Kid Activities, Crafts and Printables for Fun Learning and Creativity

Counting Caterpillars Math Activity Inspired by the Hungry Caterpillar

This simple caterpillar counting activity is great for your preschooler and kindergartner to practice counting and fine motor skills. We did this activity two different ways to accommodate my children’s skill level. Since spring is upon us we tied it into a Very Hungry Caterpillar theme along with some of our other favorite Eric Carle Activities. Counting Caterpillars Math Activity Inspired by the Hungry Caterpillar: This simple math activity is great for your preschooler and kindergartner to practice counting and fine motor skills. Do your kids eat fruit pouches? (If not don’t worry because if you don’t have them you could try using buttons or try our second activity that is fruit pouch lid free). Ever since my kid’s started eating them I have been collecting the lids because I love free supplies (well, technically I know they are not free, but since we are re-purposing them then I consider them free). I feel like we have a thousand of them now. We used them as tires on a Cardboard Tube Car that turned out adorable. Suggested Books & Extension Activities:

Click photos: Affiliate links to suggested supplies. ?

The Very Hungry CaterpillarThe Very Hungry CaterpillarThe World of Eric Carle(TM) The Very Hungry Caterpillar(TM) Lacing CardsThe World of Eric Carle(TM) The Very Hungry Caterpillar(TM) Lacing CardsThe Very Hungry Caterpillar Magnetic Wood Puzzle Jigsaw PuzzlesThe Very Hungry Caterpillar Magnetic Wood Puzzle Jigsaw PuzzlesLittle Folk Visuals The Very Hungry Caterpillar Flannel Board Precut Felt FiguresLittle Folk Visuals The Very Hungry Caterpillar Flannel Board Precut Felt Figures

Counting Caterpillars Math Activity

Counting Caterpillars Math Activity Inspired by the Hungry Caterpillar: This simple math activity is great for your preschooler and kindergartner to practice counting and fine motor skills. (Eric Carle, Spring, Book Extension)

Activity 1 Build and Count Caterpillar

Supplies: 1 red and several green fruit pouch lids (Large buttons may be used instead if you don’t have enough pouch lids) Pipe cleaners Googly Eyes Glue dots Dice (I love this our foam dice set because it goes higher than 6) Number cards (Optional)

Click photos: Affiliate links to suggested supplies. ?

Learning Resources Jumbo Foam Polyhedral DiceLearning Resources Jumbo Foam DiceGlue Dots Glue Dots 1/2-Inch Craft Dots, 150-Clear Dots/RollGlue Dots Glue Dots 1/2-Inch Craft Dots, 150-Clear Dots/RollCreativity Street 344601 Wiggle Eyes Assortment, Assorted Sizes, Assorted Colors, 100/Pack (CKC344601)Creativity Street 344601 Wiggle Eyes Assortment, Assorted SizesNumbers 0-100 Pocket Flash CardsNumbers 0-100 Pocket Flash Cards

Directions: To prepare the activity glue two googly eyes on the red pouch lid. I used glue dots because there is no needed drying time and it holds well. Secure a pipe cleaner to one side of the pouch cap. Counting Caterpillars Math Activity Inspired by the Hungry Caterpillar: This simple math activity is great for your preschooler and kindergartner to practice counting and fine motor skills. (Eric Carle, Spring, Book Extension) To do the activity have your child roll the dice, name the number, and add the amount of pouch cap lids onto the pipe cleaner. The kids loved playing with their caterpillars. I had a set of number cards laid out next to them so they could find the number for some added number recognition practice. Little Tiger was able to find the number and put it on her activity tray next to her caterpillar. Counting Caterpillars Math Activity Inspired by the Hungry Caterpillar: This simple math activity is great for your preschooler and kindergartner to practice counting and fine motor skills. (Eric Carle, Spring, Book Extension) I pointed to the numbers for Little Dragon so he could start learning to recognize his numbers. (As our followers might be able to tell, the kids are much smaller then they look today. During this activity the kids were 2 and 4. Now they are 4 and 6 and can both count and recognize numbers to 100–that would be one long caterpillar, we should try this activity again since we have enough pouch caps :). Counting Caterpillars Math Activity Inspired by the Hungry Caterpillar: This simple math activity is great for your preschooler and kindergartner to practice counting and fine motor skills. (Eric Carle, Spring, Book Extension)

Activity 2 Dot and Count Caterpillar

Supplies: Dot markers Paper Red and green pouch caps or lids Pen

Click photos: Affiliate links to suggested supplies. ?

U.S. Art Supply 8 Color Crazy Dots Markers - Children's Washable Easy Grip Non-Toxic Paint Marker DaubersU.S. Art Supply 8 Color Crazy Dots Markers – Children’s Washable Easy Grip Non-Toxic Paint Marker Daubers

Directions: To prepare the activity glue two googly eyes on the red pouch lid. I used glue dots because there is no needed drying time and it holds well. Secure a pipe cleaner to one side of the pouch cap. Make counting cards by making a red dot, trailed by a line of green dots. Count the number of dots and write the number on the side. Counting Caterpillars Math Activity Inspired by the Hungry Caterpillar: This simple math activity is great for your preschooler and kindergartner to practice counting and fine motor skills. (Eric Carle, Spring, Book Extension) To do the activity have your child place the caps on the dots and count the caps. Little Dragon would touch each cap as he counted (one-to-one correspondence). Counting Caterpillars Math Activity Inspired by the Hungry Caterpillar: This simple math activity is great for your preschooler and kindergartner to practice counting and fine motor skills. (Eric Carle, Spring, Book Extension) This activity didn’t last very long because attention spans are only so long, so we did it a few times each day.

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Hey, before you go be sure to check out our Hungry Caterpillar Activity Pack that includes this craft and a total of 100 pages of language activities, math activities, science activities, and more.

Click Here for Details

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Printable Activity Pack: This adorable pack of engaging activities will teach children letters, numbers, phonics, fine motor skills, shapes, life cycle of a butterfly, nutrition, days of the week, and more. It makes teaching and learning fun and easy. (#preschool #kindergarten #printables #kidsactivities #homeschool)

Feed the Very Hungry Caterpillar

Catch a Bug Math Free Printable

Catch a Bug Math Activity and Free Printable: The printable includes numbers 1-20, several different bug jars, a 10-frames chart, and was designed so you can adapt it to suit your child's needs. (Spring, counting, addition, preschool, kindergarten)

10 Frames Math with Legos

10 Frames Math with Legos Activities for Preschoolers: 4 easy activities to do with preschoolers to learn numbers, counting, and subitizing including a free printable 10 frames mat.

Thanks for learning with us today. If you enjoyed this idea please pin & share it with others so they can enjoy it too! Love, Katie & the Kiddos

Counting Caterpillars Math Activity Inspired by the Hungry Caterpillar: This simple math activity is great for your preschooler and kindergartner to practice counting and fine motor skills. (Eric Carle, Spring, Book Extension)

Filed Under: Counting, Eric Carle, Insects, Learn, Lids, Math, Preschool, Tot School

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  • These little bugs took no time at all to make and are a pretty self-guided craft for kids. Little Tiger finished chopping potatoes while helping me make dinner and found our bags full of lids on the counter (3 bags to be exact–no lid gets left behind in our house :). Before long I looked over and there were 3 bugs staring back at me and no mess in sight! Since the little bugs sitting on my counter make me smile when I look at them I thought you should have some too.
  • This activity helps kids learn to count to 100, introduces them to place values, helps with number recognition and number relationships while allowing them to be actively involved as they learn instead of just staring at a chart with lots of numbers which can be overwhelming.
  • We love stars around here so naturally one of our favorite things that live in the ocean is starfish aka sea stars. They come in all different shapes, sizes, and textures so we have provided you with a free craft template to make a big, medium, and small size starfish craft with your kids. We also show you how to take your craft to the next level by giving it texture and folding it to give it dimension, and if you want you can give it added color with paint. Each one will turn out amazing!
  • When this sunset Tissue Paper Craft is hung in a window it magically seems to glow resembling the beauty of a real sunset on the horizon. No glue or scissor skills are required, so this craft is easy to clean up and perfect for kids of all ages!
  • One of the most beloved children’s authors has to be Dr. Seuss who happens to have a birthday coming up on March 2nd. Did you know he wasn’t technically a doctor?– but that’s okay we still love him anyways! To start celebrating my kids picked out Horton Hears a Who!
  • The set comes in a print-in-color or a color-me (coloring book) version. You can print the set out and assemble it, or extend this activity further by letting your students color their own spinner increasing their recognition of each picture.
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Comments

  1. Gwendolyn says

    Hi, I love your site.
    I am doing a presentation on storytime books and connections to activities/skills
    I would like to recommend and use your site with full acknowledgement that these are your ideas.
    Please let me know if this is possible. I would love it and I know the teachers would also.
    thank You

    • Katie says

      Hi Gwendolyn, Thanks so much for asking. We love book activities and anyone who has a passion for children’s literature too. I would be so glad to be included in your recommendations. Thanks again!