the children in groups of three
  during a free play portion of the day so the
  other children are busy.
• Step 8 Explain to the children that the Lego
  heart will move across the table and when it
  reaches their environment it will be their turn
  to put their designated puppet on the heart of
  the caterpillar.
• Step 9 Allow the children to have fun with it.
  Have the children watch the process a few times
  and change places at the table.  
• Step 10 Repeat steps 7-9 until all of the
  children have had a turn at the table.

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Standards

• According to the curriculum framework of
  Massachusetts between PreK- 2 children are to
  study life cycles as well as recognize changes in
  animals and plants (Mass Frameworks, 28).
• Children at a young age should also gain skills
  of inquiry (Mass Frameworks, Science and
  Technology, 2).

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Adaptations

• If the class is older consider allowing the
  children to create the pieces of the environment,
  with paper and scissors. You may also want the
  children to create the moveable Lego car to
  become the heart of the caterpillar.
• If the class is even more advanced allow them to
  work in groups to design the puppets! This
  project is very adaptable for different age
  groups!

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Assessment and Documentation

• Interview Questions
• Recorded Conversations
• Digital Video

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Ideas for Other Activities Involving Change

• Leaves of Change
• Jell-O Project
• Play Dough Sculpture
• Growth Chart

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The Classroom Experience

• The next series of slides are a visual
  demonstration of the project in practice.
• It should be noted that the project took 2 days
  and only the children interested were involved.

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Preparation
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More Preparation
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Let the fun begin!
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Here we go!
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Implementation Adjustments

• The first round of puppets were recycled and a
  new set have been made. The new and improved
  puppets fit over the whole Lego heart and are
  easy to add on and remove. The Lego heart itself
  now has a cloth cover to conceal the car look
  and hopefully will help the children see the
  image of the caterpillar, cocoon and butterfly.
• Also I have adjusted the design of the pre test
  and post test. Rather than give each child a
  sheet of paper I have designed some picture flash
  cards that clearly show the stages of
  metamorphosis. I will present this to the group
  of children, and record individual childrens
  responses both before and after the project. I
  think that this method will be less stressful.

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Evaluation of Project

• Under Construction