The Very Hungry Student is a fun way for students to write down what they have learned each month.

Because it records their accomplishments, it’s a terrific way to build self-esteem.

Because students write in it each month, you will see improvement in their handwriting, as well as their writing abilities, so the booklet is a good addition to a portfolio, if you have them, or tuck into a student folder, to take out and share with parents during conferences.

Practice reading the simple rhyming sentences, after students complete their page, so that at the end of the year, children are able to read their booklet when they take it home to share with their families!

I have a cute caterpillar with a face for one cover, but you can make this even more special, by having students glue their photo over his face for a “student caterpillar” instead.

Because this is a quick and easy writing assignment, that students can do independently, it makes a nice Daily 5 activity too.

If you don't do Daily 5, keep the booklets for your writing center. 

They make a great writing prompt for the first day of school, as there is a page specifically for that.

Because there is a page for each month, you could start out September and each month, with The Very Hungry Student's page as your writing prompt for the month.

For an activity that helps students with verbal acuity, gather children in a circle and have them share that day’s page by reading it to their classmates.

At the end of the year, you can discuss what everyone’s favorite thing was that they learned, or their favorite month of activities.  If they overlap, graph them.

A little bit of science is covered, as the very hungry caterpillar is "bursting with knowledge" and turns into a butterfly, flying into the next grade.

In June, (s)he is once again a fat little caterpillar, promising to slim down over the summer, so they are ready to fatten up and gobble down more knowledge, in their new grade!

Click on the link to view/download The Very Hungry Student booklet.

Thanks for visiting today. Feel free to PIN anything you think others might find helpful.

I hope you can pop in tomorrow for another back-to-school idea!

"Stop trying to fit in, when you were born to stand out!" - Dr. Seuss