Continuing the topic of Earth Day this month, we are excited to share with you Cress Caterpillars!

Keep the conversation going and help your kids develop strong language skills, creativity, and confidence!

All our projects come with curated theme-based activities at do at home:

STEM STEM
Book Recommendations Book Recommendations
Fun Moves Fun Moves
Yummy Bites Yummy Bites
Word Bank Word Bank

Cress Caterpillars

Create and watch your Cress Caterpillar grow!

Materials:

  • Cress seeds or any microgreen seeds will do
  • 4 egg carton segments
  • 2 wiggly eyes
  • 1 small pom-pom-for nose
  • 1 large pom-pom-for head
  • 2 pipe cleaners
  • Glue dots or white glue
  • Plate of your own

If you need a starter arts & crafts set or a refresh on your current art supply, this is a great set for all your craft adventures!

Directions: 

As with any of our projects, make it your own and be as creative as you like!

  1. First create your caterpillar’s face. Take the large pom-pom and glue on 2 wiggly eyes, the small pom-pom for the nose, and 2 pipe cleaners for the antennae.
  2. Next, glue the pom-pom onto one of the egg-carton segments that is labeled “H”. This will be the start of your caterpillar’s body.
  3. Position the 4 segments onto the plate to make the body of your caterpillar. You can make a straight line or put a little curve in it– it’s up to you.
  4. Fill each segment with cress seeds and water until segments absorb all the water.
  5. Place the plate in direct sunlight.
  6. Continue to water for several days by adding water to the plate directly. Segments will absorb water from the plate.
  7. Watch your cress caterpillar grow!
STEM

STEM

Photosynthesis:

Take a couple of cress seeds and put them on a sponge, and lightly water. Instead of placing them in sunlight, keep them in the shade and compare how it grows differently from the one that gets sunlight. The sunlight is needed to make chlorophyll. The cress seeds that were exposed to the sunlight should be green and the ones that were kept in the shade should be less green.

STEM

Book Recommendations

Quiet in the Garden by Aliki

Are You a Butterfly? by Judy Allen

STEM

Fun Moves

Have your child act out the stages of a butterfly:

  • Egg: Roll up into a ball and stay very still.
  • Caterpillar (Larva): Crawl on the ground pretending to eat everything.
  • Pupa (Chrysalis): Role up into a tight ball, and then slowly uncoil.
  • Butterfly: Hold arms out, gently flapping wings up and down, and run safely around the room.
STEM

Yummy Bites

Watercress Soup

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 potato – peeled and cubed
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 1/2 cups chicken stock
  • 2 1/2 cups milk
  • 1 1/2 pounds watercress, large stems removed
  • 1/4 cup whipped heavy cream (optional)
  • 1/2 cup watercress leaves for garnish

Directions:

  1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium high heat. Add the potato and onion, stirring to coat with the oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Reduce heat to medium, cover and heat for 5 minutes.
  2. Pour in the chicken stock and the milk, bring just to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Stir in the watercress and simmer, uncovered, for 4 to 5 minutes, or until watercress is just cooked.
  3. In small batches, transfer the soup to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Return the soup to the pot, season to taste, and ladle into individual bowls. (Note: Place in refrigerator if not serving at this point.)
  4. Top each serving with a dollop of whipped cream, if desired and garnish with watercress leaves.
STEM

Word Bank

Metamorphosis: A change in physical form.

Photosynthesis: The process where a plant uses the sun’s energy to turn light into chlorophyll.

Latest posts by ItsySparks (see all)