Finn has been asking to do a ‘Very Hungry Caterpillar Picnic’ for weeks. After taking his shopping list to the supermarket, he set up the picnic.

Resources

  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
  • 1 apple
  • 2 pears
  • 3 plums
  • 4 strawberries
  • 5 oranges
  • 1 slice of chocolate cake
  • 1 ice cream cone
  • 1 pickle
  • 1 slice of swiss cheese
  • 1 salami
  • 1 lollipop
  • 1 slice of cherry pie
  • 1 sausage
  • 1 cupcake
  • 1 slice of watermelon

Method

Finn proudly set up the teepee.

Finn was allowed to eat his picnic in any order for once. You can see how excited he was about the cupcake.

Finn enjoyed telling Cian about the different fruits. Plum was his favourite, Cian loves strawberries and watermelon.

They enjoyed trying the different fruits and playing peekaboo with the holes in the swiss cheese.

Finn very kindly offered Cian a lick of his ice cream, but Cian swiped it on the floor. Finn’s lip began to wobble, until he spotted there were now leaves stuck to the ice cream.

“Well done Cici, that’s right! The Very Hungry Caterpillar does eat leaves. He knows the story! But I am not a caterpillar, I am a big boy. So if you don’t mind, I will take the leaves off.”

Finn happily ate his ice cream while Cian pushed fruit between his toes. Then they spent the rest of the picnic making each other laugh.

DfES Early Learning Goals (2017)

Communication and language

ELG 01 – Listening and attention:

Children listen attentively in a range of situations. They listen to stories, accurately anticipating key events and respond to what they hear with relevant comments, questions or actions. They give their attention to what others say and respond appropriately, while engaged in another activity.

ELG 02 – Understanding:

Children follow instructions involving several ideas or actions. They answer ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions about their experiences and in response to stories or events.

ELG 03 – Speaking:

Children express themselves effectively, showing awareness of listeners’ needs. They use past, present and future forms accurately when talking about events that have happened or are to happen in the future. They develop their own narratives and explanations by connecting ideas or events.

Physical development

ELG 05 – Health and self-care:

Children know the importance for good health of physical exercise, and a healthy diet, and talk about ways to keep healthy and safe. They manage their own basic hygiene and personal needs successfully, including dressing and going to the toilet independently.

DfES Outcomes for EYFS (2013)

Communication and language

Listening and attention (Birth to 11 months)

• Reacts in interaction with others by smiling, looking and moving.

• Quietens or alerts to the sound of speech.

Speaking

Speaking (Birth to 11 months)

• Makes own sounds in response when talked to by familiar adults.

• Practises and gradually develops speech sounds (babbling) to communicate with adults; says sounds like ‘baba, nono, gogo’.

Physical development

Moving and handling (Birth to 11 months)

• Reaches out for, touches and begins to hold objects.

• Explores objects with mouth, often picking up an object and holding it to the mouth.

Personal, social and emotional development

Self-confidence and self-awareness (Birth to 11 months)

• Laughs and gurgles, e.g. shows pleasure at being tickled and other physical interactions.

• Uses voice, gesture, eye contact and facial expression to make contact with people and keep their attention.

Managing feelings and behaviour (Birth to 11 months)

  • Shows a range of emotions such as pleasure, fear and excitement.

Making relationships (Birth to 11 months)

• Enjoys the company of others and seeks contact with others from birth.

• Responds when talked to, for example, moves arms and legs, changes facial expression, moves body and makes mouth movements.

• Recognises and is most responsive to main carer’s voice: face brightens, activity increases when familiar carer appears.