The Caterpillar in Jack's Beanstalk

The caterpillar loved acrobatic tricks and was a keep - fit fanatic ... he could twist and turn liked a spring and tried to keep himself fit. The caterpillar was so fit that he could reach one end of the cabbage patch to the apple tree in less than an afternoon (quite a feat for a caterpillar only three quarters of an inch long whose legs were only half an inch high). One day, the caterpillar went off in search of the tastiest fruit and vegetables in the greenhouse. He had heard tales of juicy carrots from the greenfly - who was really in quite a nutritious flap - he wanted to find some spinach - or even brocoli in a polythene wrap. He found a hidden treasure map, which marked X on a particular spot ... the caterpillar quickly realised that golden riches were probably there - but was it on the doorstep or was it in the chimney pot ? He puC on his rucksack, which he had borrowed from a slug, thick socks and one hundred shoes and off he trekked over the blades of grass in the lawn. On his way he met a slug, heading for the dining room rug. He was most helpful in showing him the way. The caterpillar crawled underneath the table and by teatime had reached the top of the chair ... it was only from here that he could see, the attic at the top of the stair. And he kept on crawling ... and crawling along, munching a petal and singing a song. His feet made a terrible din - in the race for the tastiest carrots, caterpillars with a hundred feet usually win. But still no treasure. The caterpillar was getting quite peckish by now, his mouth was watering and his belly rumbling ... he hadn't spotted many carrots at all and he had trouble to recall, when he last took a tasty crunch of a tasty carrot for a tasty lunch. He took another look at the map (hoping that he might see, where the tasty carrots were or a spot where he could stop for his tea). The caterpillar took a left turn, hoping to get his fill ... then headed off over the hill - it as only when he reached a signpost, he realised, that he was even more lost, still. At a give - way sign where the road then forked, the caterpillar turned right ... right into a horrible smelling cow pat - that gave him quite a fright. Suddenly lightening flashed and the caterpillar heard a loud rumble of thunder. "Before the raindrops start falling on m'bristles, I'd better find a mushroom to crawl under", he thought as something suddenly splashed. Here, he slept for an hour or two, and when he awoke, he saw a colourful rainbow ... and clear blue skies overhead - off he set again in search of carrots and a tasty flowerbed. By the time that the caterpillar had circled round and round the greenhouse, his head was in a spin ... he was really quite worried, that with all this exercise, he was getting too thin. Being only three millimetres tall, the puddles were particularly difficult for a caterpillar to cross ... As he descended down the bank, he slipped on a pile of moss. A butterfly flying overhead cried - "Why not try that bridge over there - it looks very useful indeed !", and the caterpillar agreed. As he slowly edged along, he huffed and puffed with all his might - being only a caterpillar tightrope walker, he would have to hold on quite tight. "Go quite slow", he thought to himself and take very careful steps. After about an hour or so, the caterpillar had reached the top of the window ...it was a beautiful view of the garden ... it was only then that he realised, that he was making scaling the prop holding up the washing line. He bunjee jumped on a pair of stockings and abseiled down a pair of trousers, the caterpillar hadn't had this much fun in ages ... since he'd chewed through a cookbook with tasty carrot picture pages. One by one, the caterpillar crawled over the pegs ... it was quite a tremendous feat for a caterpillar with only little legs. He hoped that he would find his treasure soon - and munch carrots to his delight ... though the caterpillar worried, that he wouldn't be able to see at night. Then, just before dusk, he found his treasure, by the bottom of the bird table next to the garden wall, so many carrots he could hardly count them all, all too big to measure. "Mmmm ... yummy !", taking big mouthfuls, the caterpillar cried out in glee ... He made a soup and sandwiches ... for an extra special carrot tea.

Fill In The Caterpillar Gaps .... The Caterpillar's Greatest Munch

"iller" or "illar" or "La" Spelling Activity

Which should be the correct one to use - iller ? or illar ? or La ?

caterp _____

f _____

m _____

p _____

k _____

thr _____

ch _____

dr_____

gr _____

goril _____

© Jacqueline Richards 2007

Answers : caterpillar; filler ; miller ; pillar ; killer ; thriller ; chiller ; driller ; griller ; gorilla ;