Virtual Story Time 04/13/2020

Welcome to the FIFTH Virtual Story Time with the Paddington Station Staff!

​We are so excited to share more of our favorite stories with you!  

Today's Virtual Story Time features a special video from Paddington's Director Nea, Librarian Kelly (with special guest Pink Pig), and also a caterpillar blog update from Science Teacher Wendy!

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Nea is here to read you the story, "Strictly No Elephants"

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Grab a snack and get cozy - Kelly and Pink Pig will be reading you a special book entitled, "Help!" 

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Kelly would like to share an activity you can do at home related to the book, "Help" by Holly Keller! 

* After listening to the book “HELP” have a grown up cut out a triangle and two circles from scrap paper.  See if you can make these shapes look like a mouse.  You can even add eyes and a tail!

* Make a batch of homemade play dough (recipe to follow) and roll it into little balls, after rolling little play dough balls place them on a table and roll them into little snakes.  Your paper mouse and play dough snake can have a playdate!

Play Dough Recipe
Ingredients:
1 cup salt
3 cups water
3 cups flour
6 Tablespoons vegetable oil
4 Tablespoons cream of tartar
coloring

Recipe
1. Add 1 cup salt to large mixing bowl.
2. Boil 3 cups water then add to salt.
3. Stir for a few minutes until salt begins to dissolve.
4. Add coloring and stir.
5. Add oil.
6. Add cream of tartar and stir.
7. Add flour one cup at a time and stir.
8. Once it forms a dough - flour your
work surface and knead until cool.
* Play Dough can be finicky add flour if too sticky :)

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Caterpillar Update - Week 2 of growth! 

Hello to all!
Our caterpillars have been very busy since we last checked on them. Check out the photos below and my comments to follow their progress.
Day 7: The caterpillars have grown much bigger! You can really see the spikes/hairs that cover their bodies. There is one caterpillar that is walking on the lid of the cup. Wouldn’t it be fun to walk on the ceiling??

Day 8: Here is another view of the caterpillars. You can see what looks a little like spider webbing inside of the cup. The caterpillars make this silk webbing to protect themselves, as well as to stick to things.

Day 9: The webbing makes it hard to see the caterpillars!

Day 10: All the caterpillars are on the lid of the cup now. I think they may be ready to move into the next stage of their life cycle - the pupa stage where they will build their chrysalides!

Day 11: Chrysalides are forming!! In this photo all caterpillars are hanging upside down. The one in the middle has already formed a chrysalis! You can still see the hairs of the other caterpillars, and the one in the middle looks smooth and has some spots down it’s length.

Day 13: All caterpillars are in the pupa stage. Each one has built a chrysalis!

Day 15: Here is a photo that shows each caterpillar chrysalis. The chrysalis is made of a tough “skin” that is underneath the hairy outer part of the caterpillar. You can see sections in the top part, and they remind me a little of the caterpillar body sections. The bottom part is smoother...this is where the wings are forming! They are attached to the lid with the silk webbing that we saw in the cup above. You can also see a small piece of the hairy outer part of the caterpillar near where each chrysalis is attached. This is the part that was shed from the caterpillar as it made it’s chrysalis. Once I captured a cool video of this happening, and I will try to upload it to this page as well. ​

Now we just have to wait for the butterflies to emerge!! I’ll keep taking pictures and will show you when they come out!!

Activities to do related to caterpillars and butterflies:
1.Make a 3/D caterpillar
Craft supply ideas: Pom poms, balls of wadded up tissue paper, circles cut out from colored paper, egg cartons. Etc.
Check out this website for Eric Carle inspired caterpillar crafts:
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/very-hungry-caterpillar-crafts-for-kids-4125556
2. Make a chrysalis:  toilet paper roll, old sock, paper, etc.
3. Draw a picture of what you think the butterfly will look like when it comes out of the chrysalis.

Have fun!
Wendy