Paper Plate Caterpillar Craft
There’s just something about caterpillars – colorful, wiggly, and always on their way to becoming something magical. This paper plate caterpillar craft lets kids paint, glue, and decorate their way to a bright new buddy who’s perfect for springtime, storytime, or a Very Hungry Caterpillar–themed activity.
It’s fun, simple, and so cheerful you’ll probably want to make more than one. (Trust me, a whole line of caterpillars crawling across a bulletin board? Instant classroom hit.)
What You’ll Need for This Paper Plate Caterpillar
Before we start painting stripes, grab your supplies:
- Paper plate
- Acrylic paint (red, purple, yellow, teal, orange)
- Paintbrush
- Green construction paper
- Googly eyes
- Pink paint and sponge dauber
- Black pipe cleaners
- Purple pipe cleaners
- Yellow pom poms
- Scissors
- Glue gun or school glue
- Black marker
How to Make a Paper Plate Caterpillar
Ready to get crafting? Find the instructions below!
Caterpillar Paper Plate Craft
Create a colorful paper plate caterpillar with this fun kids’ craft! Using paint, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes, your child can make a bright and cheerful caterpillar that’s perfect for storytime or classroom projects.
Materials
- Paper plate
- Acrylic paint (red, purple, yellow, teal, orange)
- Green construction paper
- Googly eyes
- Pink paint
- Black pipe cleaners
- Purple pipe cleaners
- Yellow pom poms
- Glue gun or school glue
- Black marker
Tools
- Paintbrush and sponge dauber
- Scissors
Instructions
- Gather your supplies. You’ll need a paper plate, paint, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, pom poms, scissors, glue, and a black marker to bring this cheerful caterpillar to life.
- Start by painting sections of the rim on the paper plate in bright rainbow colors. Use red, purple, yellow, teal, and orange to create fun stripes that will become the caterpillar’s body.
- Once the paint is dry, cut the plate in half and set aside the other half. Then from the half you painted, cut out the center to create the curved caterpillar body.
- To make the caterpillar’s face, trace and cut a large circle from green construction paper. This circle will be the caterpillar’s head.
- Use glue to attach two big googly eyes near the top of the green circle. Then, dip your sponge dauber in pink paint and add rosy cheeks to give your caterpillar a friendly smile.
- Next, cut a black pipe cleaner into several short pieces. These will be the caterpillar’s little legs.
- Glue the pipe cleaner legs along the bottom edge of the back of the painted paper plate. Be sure to space them out evenly so your caterpillar looks balanced.
- Make the antennae by cutting a purple pipe cleaner in half. Glue a yellow pom pom to the end of each piece, then attach them to the back of the caterpillar’s head.
- Glue the green head onto the front of the paper plate body. Make sure it lines up nicely so your caterpillar looks complete.
- Use your black marker to draw a big smile on the caterpillar’s face. This small detail brings the whole project to life!
- Allow everything to dry fully before handling. Once dry, your colorful caterpillar is ready to crawl across the table or hang on the wall as a bright piece of art.
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Why This Craft is a Classroom Favorite
This little caterpillar packs in fun, learning, and color all at once:
- Book connection – Perfect to pair with The Very Hungry Caterpillar during storytime.
- Color practice – Painting in stripes is a great way for kids to explore colors and patterns.
- Fine motor skills – Cutting, painting, and gluing are all wonderful ways to build hand strength.
- Display magic – Make a whole row of caterpillars in different colors for a spring bulletin board.
And there you have it, a caterpillar that’s bright, friendly, and way less wiggly than the real kind. Quick to make, fun to decorate, and a guaranteed smile-bringer.
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