Nature/Science Lesson

WHEN A CATERPILLAR IS FULLY GROWN SHE BEGINS TO PREPARE FOR A GREAT SECRET. UNTIL NOW SHE HAS BEEN EATING EVERY GREEN LEAF SHE COULD FIND. SHE HAS BEEN GROWING TOO BIG FOR HER SKIN. SO SHE HAS HAD TO SHED HER SKIN. SHE TAKES HER SKIN OFF BY SPINNING A LITTLE THREAD AND CLINGING TO IT. THEN SHE PUFFS AIR UNDER HER OLD SKIN. THE SKIN SPLITS. THE CATERPILLAR STRETCHES AND TWISTS UNTIL SHE IS RID OF HER OLD SKIN AND IS NOW DRESSED IN A NEW AND LARGER SKIN. THEN ONE DAY, SHE SHEDS HER SKIN FOR THE LAST TIME. SHE MAKES A COCOON. THE COCOON IS MADE FROM THE SILK GLANDS IN HER BODY. HER COCOON IS USUALLY ATTACHED TO BRANCHES OR TWIGS. INSIDE THE COCOON SHE SHEDS HER SKIN FOR THE LAST TIME. FOR MANY WEEKS THE CATERPILLAR IS VERY STILL INSIDE THE COCOON. INSIDE THE COCOON MANY CHANGES ARE TAKING PLACE. THROUGH THE THIN WALLS OF HER COCOON HER SECRET IS BEGINNING TO SHOW. FOUR WINGS HAVE GROWN, SIX LEGS, AN ANTENNAE, AND DIFFERENT EYES ARE FORMING. WHEN SPRING COMES THE COCOON BEGINS TO SPLIT. A HEAD POKES THROUGH THE COCOON, THEN A FOOT EMERGES. NOW THE CATERPILLAR IS NO LONGER A CATERPILLAR, BUT A BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY. SHE FANS HER WINGS SLOWLY TO DRY THEM. SHE RESTS AWHILE. THEN COMES AN EXCITING MOMENT WHEN SHE FLIES INTO THE AIR.