Let’s make a colorful crawling caterpillar puppet! They are so much fun to play with, too. While we’re at it, we’ll be developing tons of new skills:
Color Recognition: Sorting and choosing pom-poms encourages color recognition and matching skills.
Fine Motor Skills: Threading pom-poms and handling small materials like googly eyes help develop fine motor skills. Younger children can have assistance from a guardian, while older children can practise their skills.
Caterpillar Anatomy: Learn about the basic anatomy of a caterpillar—the segmented body, antennae, and eyes.
Creativity: Get creative with your caterpillar designs. Experiment with patterns, sizes, and even add extra embellishments like sequins.
Environmental Awareness: Use this craft as an opportunity to discuss the importance of caterpillars in the ecosystem and how they eventually transform into butterflies or moths.
Things you’ll need
- 1” Pom-poms
- 1/4” Pom-poms
- Thread
- Sewing needle
- White glue
- Toothpick
- Google eyes
- Felt
- Scissors
- Bamboo Skewers
- Black craft paint
Steps
Select 6-9 pom-poms and create a pattern for your caterpillar.
For added detail, add colorful cut felt circles in between the pom moms.
A grownup can do this next part: with a thread and needle, pierce through the center of the first pom-pom and tie a knot. Continue threading, alternating the felt circles and the pom-poms.
Once the caterpillar’s segments are threaded, add dots of white glue in between the pompoms with a toothpick. This will add extra rigidity and prevent the pom-poms with the legs from twisting. Finally, tighten the thread and tie off the last pom-pom with a knot.
For the caterpillar’s legs, glue small 1/4” pom-poms to the bottom of the caterpillar by dipping the pom-poms into white glue and then onto the pom-pom base of the caterpillar.
For the caterpillar’s face, glue on some googly eyes and cut out a small mouth, a half circle, from felt and glue it in place.
Paint the bamboo skewers (puppeteering rods) black and set them aside to dry. Once the rods are dry, dip the pointy end of both sticks into white glue and stick in between two pom moms at either end of the caterpillar.
When your puppet is completely dry, make your caterpillar move! Maybe your caterpillar would enjoy dancing to our song “Crawl Like A Caterpillar”!
Crunch crunch! Munch munch! These caterpillars are growing into amazing butterflies! Now that you’ve crafted your caterpillar, who knows what other exciting adventures await in the world of arts and crafts? Keep exploring, creating, and having fun!
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