Paper Chain Caterpillar Craft

Making a paper chain caterpillar craft with preschoolers is an excellent way to foster motor skills, scissor practice, and color recognition.

As the kids piece together strips of colorful paper, they are learning how to measure, cut, and fit the links – all while having fun! Adding dots of glue to link the shapes together also help develop hand-eye coordination.

Additionally, as each link is added and the caterpillar grows in size and shape, children have a chance to gain valuable color recognition knowledge by recognizing shades of green and other colors.

Crafting a paper chain caterpillar is an enjoyable educational activity for preschoolers.

Paper Chain Caterpillar Craft

Making a paper chain caterpillar craft with preschoolers is an incredibly fun and educational activity that can help them learn about colors in a creative way.

This craft project is the perfect way to help young children develop their fine motor skills, as they need to measure, cut and link together strips of colorful paper to create the caterpillar’s body.

What You’ll Need

• construction paper
• glue
• googly eyes
• pipe cleaners

Preparing for the Activity

Before starting the project with your preschoolers, cut various colors of construction paper into strips that are 6″x2″. I prefer to do this with a paper cutter, because it’s faster than doing it with scissors.

How to Make a Paper Chain Caterpillar

Have your preschooler choose one paper strip. Apply glue to one end, and join it with the other end to make a ring.

Next, choose another paper strip. Loop it through the previous ring before gluing the ends together to form a second ring.

Repeat the process until the caterpillar is as long as you’d like it to be.

Glue two googly eyes to the front of the first ring.

Cut out two short pieces of a pipe cleaner. Twist the end of each pipe cleaner to make curls. Then, tape the pipe cleaners on top of the caterpillar’s head.

Caterpillar Ideas for Kids

Are you looking for more caterpillar crafts and activities to do with your kids?

We’ve gathered some of our favorites so you have plenty to choose from as you look for activities to supplement your upcoming lessons.

Caterpillar Books for Kids

Reading caterpillar books is a great way to engage kids in the story of metamorphosis. As they journey with the caterpillar from egg to cocoon, children learn about life cycles and the science of nature.

Through engaging stories with vivid illustrations, kids can explore topics such as perseverance, friendship, and exploration.

The memorable characters provide an opportunity for compassion, empathy, and personal connections as readers discover how each character is connected through both aid and adventure.

Caterpillar books encourage children to develop critical thinking skills while nurturing their creativity and imagination.

Here are some of the best caterpillar books for kids:

 

Caterpillar to Butterfly – Butterflies are all around us. It’s hard to believe these majestic insects with impressive wingspans and beautifully colored and patterned wings were once creepy crawly caterpillars. How in the world does this transformation happen? This Level 1 Reader gives kids an up-close look at exactly how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar – One sunny Sunday, the caterpillar was hatched out of a tiny egg. He was very hungry. On Monday, he ate through one apple; on Tuesday, he ate through three plums – and still he was hungry. When full at last, he made a cocoon around himself and went to sleep, to wake up a few weeks later wonderfully transformed into a butterfly!

How Does a Caterpillar Change? – In this nonfiction story, young readers can explore the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly. The miracles of nature come to life in this early-learning series centered around life cycles, featuring simple text and Eric Carle’s classic illustrations!

Caterpillar Crafts for Kids

Crafting caterpillars are a great way for kids to express their creativity. From simple activities such as constructing paper chains or setting up caterpillar races, to more complex endeavors such as creating collages or art projects, there is something for everyone.

Caterpillar crafts provide an opportunity for children to practice problem-solving, develop fine motor skills and deepen their understanding of colors and textures.

The tactile nature of crafting can help foster concentration and cooperation among kids. Allowing children to explore their imaginations by crafting with caterpillars provides an opportunity for fun and learning!

• Pom Pom Caterpillar Preschool Craft from Homeschool Preschool
• Caterpillar Craft from I Heart Crafty Things
• Wiggling Caterpillar Craft from Fireflies and Mudpies

Caterpillar Activities for Kids

Caterpillar activities and printables for preschoolers offer opportunities for meaningful learning and imaginative play.

From sorting activities, puzzles, dot-to-dots, mazes, and more, kids can develop their fine motor skills while engaging in creative problem-solving.

Caterpillar printables also provide an opportunity to practice counting and shapes while introducing topics such as movement, life cycles and nature appreciation.

With a variety of available activities and free printables on the internet, parents and teachers can easily find fun resources that are both age appropriate and educational!

Here are a few of our favorites:

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar Printables for Preschoolers from Crystal and Comp.
• Caterpillar Skip Counting Worksheets from Hess UnAcademy
• Life Cycle of a Caterpillar Activities from Living Life and Learning

Caterpillar Fun for Preschoolers

• Caterpillar TOilet Paper Roll Craft
• Caterpillar Themed Wooden Name Puzzle
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar Buttoning Activity

Making a paper chain caterpillar craft with preschoolers is an incredibly fun and educational activity that can help them learn about colors and shapes in a creative way.

This craft project is the perfect way to help young children develop their fine motor skills, as they need to carefully and methodically cut the strips of paper, glue them together and form the caterpillar shape.

It is also a great bonding activity that can bring the whole family together!