Lesson Plan Eric Carle 

Kindergarten Art Lesson Plan (4 Days): Eric Carle & The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Title:

The Very Hungry Artist: My Favorite Food Decoupage

Grade:

Kindergarten

Length:

4 class sessions (30–45 minutes each)

Objectives:

• Students will engage in a read-aloud and discuss story elements.
  
  

• Students will learn about artist Eric Carle and his collage technique.
  
  

• Students will draw, cut, and collage a representation of their favorite food.
  
  

• Students will explore colors, textures, and basic composition.
  
  

Day 1 – Story Time & Inspiration

Focus: Reading & Discussion

Materials:

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
  
  

• Chart paper or whiteboard for group discussion
  
  

• Visuals of Eric Carle’s artwork
  
  

Steps:

1. Read the book aloud with dramatic expression and interactive moments (wiggling like a caterpillar, chomping sounds, counting the food).
   
   

2. Discuss the story:
   
   

   • What did the caterpillar eat?
     
     

   • Which food was your favorite?
     
     

   • How do the pictures look? (introduce collage)
     
     

3. Introduce Eric Carle and show photos of his studio and artwork.
   
   

4. Wrap-Up:
   
   

   • Ask: "What food would YOU eat if you were the caterpillar?"
     
     

   • Tell students: "Next class, you'll draw your favorite food just like Eric Carle's art!"
     
     

Day 2 – Drawing Our Favorite Food

Focus: Drawing from Imagination

Materials:

• 9x12 white drawing paper
  
  

• Pencils
  
  

• Erasers
  
  

• Crayons or colored pencils (optional for outlining)
  
  

Steps:

1. Review Eric Carle's style and the food from the book.
   
   

2. Demo: Show how to draw a favorite food in simple shapes (e.g., pizza slice = triangle + circles for pepperoni).
   
   

3. Students draw their favorite food on white paper.
   
   

4. Walk around, offering help with shape-building and ideas.
   
   

5. Optional: Students can trace their lines in marker or crayon for bold outlines.
   
   

Tip: Remind them they will cut their drawings out next class!

Day 3 – Cutting & Prepping for Collage

Focus: Fine Motor Skills – Cutting

Materials:

• Drawings from Day 2
  
  

• Scissors
  
  

• Colored paper scraps
  
  

• Glue sticks
  
  

Steps:

1. Demonstrate careful cutting of food drawing outlines.
   
   

2. Students cut out their food drawings.
   
   

3. Begin selecting colored paper scraps that match their food (e.g., red and green for watermelon).
   
   

4. Sort materials in trays or envelopes to prepare for collage day.

5. Cut 

6. If time allows, let students begin gluing small sections.
   
   

Day 4 – Eric Carle-Style Decoupage

Focus: Collaging the Favorite Food

Materials:

• Cut-out food shapes from Day 3
  
  

• Colored/textured paper scraps
  
  

• Glue sticks or Mod Podge + brushes
  
  
  

Steps:

1. Review Eric Carle’s layered collage technique.
   
   

   • Talk about textures, color choices, and layering.
     
     

2. Students collage over their cut-out drawing using paper scraps.
   
   

3. Glue finished collage onto a background paper.
   
   

4. Clean-up & Class Sharing Circle:
   
   

   • Students show their artwork and say, “I would eat ___ because ___.”
     
     

Assessment:

• Did the student complete a drawing and cut it out independently?
  
  

• Did the student use collage techniques to represent a food?
  
  

• Did the student engage with the story and process?
  
  

• Teacher observations of effort, participation, and skill development.
  
  

• Create a class mural or hallway display: The Very Hungry Kindergarteners!
  
  

• Add dictated or student-written labels to artwork.
  
  

Standards:

Visual Arts (National Core Arts Standards):

• VA:Cr1.2.Ka — Engage collaboratively in creative art-making in response to an artistic problem.
  
  

• VA:Cr2.1.Ka — Through experimentation, build skills in various media and approaches to art-making.
  
  

• VA:Cr2.3.Ka — Create art that represents natural and constructed environments.
  
  

• VA:Re7.2.Ka — Describe what an image represents.
  
  

• VA:Cn10.1.Ka — Create art that tells a story about a life experience.
  
  

ELA Kindergarten (CCSS):

• RL.K.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
  
  

RL.K.7 — Describe the relationship between illustrations and the story.