Caterpillar Paper Craft

Caterpillar Paper Craft

Make a super cute caterpillar using a paper plate and a special template. It's easy and fun!

20-40 minutes Ages 3-7

About This Project

A 20–40 minutes craft for ages 3–7, using supplies you likely already have — Yarn, Hole Punches, and Pom Poms.

GlueStick supports kids from setup to cleanup. After they choose a project, we guide them through gathering the supplies, making it, and cleaning up when they're done. We'll even help them share it safely with trusted family and friends.

Ad-free and kid-safe library — designed by a mom who wants kids to explore and create independently.

Project Tags
caterpillar insect bug preschool indoor budget-friendly fine motor skills spring nature painting cutting gluing book-related craft eric carle hungry caterpillar garden
  1. 1

    Find Supplies

    Do you have everything you need?
    Create a free GlueStick account to track supplies and see if you have what you need at a glance. Leave your kids tips about where supplies are stored in your household so they can set up and clean up their creative spaces independently.
    00:00
    A cartoon of Yarn
    You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Hole Punches
    You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Pom Poms
    You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Scissors
    You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Disposable Plates
    You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Googly Eyes
    You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Clothespins
    You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Markers
    You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Construction Paper
    You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Paint Brushes
    You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Acrylic Paint
    You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Newspapers
    You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Glue Sticks
    You have: unknown
  2. 2

    Make Caterpillar Paper Craft

    Your creative buddy says:
    "Let's stick together and make this one!"

    Step 1: Paint your paper plate green.

    May need grown-up help
    Lay newspaper on your table to keep it clean. Put a little green paint on the newspaper. If you don't have a paint brush, you can make one by pinching a medium pompom with a clothespin. Use your brush to paint the front of your paper plate green. Let it dry. Then, turn the plate over and paint the back green too. Let it dry completely.

    Step 2: Cut out your caterpillar parts.

    May need grown-up help
    Ask a grown-up to help you print the caterpillar craft template. Use the template to cut out shapes from green and red construction paper. You will need green paper for the legs and red paper for the head parts. If you are learning to use scissors, you can practice by snipping small pieces from the green paper for the legs. It's okay if they are not perfect! Ask a grown-up to help you cut out the round head pieces if you need it.

    Step 3: Cut your paper plate into a spiral.

    Once your painted plate is dry, cut it into a spiral shape. Start cutting from the outside edge and go around and around until you reach the middle. Make sure to round off any sharp edges. Then, fold the very middle part of the spiral up.

    Step 4: Make your caterpillar's head.

    Take two red circles you cut out. Use your glue stick to put the antennae onto one of the red circles. Then, put glue all over the other red circle. Place the two red circles together, with the antennae sticking up, onto the part of the paper plate you folded up in the middle. Press them together firmly and let the glue dry a little.

    Step 5: Add the caterpillar's legs.

    Now it's time to give your caterpillar many legs! Put glue along one edge of the spiraled paper plate. Stick the green leg pieces you cut out along this edge, spaced out like real caterpillar legs. Do the same thing on the other side of the caterpillar. After the glue dries a bit, you can gently bend the legs to make them look like they are moving.

    Step 6: Give your caterpillar a face.

    Let's make your caterpillar's face cute! First, stick the two large googly eyes onto its head. Then, use the black marker to draw a happy smile and any other fun details you want on its face.

    Step 7: Add a hanger to your caterpillar.

    Use the single hole punch to make a small hole at the top of your caterpillar's head. Cut a piece of white yarn about 12 inches long. Thread the yarn through the hole and tie the ends together to make a loop. Now you have a hanger for your caterpillar!
  3. 3

    Clean up

    Put things away so your space is tidy for next time.

    Tidy up our space

    Put away our supplies

    Check off each supply when it is put away — and any clean-up tips underneath are done too. You might find a fun surprise!

    • A cartoon of Yarn
      Where they belong:
    • A cartoon of Pom Poms
      Where they belong:
    • A cartoon of Disposable Plates
      Where they belong:
      • — Don't forget! Disposable plates may be compostable or recyclable! Do your part to keep trash out of the landfill.
    • A cartoon of Googly Eyes
      Where they belong:
    • A cartoon of Clothespins
      Where they belong:
    • A cartoon of Markers
      Where they belong:
      • — Don't forget! Close all marker caps tightly.
    • A cartoon of Construction Paper
      Where they belong:
    • A cartoon of Acrylic Paint
      Where they belong:
      • — Don't forget! Make sure all paint bottle lids are shut tight.
    • A cartoon of Newspapers
      Where they belong:
    • A cartoon of Glue Sticks
      Where they belong:
      • — Don't forget! Put cap on glue sticks tightly.
    • A cartoon of Hole Punches
      Where they belong:
    • A cartoon of Scissors
      Where they belong:
    • A cartoon of Paint Brushes
      Where they belong:
      • — Don't forget! Rinse all the paint out of your paint brushes.

    Update what we have left

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  4. 4

    Save

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    "What a fabulous project!"

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In the Bag Kids Crafts

✂️ Easy, no-prep kids crafts & printables using a unique 27-supply “One Bag” system: perfect for home, classroom & homeschool |

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