Easier

Day One

Watch Caterpillar Shoes (above) and discuss the story. Your child may need to watch it again and pause it at different points in order to support your child to answer some of the questions.

 

At the beginning of the story, what did the caterpillar like to do the most?

Why did the caterpillar wear shoes on his feet?

Why did the caterpillar want to give his shoes away?

Which shoes did the caterpillar give to the woodlouse?

How did the woodlouse feel after he was given his shoes and how do you know?

Who did the caterpillar give his last shoe to?

What happened to the caterpillar after he gave all his shoes away?

Are there any parts of the film you disliked and why?

Does this story remind you of any other stories you have read or watched?

 

If they find this last question tricky, read or watch The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Smartest Giant in Town and discuss how they are similar to Caterpillar Shoes.

Day Two

If you didn't watch it yesterday, watch The Very Hungry Caterpillar and talk to your child about the similarities between the two stories. Start to introduce the idea that stories are made up and that we call this fiction. Ask your child if they think there are any parts of the stories that happen in real life. Click HERE for a video of a caterpillar making a cocoon and emerging as a butterfly. Introduce the idea that this is called non-fiction. 

 

You can access free ebooks on the Oxford Owl website. You will find instructions on how to do this in the 'Online Reading Books' section of the Year One pages. Click HERE to open a non-fiction book to read to your child once you have created a login. Talk about how it is different from the two fiction books they have already heard this week. 

 

Day Three

Now your child has developed an understanding of fiction and non-fiction writing. Explain that today we will be writing some facts. At this stage, the facts that they want to write may mainly be about what they can see. For example, 'The caterpillar is green.' or 'It is green.' Using the activity below, ask your child to write a sentence about each of the pictures. Don't forget to use a sound mat. They might want to use words from the word bank at the bottom of the page. 

 

 

Day Four

Today, spend some time finding out about butterfly life cycles. HERE is a good video and HERE is a good web page. Use the activity below to talk about how pictures can help to show what the facts mean.

Day Five

Today, explain to your child that they will create a fact page about the butterfly's life cycle. Continue to use the term 'non-fiction' when you are talking to them about this type of writing and encourage them to do the same. Use the activity below to help them to write some of the facts they know. Encourage them to say the sentences out loud lots of times before writing them down and try to keep them short. They may find it easier to write what they can see, e.g. 'An egg on a leaf.'