Students will:

1. Look at pictures of adaptations present in caterpillars of Costa Rica and discuss their significance
2. Model a stylized caterpillar out of recycled materials
3. Exhibit good craftsmanship in their finished piece

Directions

1. Explain to the students that after careful discussion and examination of rainforest caterpillars, they are going to be given the opportunity to create their own rainforest caterpillar based on the information they have studied.
2. Give the students habitat scenarios on 3 x 5 cards, i.e., caterpillar lives on a spiny, purple plant in the Canopy layer and is preyed upon by bats, or allow the students to create their own conditions. Be sure to encourage students to write a brief natural history card describing what adaptations the caterpillar has, what it eats, color, size, rainforest level, predators, and behaviors (dropping, frass throwing, biting, etc.).
3. Have the students to create their own caterpillar, using the materials on the material list, that would survive under the scenario's conditions that were given to them or the examples they created on their own.
4. Encourage the students to create a drawing of the butterfly or moth that the caterpillar will eventually turn into. Have the students explain in writing, or through an oral presentation, the reason behind their butterfly or moth.
5. Display all the creations as if it was an entomology display on rainforest caterpillars. Invite other classes in to view the exhibit and encourage the creators to explain the exhibit.

Supporting All Learners

This activity can be connected to art, natural history, science, language arts, and social studies.

Lesson Extensions

Students can work in teams of two. One student could create the caterpillar and the other student could create a parasitoid that would prey, or attempt to prey, on the caterpillar.
Instead of caterpillars, students could create parasitoids with unique adaptations that could be used to combat the caterpillar's defenses.
Using recycled materials, have students create rainforest caterpillars by outfitting a partner with recycled adaptations. The recycled materials could serve as the spines/toilet paper rolls, fur/old shirts, cryptic patterns/old magazines and hair/yarn.
Have students create a fictitious story about their caterpillars. Allow them to illustrate the story, write the text on a computer or typewriter, and create the book cover. Students can take turns everyday reading the stories out loud to their classmates.