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Nature Discovery: Details

May 5, 2015 by Anne Campbell 8 Comments

Looking for Details

We stumbled upon a massive caterpillar in our yard in the fall, and the boys were immediately intrigued by it’s unique features. This green, furry, spotted creature, with little crown-like horns on its head, started an impromptu weekend science lesson as we studied its details.

Nature Discovery: Looking for Details @mylearningtable.com
Noticing details helps develop reading skills, comprehension, observation skills, analysis, appreciation, and imagination.

Nature Discovery: Looking for Details @mylearningtable.com

Discovery in the Details

  • First, we talked about what we noticed right away: bright green, white polka dots, and long white fur.
  • Next, we took a second look, and found black rings around the white spots and pointy yellow horns. How many spots? How many segments? How many horns? How many legs?
  • What else? Do you see the tiny yellow dots on the end? And, if you look really close, the horns look like spiral conch shells.
    We compared its size to the size of our hands.
  • Then, just when we thought we’d seen it all, we noticed its companion a few branches up. Why is it a different color?

Taking a moment to observe the details of a simple, beautiful creature sparks curiosity in my kids, which in turn causes them to want to learn more.

Nature Discovery: Looking for Details @mylearningtable.com

Nature Discovery: Looking for Details @mylearningtable.com

After a search in the field guide, we think it is an Imperial moth (Eacles imperialis).

Sometimes, the kids pull out their nature journals and draw their discoveries, and sometimes we just take pictures. Either way, the act of observing the details, asking questions, and exploring keeps the joy of learning alive.

Filed Under: Homeschool, STEAM

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Phyllis says

    October 14, 2013 at 1:43 PM

    I think they are very interesting…even beautiful. Great observations.

    Reply
  2. Rebecca says

    October 16, 2013 at 12:55 AM

    Those are beautiful – but after a recent run in with a saddle back, I don’t think we’ll be picking up any fuzzy friends.

    Reply
  3. Sharisse says

    May 12, 2015 at 1:31 PM

    Wow, great closeups! I love that you turned the caterpillars into an impromptu weekend science lesson by studying their details!

    Reply
    • Anne Campbell says

      May 15, 2015 at 11:13 AM

      Thanks, Sharisse!

      Reply
  4. Danica says

    May 26, 2015 at 6:55 PM

    Wow how awesome is that caterpillar!!

    Reply
  5. C. Lee Reed says

    June 2, 2015 at 10:47 PM

    That caterpillar is huge. The photos are beautiful. We have fuzzy white ones around here.

    Reply
    • Anne Campbell says

      June 6, 2015 at 11:13 PM

      It’s so much fun to discover new (to us) critters!

      Reply
  6. L. E. Mastilock says

    June 9, 2015 at 4:50 PM

    Most of the caterpillars we find are black and fuzzy. This is one big green beauty! I love giving my kids freedom to explore outside. Books are great, but touching, feeling, breathing nature is irreplaceable

    Reply

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Hello! I am an English/Language Arts teacher, writer, homeschooling consultant, and speaker and believe in embracing the “light bulb” moments of discovery that happen both in and out of the classroom.
anne@mylearningtable.com
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