30 Easy Caterpillar Crafts for Preschool Kids 

Are you reading the popular children’s book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar?  If so, you’ll want to check out these caterpillar crafts for preschool kids.  

Caterpillars and butterflies are such an exiting subject to teach young minds about. They grow from a not-so-pretty insect into something beautiful that flies around! The process of a caterpillar coming out of its cocoon as a butterfly fascinates young and old minds.

If you are moving into an insect or bug unit, crafts are a great way to reiterate what you are learning.

Bugs and insects can sometimes appear a little complex to teach.  Fun and easy crafts, however,  help break hard lessons down to help children visualize and better understand.

Below you will find a list of general butterfly and caterpillar crafts and some that are specific to the Eric Carle book.

 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Crafts

This is one of many peoples’ first and favorite books. If you are looking for some Very Hungry Caterpillar craft ideas, this section includes some specifically aimed at popular books.

If you see a craft you like in the image below,  simply click the title by that number.  

1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Finger Puppets: These finger puppets are so much fun and look much more difficult than they actually are. Once you have all of the circles for the body cut out, all it takes is some fine motor skills to put them together!
2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Popsicle Puppets: These popsicle puppets are perfect for those of you wanting to act out the story! 
3. Flip Book Activity: This caterpillar flip book is ideal for those wanting to emphasize the story’s lessons on the days of the week.
4. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Egg Carton: Egg cartons are the perfect shape to make a caterpillar body! This egg carton caterpillar craft is so simple.  
5. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Headband: Headbands and wearable crafts are always a hit. This one uses very simple supplies – glue, scissors, and construction paper! 

 

Hungry Caterpillar Painting Crafts

1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Toe Painting: If you are wanting a personalized craft for the The Very Hungry Caterpillar Book, this toe painting is perfect.
2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Balloon Painting: Balloons are another easy way to paint circles for a caterpillar body!
3. Sponge Painting The Very Hungry Caterpillar: This sponge painting is an easy peasy way to tie in craft time with reading time. 
4. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Toilet Roll Painting: There are so many simple and accessible ways to paint a near perfect-caterpillar. The end of a toilet paper roll makes a great circle for the body.
5. The Very Hungry Wiggling Caterpillar: If you are looking for a caterpillar craft with movement, this one is great. The template is inexpensive and you can use it whether you are reading the classic Eric Carle book or not – just paint it a different color!

 

Fun Caterpillar Crafts for Preschool

Most of these are general caterpillar crafts, but can be used for The Very Hungry Caterpillar if you use red and green. Theses caterpillar projects are easy to complete and the supplies are easy to find. You probably already have most of them on hand.

1. Pom Pom Caterpillar Craft: This easy caterpillar craft is centered around pom poms! Grab some paper or card stock for the leaves and you are good to go. If you are reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar, use red and green pom poms!
2. Caterpillar to Butterfly Craft: This simple craft transforms before your eyes! Children will love watching the caterpillar morph into a beautiful butterfly. Pom poms, googly eyes, tissue paper, clothespins, and a toilet paper roll are what you need to bring this to life.
3. Caterpillar Spring Craft: This cute caterpillar craft will definitely help little hands work on those fine motor skills! It could be a little tedious for smaller hands, but is simple to complete once you get the hang of it. You can use the template that the post provides or just follow the directions and cut the strips yourself!
4. Googly Eye Paper Caterpillar Template: An easy peasy construction paper craft. You can use the free template, but the idea is simple enough to complete yourself! Add some googly eyes to make it extra cute.
5. Paper Plate Caterpillars: This fun caterpillar craft is also an easy paper plate craft! Just cut the outside portion of a paper plate to use for the body and color any way that you want.

More Easy Caterpillar Crafts

1. Paper Plate Pom Pom Caterpillars: The paper plates give an easy-to-use surface for the perfect craft, and the pom poms give it texture! This one is easy peasy.
2. No-Sew Sock Caterpillars: This one requires an uncommon craft material – socks! You can fill it with whatever stuffing you find or have available. Tying rubber bands along the body gives it that caterpillar look!
3. Caterpillar to Butterfly Printable: This craft can help teach young ones about the butterfly life cycle and is so simple. It even comes with a free printable template.
4. Crumpled Paper Caterpillar: This adorable caterpillar is an easy way to use up any paper scraps you have around! Paper crafts are where imagination comes to life.
5. Swirly Pom Pom Caterpillars: This craft uses pipe cleaners and small twigs for the caterpillar body. It is so unique and great for fine motor skills.

If you are interested in more Spring Crafts, check out these April Crafts for Kids.

 

Butterfly Crafts

Butterflies are a beautiful, colorful creature that caterpillars turn into. The crafts below reflect that.

You can make these beautiful butterflies into any color or pattern you want. If you are teaching butterfly facts for kids, or specific species of butterflies, it’s super easy to make different versions of the crafts below.

• Coffee Filter Butterflies: A great way to use up an oversupply of paper coffee filters. 
• Handprint Butterflies: This butterfly craft is perfect to send home with little ones. 
• Pipe Cleaner and Clothespin Butterflies: Elementary students will love getting to play around with this one. 
• Pipe Cleaner Butterfly Rings: Grab some pipe cleaners and you are good to go! Students and children will love wearing these around, and showing them off.
• Butterfly Suncatcher: Younger children will need a helping hand, but the whole family will love seeing the colors reflect in the butterfly shadows!
• Butterfly Cupcake Liner: These butterflies use popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, cupcake liners, and googly eyes! You can use pre-colored cupcake liners or color them yourself! 
• Snack Bag Butterfly: This beautiful butterfly uses a snack bag filled with pom poms for the wings and a clothespin for the body.
• Paper Roll and Button Butterflies: This is a fun way to use a toilet paper roll instead of throwing it away! 
• Butterfly Nature Craft: This butterfly craft comes with a free template and is a fun activity to complete outdoors! All ages will love gathering leaves and flowers of their choice.

 

Now that you’ve gotten to seen a collection of hungry caterpillar activities, check out more cute crafts below.

Before you go, here are more posts you’ll enjoy:

50 Fun Butterfly Facts for Kids

Butterflies and Caterpillars:  Books and Activities for Kids

49 Fun April Crafts for Kids

September Crafts for Kids

 

Caterpillar Crafts for Preschool