Hungry Caterpillar activities are a fantastic way to engage your students with The Very Hungry Caterpillar! These lists of hands-on ideas will help children connect with the beloved story while developing key skills like literacy, math, fine motor coordination, and creativity.
Whether it’s sequencing story events with felt pieces, crafting name caterpillars, or building healthy caterpillar snacks, these activities make learning fun and meaningful. So, let’s dive into this playful collection and bring the story to life in your classroom!
10+ Hungry Caterpillar Activities
Here are plenty of engaging story-inspired ideas that will keep your students engaged while reinforcing key early learning skills through hands-on fun:
1. LEGO Caterpillar Creations
The LEGO Caterpillar Creations activity is a fantastic way to blend creativity, problem-solving skills, and a deeper understanding of the Very Hungry Caterpillar story.
In this activity, students will use LEGO pieces to build the caterpillar, the fruits it eats, or even a creative version of the transformation into a butterfly.
Materials Needed:
- LEGO blocks (can include square, rectangular, or various building pieces).
- A flat surface or table where students can freely create.
How to Do:
- Give each student or group a set of LEGO blocks to work with.
- Ask students to create a caterpillar by connecting LEGO pieces to form the body and head.
- Once they finish, have students explain their creations by recounting the order in which the caterpillar eats the fruits.
2. Days of the Week Caterpillar Craft
Reinforce sequencing, days of the week, and story recall with this colorful caterpillar made from paper circles. It’s a great cross between literacy and calendar skills, and students can customize their caterpillar’s colors and foods.
Materials Needed: Construction paper, scissors, glue, markers
How to Do:
- Cut out 7 circles (one for each day).
- Ask students to label each with a weekday and draw or write the food eaten.
- Arrange and glue the circles in order to form a caterpillar’s body.
- Add a face and antennae for the caterpillar’s head.
3. Hungry Caterpillar Story Retelling Props
In this exercise, kids deepen comprehension by sequencing events using felt or laminated props while retelling the story in their own words. It’s a great way to develop oral language skills, improve memory, and engage students in storytelling.
Materials Needed:
- Felt board or flannel
- Laminated characters and food images (caterpillar, fruits, and other items from the story)
How to Do:
- After reading the story aloud, hand out props to students.
- Prompt them to act out the story together on the board in order.
- Use sentence starters like “First the caterpillar ate…” or “Next he munched on…”
- For added challenge, remove the book and ask them to recall independently.
4. Caterpillar Fingerprint Counting
If you’re looking for The Very Hungry Caterpillar activities that blend art and math, this one’s perfect! Kids will love using their fingerprints to count while creating their own caterpillar designs.
It’s a fun, hands-on way to develop number sense and fine motor skills. You can also explore Totschooling’s free dot-paint packet, offering a variety of activities that enhance counting, pre reading, prewriting, and more.
Materials Needed:
- Ink pads or washable paint
- Paper
- Markers or crayons
How to Do:
- Give each student an ink pad or washable paint to use for their fingerprints.
- Have them dip their finger in the ink or paint and press it onto the paper to create the caterpillar’s body.
- Ask students to count the number of fingerprints and match them to the corresponding numbers.
- Once the caterpillar is complete, let them color and add details like eyes and antennas.
5. Apple Hungry Caterpillars
Apple Hungry Caterpillars is one of the most effective activities for kids to learn about The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
This tasty activity combines nutrition education and fine motor skills into one adorable craft. Children recreate the caterpillar using healthy fruits, fostering discussions about the foods the caterpillar eats and how different foods affect our health.
Materials Needed:
- Fresh apple slices (green or red)
- Seedless grapes
- Peanut butter or cream cheese
- Mini chocolate chips or raisins
- Toothpicks or small skewers (optional)
How to Do:
- Lay out apple slices in a curved line to represent the caterpillar’s body.
- Add a grape at one end to serve as the caterpillar’s head.
- Stick two mini chocolate chips or raisins on the grape using peanut butter or cream cheese for eyes.
- Assemble everything using toothpicks or skewers for stability (optional).
- Talk about the difference between healthy and unhealthy food, and how the caterpillar felt after eating too much junk!
You can also extend this activity by exploring the five senses – have children smell, taste, and describe the foods just like in these 5 senses activities.
6. Caterpillar Necklace
Turn learning into wearable art with this colorful and creative Hungry Caterpillar activity! The Caterpillar Necklace not only sparks imagination, but also helps children strengthen their fine motor skills, learn to follow patterns, and practice counting.
As they build their necklaces, kids reinforce early math concepts in a hands-on way, all while connecting with the story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Plus, they get to take home a cute craft they’re proud of! (Hands-on crafts like this also build confidence and teamwork, much like social-emotional activities for preschoolers that nurture communication and cooperation.)
Materials Needed:
- Dyed penne pasta (in various colors)
- Colored paper circles (construction paper works well)
- Hole punch
- Yarn or string
- Glue stick (optional for extra decoration)
- Markers or googly eyes (optional for caterpillar faces)
How to Do:
- Dye the penne pasta in various colors and let it dry.
- Cut paper circles for the caterpillar’s head and body; punch holes in each.
- Give each child a piece of yarn and tape one end for easier threading.
- Have students string pasta and paper circles in a repeating pattern.
- Add a paper “head” at the end and decorate it with eyes and a smile.
- Tie the ends to finish the necklace and let students explain their pattern.
7. Play Dough Story Scenes
Play dough story scenes are a creative and tactile way for students to recall and retell The Very Hungry Caterpillar. This activity supports fine motor development, sequencing, and oral storytelling, all while keeping kids engaged in hands-on fun.
As students sculpt their favorite moments or foods from the book, they strengthen comprehension and language skills in a memorable, sensory-rich way.
Materials Needed:
- Play dough in a variety of colors (red, green, yellow, brown, etc.)
- A copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar
- Plastic sculpting tools or child-safe cookie cutters
How to Do:
- Give students colorful play dough and sculpting tools.
- Ask them to recreate scenes or characters from The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
- Let them use the book for reference and retell the story as they sculpt.
- Display their creations and encourage them to explain what they made.
To expand on the theme, try these fun insect activities for preschoolers, which connect storytelling with science exploration.
8. Caterpillar Balloon Printings
Introduce preschoolers to the fun of printmaking with these vibrant and hands-on Hungry Caterpillar art activities. Balloon printing is a playful way to strengthen fine motor skills, explore color, and build early artistic confidence—all while connecting back to The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Materials Needed:
- Balloons
- Paper plates
- Red, green, and yellow paint
- Large sheets of paper
How to Do:
- Inflate balloons to a manageable size for small hands.
- Pour red, green, and yellow paint onto paper plates.
- Have children dip the bottom of the balloon into the paint and press it onto paper to create caterpillar shapes.
- Encourage them to mix colors and discuss the patterns they make.
- Let the artwork dry and display their creations!
9. Caterpillar Name Craft
Make name learning exciting and engaging by combining crafting with literacy skills in this hands-on activity. Students will not only practice recognizing and spelling their names but will also enjoy the fun of crafting their very own caterpillar!
Materials Needed:
- Construction paper
- Scissors and glue
- Markers
- Googly eyes (optional)
How to Do:
- Cut out large circles from construction paper—one for each letter of the child’s name.
- Write one letter of the child’s name on each circle using markers.
- Have children glue the letters in order to create their own name caterpillar.
- Add a head by attaching a circle with googly eyes and pipe cleaners for antennae.
- Encourage kids to say their name aloud as they build the caterpillar, reinforcing letter order and name spelling.
10. Paper Plate Caterpillar
A colorful craft that incorporates multiple learning areas, including days of the week, healthy eating, and sequencing. This craft helps children not only reinforce their knowledge of days of the week and sequencing, but it also integrates a fun discussion about healthy eating while connecting it to the classic story.
Materials Needed:
- Paper plates
- Paint or markers (green and red)
- Glue and scissors
- Construction paper for details (for head, eyes, and antennae)
How to Do:
- Cut paper plates in half and have students paint them green and red to create caterpillar segments.
- Glue the segments together, one for each day of the week.
- Add a red head with eyes and antennae made from construction paper.
- As you assemble the caterpillar, review the foods the caterpillar ate each day in the story.
11. Sensory Rice Caterpillar Counting
This hands-on activity is perfect for young learners to practice counting, number recognition, and fine motor skills in a sensory-rich environment. The combination of colored rice and the caterpillar craft makes learning engaging and interactive!
Materials Needed:
- Colored rice
- Small bowls
- Tongs or tweezers
- Printable caterpillar with numbered sections
- Glue
How to Do:
- Fill trays with different colored rice and hide small numbered counters or objects inside.
- Provide tongs or tweezers for students to scoop and sort rice or objects by number or color.
- Have students glue the correct amount of rice or objects onto the printable caterpillar sections to match the numbers.
- Review counting and color recognition while students work on this tactile, hands-on project.
12. Decorate The Very Hungry Caterpillar Hat
This fun and creative hat project brings The Very Hungry Caterpillar to life and adds more interactive activities to your classroom. Kids can wear their creations while acting out the story, making learning both playful and memorable.
This activity not only reinforces story comprehension but also adds a creative, hands-on element that kids will love. Plus, it makes for an adorable photo opportunity!
Materials Needed:
- Printable hat template
- Crayons or markers
- Scissors and tape/stapler
How to Do:
- Print out free caterpillar hat templates for each student.
- Let students color in their hats with their favorite crayons or markers, adding vibrant colors to match the story.
- Once decorated, help students cut the hat out and use tape or a stapler to fasten the band around their heads.
- Encourage them to wear their hats and act out scenes from The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
13. Let’s Feed the Very Hungry Caterpillar Board Game
Let’s Feed the Very Hungry Caterpillar Board Game brings the story to life in an interactive way! It reinforces math skills like counting and number recognition while encouraging turn-taking and strategy.
As kids move around the board, they collect food tokens to “feed” the caterpillar, deepening their comprehension of the story while practicing counting and sequencing in a fun, engaging way.
Materials Needed:
- Printable board game
- Game pieces or buttons
- Dice
- Caterpillar food tokens (can be cut-out pictures or small items like buttons or paper circles)
How to Do:
- Print out the “Let’s Feed the Very Hungry Caterpillar” board game.
- Each student takes a turn rolling the dice and moves their game piece accordingly.
- As they land on spaces, they pick up food tokens that represent the items the caterpillar eats in the story.
- The goal is to help the caterpillar eat all the foods, growing bigger along the way.
- Discuss the foods the caterpillar eats as the game progresses and review the story.
14. Hungry Caterpillar Using Recycled Caps
Hungry Caterpillar using recycled caps is a fun and effective way to boost fine motor skills through hands-on tasks inspired by the book. By using squeeze pouch caps for threading and other tactile activities, kids strengthen their fingers and hands while exploring the themes of the story.
This activity not only enhances dexterity but also allows children to engage with the book’s story in an interactive, sensory way. Perfect for developing coordination and motor skills!
Materials Needed:
- Squeeze pouch caps
- String or yarn
- Hole punch
- Scissors
How to Do:
- Use a hole punch to create a hole in the center of each squeeze pouch cap.
- Give each child a length of string or yarn.
- Have children thread the caps onto the string, creating a colorful caterpillar design.
- Encourage children to repeat the task, working on their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
- As they work, you can discuss the story’s themes and characters to connect the activity to The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Final thoughts
Hungry Caterpillar activities are a fantastic way to spark creativity, improve comprehension, and develop key skills in your students. These hands-on projects, from arts and games to sensory play, will reinforce the story while offering an engaging and memorable learning experience.
Whether it’s through sequencing, crafting, or exploring new concepts, these activities keep students excited and actively learning. Try them today and watch your students thrive as they connect with The Very Hungry Caterpillar!
