March 20th is Very Hungry Caterpillar Day! What better way to celebrate than to read the book to your children and then do some of these activities in honor of both Eric Carle and caterpillars/butterflies. Children will love these fun, hands-on activities that will make sure they never forget the story of this very hungry caterpillar.
1. Watermelon Playdough
Children will love "eating" through a watermelon just like the hungry caterpillars. Have them create little watermelon seeds using playdough, roll dice, and then add that many "seeds" to their watermelons. They will practice their counting skills with this fun hands-on activity.
Learn more: Preschool Play and Learn
2. Cupcake Liner Caterpillars
The best thing about this activity is children will be able to both recreate an Eric Carle caterpillar and butterfly using cupcake liners! Let kids show their creativity by letting them pick out which colors they want to use for their little critters. Then finish off their caterpillars with something we all love--googly eyes!
Learn more: In the Playroom
3. Fruit Munch Activity
Children will practice their fine motor skills with this fun caterpillar hole punch activity by Modern Preschool. Have them use hole punchers to munch through the fruit just like the caterpillar did.
Learn more: Modern Preschool
4. Egg Carton Caterpillar
This craft for preschoolers will have all children engaged as they cut out their bumpy caterpillars from egg cartons and paint both their egg cartons and strawberries. In the end, they will have adorable caterpillars!
Learn more: Crafty Morning
5. Marshmallow Painting
This fun caterpillar painting activity involves two things children love--paint and marshmallows. They will have fun dipping their marshmallows in paint to create their caterpillars (and maybe even eat a few marshmallows in the process).
Learn more: Puffin Books
6. Very Hungry Caterpillar Story Retelling
Story retelling is important in improving reading comprehension. Use printouts like the ones provided in this link to help students retell the story of the very hungry caterpillar as he makes his way through all of the fruit and other foods!
Learn more: Kindergarten Works
7. Caterpillar Fruit Pizzas
Using sugar cookie dough and sliced fruit, have children create their own fruit pizzas with this fun caterpillar craft that they can eat after they complete! Students will have fun creating their own unique caterpillar fruit pizzas.
Learn more: A Little Pinch of Perfects
8. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Puzzle
One thing kids love as much as books are puzzles. This link shows you how to make your own caterpillar puzzle. Children will have fun putting the pieces back together. Laminate the pieces to use them for a long time!
Learn more: Parenting Chaos
9. Bead Caterpillars
Children will love making their own little wriggly caterpillars. Use pipe cleaners for the caterpillar body and beads to decorate to make fun, unique caterpillars. Kids will have fun racing their new little pets around the room.
Learn more: Make and Takes
10. Food Sensory Activity
This activity encourages healthy eating while letting children explore the different foods. Use a toothpick or skewer to poke a hole in each food to shower where the caterpillar ate through each. You may notice that a couple of the foods in the picture don't match those in the book. That's okay! You can improvise with what you have on hand and discuss the differences between the book with your children.
Learn more: A Little Pinch of Perfect
11. Whimsical Caterpillars
An activity for school-age children, the provided link takes you to a lesson plan on how to create classroom whimsical caterpillars. You can have students create their own caterpillars, or you can make it a collaborative caterpillar project and have each student make one portion of a giant caterpillar.
Learn more: School Specialty
12. Caterpillar Headbands
These fun caterpillar headbands will have students wandering around the room looking for different items they, too, can eat through to grow big enough! Follow the link provided for a printable headband template.
Learn more: Lakeshore
13. Caterpillar Necklaces
Bri Reads provides printable food and caterpillar pieces for you to print and cut out to make your own caterpillar necklace. Children will have fun coloring and then stringing together their necklaces. You can have them retell the story by putting their food items in the order in which the caterpillar ate them.
Learn more: Bri Reads
14. Flying Butterfly Craft
What does the caterpillar turn into at the end of the book? A beautiful butterfly! Follow the directions in the attached video to create fun, cute "flying" butterflies. You can even hang them from your classroom ceiling after for all to enjoy!
Learn more: Paper Magic
15. M&M Caterpillars
This toddler-approved activity will have all children engaged! Have them practice both their counting and color recognition skills by putting different colored candies on their caterpillars. And who doesn't love an activity you can eat at the end?
Learn more: Toddler Approved
16. Butterfly Symmetry Activity
Teach the concept of symmetry by having children do this symmetrical butterfly activity. They will have fun painting half the butterfly, folding it in half, and then opening it to see their creations! Take it a step further and search online for different, more complex butterfly templates.
Learn more: Learning At The Primary Pond
17. Fruit Kabobs
Have children create their own fruit kabobs using the fruits the very hungry caterpillar ate through. Have them count as they put each piece of fruit onto their kabobs. After, they will have fun eating their own caterpillar snack! You can use the fruits used in the story or use what you have on hand.
Learn more: Make and Takes
18. Caterpillar Name Activity
Children can practice multiple skills with this activity--cutting, pasting, and handwriting. Have them glue their caterpillars to paper and then write the letters of their name on each different portion of their caterpillars. Oh, and don't forget to draw on the legs!
Learn more: Pinterest
19. Tissue Paper Caterpillars
This project takes a couple of days to complete, as children have to let their tissue paper caterpillars dry before they draw on the other details! During this time, you can talk about how the caterpillar also needed time in his cocoon before he could turn into a butterfly.
Learn more: Teach Preschool
20. 3D Caterpillar
Have students practice their fine motor skills in creating these fun 3D caterpillars. They will have hours of fun creating and then playing with their slinky caterpillars! Use different colored paper for unique caterpillars.
Learn more: Easy Peasy and Fun
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