51 of the VERY BEST Very Hungry Caterpillar Activities

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March 20th is the birthday of The Very Hungry Caterpillar book by Eric Carle and to celebrate I am sharing some of the very BEST Very Hungry Caterpillar activities and crafts out there!

Diving into the world of Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” offers more than just a journey through the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly; it opens up a colorful, interactive canvas for creativity and learning. This timeless tale not only captivates children with its vivid illustrations and simple, engaging narrative but also serves as a springboard for a myriad of crafts and activities. These projects not only complement the story’s themes of growth, change, and discovery but also provide hands-on opportunities for kids to explore colors, textures, and the natural world around them.

Whether you’re a parent seeking to enrich your child’s reading experience, a teacher designing a thematic unit, or just looking for fun and educational activities, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” crafts and activities are a fantastic resource. Each project encourages imagination, fine motor skill development, and even early math skills like counting and pattern recognition. Plus, they’re an excellent way to bring the story to life, making the adventures of the hungry caterpillar not just a tale to be read, but an experience to be lived. Get ready to transform simple materials into a vibrant exploration of this beloved book.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Activities & Crafts

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Sensory Bin

Creating a sensory bin inspired by The Very Hungry Caterpillar is not just fun; it’s a great way to combine play, learning, and creativity.

Handprint Caterpillar Craft

 Today, we’re embarking on a creative adventure with a handprint caterpillar craft that’s not only simple and fun but also wonderfully educational. This craft is perfect for a sunny afternoon of storytelling, painting, and cutting, creating a memorable experience and a beautiful piece of art.

Paper Plate Caterpillar Craft for Kids

This paper plate caterpillar craft is so much fun to make with kids! If you need caterpillar craft ideas, this one is a fun spring craft for toddlers and early elementary-aged kids. 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Sticky Wall & Counting Activity

This is a fun activity using contact paper. Once you create the caterpillar you can retell the story using foam fruits!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Potato Masher Craft

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Potato Masher Craft is any easy painting craft using a potato masher.

Cardboard Caterpillar Craft for Kids

It’s no secret kids love insects, especially caterpillar. They’re cute, they’re fully and they turn into butterflies. Have fun making this easy cardboard caterpillar craft with your kids this spring!

Pool Noodle Caterpillar Craft for Kids

This delightful craft will spark your child’s creativity as they transform a simple pool noodle into a colorful caterpillar friend.

Caterpillar Pom Pom Counting: Easy Toddler Math

Caterpillar Pom Pom Counting is a fun early math activity perfect for Spring! This easy and colourful fine motor counting activity is great for toddlers and preschoolersAn amazing counting idea for kids that helps them learn one to one correspondence while working on fine motor skills such as gluing!

Sensory Rice Caterpillar Counting: Toddler Math

Sensory Rice Caterpillar Counting is a fun sensory rice early math activity for Spring. This easy and colourful craft is great for toddlers and preschoolers to practice counting as well as work on fine motor skills. Combining sensory play with rice, gluing and counting: a recipe for a fun way to do math! 

Sock Caterpillar Craft for Kids

This easy sock caterpillar craft for kids is a fun and simple craft for preschoolers and kids of all ages to make in spring or when learning about caterpillars.

Feed the Caterpillars: Pom Pom Drop

Feed the caterpillar pom pom drop is a fun twist on the classic pom pom drop activity for toddlers. This is the BEST indoor activity for spring!

Caterpillar Number Match for Preschoolers

Caterpillar Number Match is a fun and easy early math activity for preschoolers. A great way to practice counting with your toddler or preschooler. This makes a great spring math activity or a fun activity to do anytime of the year!

Eggshell Caterpillar Garden: STEAM Craft

Spring is a season of new beginnings and what better way to celebrate than with a fun and educational craft activity. This DIY project involves repurposing eggshells to create a cute and colorful caterpillar garden that kids will love.

LEGO inspired story retelling of The Very Hungry Caterpillar

An amazing activity using LEGO!

Decorate The Very Hungry Caterpillar Hat

A fun activity where you get to color and decorate The Very Hungry Caterpillar hat. It comes with a free printable.

Pipe Cleaner The Very Hungry Caterpillar Craft

A fun fine motor craft using pipe cleaners and craft sticks.

Very Hungry Caterpillar Gross Motor Activity

Gross motor ideas from Lessons for Little Ones is a great gross motor activity for March 20th!

Hungry Caterpillar Money Game

This free printable game inspired by The Hungry Caterpillar. It is appropriate for bigger kids in Kindergarten, 1st grade2nd grade, and 3rd grade kids.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Nesting and Stacking Blocks

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Nesting and Stacking Blocks activity combines the joy of building with the charm of Eric Carle’s classic tale, encouraging children to stack and nest colorful blocks that feature illustrations from the book. This engaging activity not only enhances fine motor skills and spatial awareness but also brings the story’s vivid imagery to life in a hands-on, playful manner.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar – Finger Puppet Craft

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Finger Puppet Craft transforms the beloved storybook characters into interactive playmates, using simple materials like felt and glue. This engaging activity not only brings the story to life in the palms of little hands but also encourages imaginative storytelling and play.

Rainbow Footprint Butterfly

The Rainbow Footprint Butterfly activity combines art and play by using children’s footprints to create colorful butterfly wings on paper. This engaging craft not only captures the beauty of nature’s colors but also creates a memorable keepsake that celebrates creativity and growth.

Very Hungry Caterpillar Necklace Craft

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Necklace Craft is a delightful and creative activity that allows children to design their own wearable art inspired by Eric Carle’s classic story. Kids can thread their own necklaces, enhancing fine motor skills and storytelling abilities as they recount the caterpillar’s journey. A great craft for practice fine motor skills, patterning, and creating.

Earth Friendly Caterpillar Crafts

Earth Friendly Caterpillar Crafts is a creative and sustainable activity that transforms recycled materials into colorful caterpillar creations, teaching kids about both art and environmental responsibility. By using items like egg cartons, and paper tubes, children learn to see the value in reusing materials while developing their fine motor skills and imagination.

The Hungry Caterpillar Play Dough Activity

The Hungry Caterpillar Play Dough Activity invites kids to recreate the iconic scenes from Eric Carle’s beloved book using colorful play dough. This hands-on activity fosters creativity and storytelling skills as children mold their very own caterpillars, fruits, and butterflies, bringing the story to life through tactile play.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Puzzle

Let’s Feed The Very Hungry Caterpillar Counting Board Game

Let’s Feed The Very Hungry Caterpillar Counting Board Game transforms the classic tale into an interactive learning adventure, where players collect food pieces to help their caterpillar grow. This engaging board game not only makes counting and number recognition fun but also encourages turn-taking and strategy among young learners.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Color Sorting Activity

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Color Sorting Activity is designed to help young children develop their color recognition skills by sorting various colored items that match the foods from the story. This simple yet effective game enhances fine motor skills and introduces early concepts of categorization and sequencing, making learning both fun and educational.

Toe Print Caterpillars

Toe Print Caterpillars is a playful and creative activity that turns children’s toe prints into adorable caterpillar art, inspired by “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” This craft not only sparks creativity but also serves as a delightful way for kids to explore textures and colors, while creating a unique and personal piece of art.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Alphabet Activity

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Alphabet Activity combines the enchanting world of Eric Carle’s story with the fundamentals of letter recognition and phonics. As children engage with this activity, they match letters and sounds to various elements from the book, fostering early reading skills in a fun and thematic way.

Very Hungry Caterpillar Fine Motor Activity

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Fine Motor Activity is designed to strengthen little hands and fingers through engaging tasks inspired by the book, such as threading. This activity not only enhances fine motor skill development but also encourages children to explore the story’s themes through tactile and hands-on play. A great fine motor activity using squeeze pouch caps.

A Very Hungry Caterpillar Pinata

A fun craft for preschoolers and kindergartners using a homemade paper mâché from Boy Mama.

Stick Caterpillar Craft

The Stick Caterpillar Craft transforms ordinary sticks and various craft materials into colorful, imaginative caterpillars inspired by “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” This eco-friendly activity encourages creativity and resourcefulness, as children use natural elements and a splash of color to bring their own version of the beloved caterpillar to life.

Very Hungry Caterpillar Fine Motor Activity

A fun fruit munching fine motor activity for preschoolers and kindergartners from Modern Preschool.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Story Sequencing Activity

A fun fine motor retelling activity using clothes pins by School Time Snippets.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Friends Caterpillar Puzzle

The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Friends Caterpillar Puzzle is a fun and educational activity that challenges children to piece together scenes from the beloved book, promoting problem-solving skills and attention to detail. As kids work to complete the puzzle, they revisit the story’s characters and moments, reinforcing their connection to the narrative and enhancing their visual recognition abilities.

Sponge Stamped Caterpillar

The Sponge Stamped Caterpillar activity allows children to use sponges as stamps, creating vibrant caterpillar shapes on paper that mimic the colorful illustrations of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” This engaging and simple craft encourages artistic expression and experimentation with color and shape, making it a delightful way for kids to explore their creativity while connecting with the story.

Paper Plate Caterpillar

A great way to engage with the book, learn days of the week, practice our counting skills and learn about healthy eating.

Literacy snack idea caterpillar + free printable

The Literacy Snack Idea Caterpillar + Free Printable combines a healthy eating activity with a thematic approach to learning, where children create caterpillar-shaped snacks while engaging with alphabet and reading exercises provided in the free printable. This innovative activity not only nourishes the body but also stimulates the mind, making learning about letters and words deliciously fun and interactive.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Leaf Craft

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Leaf Craft is a creative activity that involves using beads to make a caterpillar, inspired by the iconic imagery of Eric Carle’s book. This craft encourages children to explore nature and textures while practicing their cutting and gluing skills, resulting in a beautiful, leafy rendition of the very hungry caterpillar.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Precut Flannel/Felt Board Figures

An interactive teaching 14-Piece Set for flannel board Stories for toddlers and preschoolers.

Hungry Caterpillar Days of the Week Printable

Paper Plate Caterpillar Kid’s Craft

The Paper Plate Caterpillar Kid’s Craft turns simple paper plates into a vibrant, segmented caterpillar, mirroring the colorful journey of transformation in “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” This craft is perfect for fostering creativity and fine motor skills, as children paint, cut, and assemble their own paper plate caterpillars, bringing the story’s main character to life with their own artistic touch.

Very Hungry Caterpillar Sensory Bin

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Sensory Bin is a hands-on activity inspired by the popular children’s book. Participants engage in tactile exploration, manipulating various materials to recreate scenes from the story and foster sensory development in young learners.

Caterpillar Name Craft

A great activity for preschoolers recognizing, sequencing, and writing the letters of their names. Caterpillar Name Craft is a fun and educational activity where children create colorful caterpillars using their names as inspiration. By assembling letters of their names into a caterpillar shape and decorating them with vibrant materials, kids engage in both spelling practice and artistic expression.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Counting Mats

Cute counting mats that you can use with play dough or snacks! An interactive educational activity where children use mats featuring the beloved character to learn basic counting skills. Through hands-on manipulation of objects inspired by the story, kids engage in playful counting exercises that promote early math comprehension.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Apple Shape Sorter

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Apple Shape Sorter is an engaging educational game designed for young children, inspired by the popular children’s book “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle. It combines shape recognition and fine motor skills as children match colorful wooden fruits to the corresponding slots in a wooden apple, fostering cognitive development in a fun and interactive way.

Paper Chain Caterpillar Craft

The Paper Chain Caterpillar Craft is a fun and engaging activity where participants create a colorful caterpillar by linking together paper strips. It’s a great way to foster creativity and fine motor skills in children while producing a delightful decoration.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Lacing Cards

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Lacing Cards is an engaging activity that involves threading colorful cards featuring characters from the popular children’s book onto laces, promoting fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination in young learners. Based on Eric Carle’s beloved story, this hands-on experience combines storytelling with interactive play, fostering creativity and dexterity in children.

How to Make An Easy and Fun Wiggling Caterpillar Craft

How to Make an Easy and Fun Wiggling Caterpillar Craft is a hands-on activity where kids create a colorful caterpillar using simple materials like paper, markers, and brads. This engaging craft involves cutting and decorating paper circles before assembling them into a wiggling caterpillar that delights both children and adults alike.

Cupcake Liner Caterpillar Craft

The Cupcake Liner Caterpillar Craft is a delightful activity where children create colorful caterpillars using cupcake liners, markers, and googly eyes. By folding and arranging the liners in a row, they fashion adorable caterpillars, fostering creativity and fine motor skills in young minds.

Very Hungry Caterpillar Puppet

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Puppet activity involves children creating their own caterpillar puppets inspired by Eric Carle’s famous children’s book. Participants get to explore creativity through crafting while also engaging in storytelling and imaginative play with their finished puppets.

C is for Caterpillar Craft

“C is for Caterpillar Craft” is a delightful activity where children create their own colorful caterpillars using various art supplies like pom-poms, pipe cleaners, and paper. Through this hands-on experience, kids not only engage in creative expression but also learn the letter C in a fun and interactive way.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Paper Plate Puppet

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Paper Plate Puppet is a creative activity where children make puppets resembling the character from Eric Carle’s famous book. Using paper plates, colors, and imagination, they bring the beloved caterpillar to life, fostering both artistic expression and storytelling.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Jumbo Puzzle

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Jumbo Puzzle is an engaging activity featuring vibrant illustrations from Eric Carle’s beloved children’s book. With oversized pieces, children can piece together the caterpillar’s journey from tiny egg to beautiful butterfly, fostering problem-solving skills and creativity.

An Invitation to Create Caterpillar Craft

An Invitation to Create Caterpillar Craft is an engaging activity where kids are prompted to design and assemble their own caterpillars using various materials such as paper, cotton balls and paint. This hands-on craft encourages creativity and fine motor skills development in a fun and imaginative way.

Hungry Caterpillar DIY Flip Book Craft

The Hungry Caterpillar DIY Flip Book Craft is a creative activity inspired by Eric Carle’s beloved children’s book. Participants make their own flip books featuring the caterpillar’s transformation into a beautiful butterfly, engaging both artistic expression and storytelling in a single project.

Hungry Caterpillars Number Tracing Worksheets

Hungry Caterpillars Number Tracing Worksheets is an educational activity designed to help young learners practice tracing numbers in a fun and engaging way, featuring colorful illustrations of caterpillars. Through this activity, children can improve their number recognition and handwriting skills while enjoying the playful theme of hungry caterpillars.

Reusable Foam Very Hungry Caterpillar Puzzle

The Reusable Foam Very Hungry Caterpillar Puzzle offers a durable and tactile play experience, as children piece together colorful foam segments to recreate the beloved caterpillar. This activity not only supports hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills but also encourages storytelling and imagination as kids revisit the story through play.

Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers

Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers image

There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!

But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.

Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.

Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again! 

These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!

Click here for more information: Play2Learn

Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids

Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids image

Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon

Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.

Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.

Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids

Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids image

Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more. 

Find out more and grab your copy here.

Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.

Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids

Big Book of Riddles for Kids image

Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.

  • 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
  • Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
  • Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.

Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!

Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.

TV Show: Curious Crafting

I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.

Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!

Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.

In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create. 

Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.

This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up. 

Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers

Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers image

There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!

But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.

Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.

Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again! 

These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!

Click here for more information: Play2Learn

Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids

Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids image

Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon

Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.

Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.

Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids

Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids image

Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more. 

Find out more and grab your copy here.

Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.

Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids

Big Book of Riddles for Kids image

Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.

  • 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
  • Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
  • Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.

Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!

Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.

TV Show: Curious Crafting

I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.

Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!

Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.

In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create. 

Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.

This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up. 

WILL YOU TRY ANY OF THESE THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR ACTIVITIES AND CRAFTS WITH YOUR KIDS? PIN IT FOR LATER!

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