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STEAM Activities for Preschoolers

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You are here: Home / Preschool STEM / Storytime STEAM with The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Storytime STEAM with The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Use a classic picture book to create fun and hands-on Preschool STEM activities, or as we like to say, Preschool STEAM.

STEAM is the combination of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.  STEAM activities help promote essential 21st-century skills, which is important in preparing our children for an unknown future.

hungry caterpillar

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A STEAM challenge is designed for children to help inspire creativity, collaboration, communication, and encourage critical thinking, otherwise known as the 4 C’s.

You do not need expensive tools or materials to get started with STEAM activities.

Many STEAM challenges may be accomplished with simple classroom supplies. Check out our Hungry Caterpillar inspired STEAM challenge below!

storytime steam hungry cat 2 pin template

STEAM Challenge:

How tall can you build a Hungry Caterpillar?

Objective: Build the tallest caterpillar.

Materials:

  • Plastic Bottle Caps (We used the tops of the pouch applesauce. You also could use blocks or play dough).  
  • Measuring Tape or Ruler

Read the story, The Hungry Caterpillar.

Ask: How can we build a caterpillar using the provided materials?

Imagine: Give students time to experiment and play with the materials.

hungry cat 4

Plan: Discuss and collaborate together or in small groups, on how different ways to build a caterpillar. Students may wish to draw their design.

Create: Build your caterpillar and measure how tall it is.

Improve: Discuss how you can improve your design so that you can make your caterpillar even taller!  

hungry cat 5

Allow students to redesign their creation to try and make their caterpillar even taller.

hungry cat 6

Share: Draw a picture of your final caterpillar. Add details of all the other types of food your caterpillar likes to eat. Share with parents or other classmates.

hungry cat vert 2

STEAM Integrations:

Science: What are the body parts of a caterpillar?

Technology: Measure your caterpillar with a tool like a measuring tape or ruler.

Engineering: How can you make your caterpillar the tallest?

Art: Draw a picture of your hungry caterpillar and add his (or her) favorite foods.

Math: Compare the height of your hungry caterpillars. Which one is the tallest?

hungry cat 3


 

hungry caterpillar lesson

hungry caterpillar steam

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Filed Under: Preschool STEM

Jamie Hand

Welcome to Preschool STEAM!

I'm Jamie a STEAM educator and certified art instructor with more than 12 years experience.

My passion is to show how you can inspire and encourage your students’ creativity through hands-on learning and problem-solving.

You do not need to be an artist, scientist or mathematician to make learning fun and engaging for your students.

Let's get started STEAMing!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tracy McCannon says

    June 24, 2019 at 2:45 PM

    I love the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom storytime steam! How do I get more of the stories? I tried clicking on the Very Hungry Caterpillar one but when I got to the free download it gave me the Chicka, Chicka, Boom Boom one again. Did I do something wrong?

    Reply
  2. Sandra Thompson says

    April 30, 2020 at 6:23 AM

    Can’t wait to try this in the fall. The kids love the book and this is a great
    add on to the activities.

    Reply
  3. Jane F Thorne says

    April 30, 2020 at 8:08 AM

    love it

    Reply
  4. Keila Goulart says

    April 30, 2020 at 8:09 AM

    Wonderful ideas to engage students during the Quarantine!
    We’ve used some of these ideas in our online classes! Fantastic!

    Reply
  5. shahidha says

    October 22, 2020 at 1:56 PM

    Just love it
    Thank you so much ❤️

    Reply

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