Count and sort felt cutouts to make the cutest caterpillar on a tree branch. A caterpillar activity on the felt board provides fine motor fun for kids in preschool or kindergarten. 

This post contains affiliate links. Privacy and Disclosure

Your preschooler's favorite things about summer might not be the same as yours.

You might welcome less struggling with kids winter clothing; your preschooler might love collecting bugs and insects. 

Creepy crawlies might not be your favorite things, but they offer awesome learning opportunities for kids, including sensory and gross motor play.

• Swoop across the lawn with a butterfly.
• Hop and bounce like a noisy cricket. 
• Gently touch a furry caterpillar.

Caterpillars are often a favorite insect for both kids and grownups. They are interesting creatures we can observe in many different ways: in nature; in books and DVD format; (aff. links) and in crafts like this caterpillar to butterfly one.

A caterpillar activity for the felt board is another way to extend your bugs and insects theme. This activity is perfect for small group or circle time with preschoolers.

Caterpillar-in-a-tree felt board activity

This caterpillar activity for the felt board needs only two materials - burlap and felt. (aff. links) The felt board cutouts are easy to make, and provide great fine motor play.

Make the caterpillar cutouts.

The caterpillar is created with felt circles. Cut several circles from different colors of felt.

Add features to one circle to make the caterpillar's face. You can do this with a fine tip marker, or glue small pieces of felt to the circle that will be the face.

• Option:  Make a caterpillar in one piece by overlapping a few felt circles and gluing them together. Use this prop for other felt board activities and stories.

Make the tree trunk.

Cut out a tree trunk from burlap fabric. If your fabric is wide enough, cut out branches and trunk in one piece. Otherwise, cut branches separately, with at least one long branch for the caterpillar. 

The tree is made with burlap for added texture to support sensory play. Burlap sticks well to a felt background, and the frayed edges add visual interest,

If burlap fabric is not available, you can make a tree with felt.

Make the tree top and leaves.

Cut a large piece of green felt for the tree top. Cut out leaves. Use different colors of felt for the leaves if preferred.

Circle time ideas with a felt board caterpillar

Teacher-led activities

Counting and colors

Count the circles as you add them to the branch to build a caterpillar.

Name the colors of the felt circles.

Countdown: As the caterpillar nibbles a leaf, remove it from the tree. Count the remaining leaves.

Position

Place the caterpillar on the branch, under the branch, beside the tree trunk.

Language

Invite kids to take turns placing felt cutouts on the board as you tell a story.

A tall tree grew in the forest. (Place the tree trunk on the felt board.)

The tree was filled with green leaves. (Place several felt leaves on the tree.)

A little caterpillar crawled along a branch in the tree. (Build the caterpillar with felt circles.)

The caterpillar wanted to find a delicious leaf to eat.

The caterpillar stretched as tall as it could to reach the best leaf in the tree. (Add circles to the caterpillar so it can touch a leaf on the tree.)

Child-led activities

Independent play

Make the felt pieces and felt board accessible for independent play.

Kids can add and remove the pieces to recreate the scene in different ways. 

Add felt pieces in different shapes and colors to inspire creative play.

Which leaf will the caterpillar nibble first?

Felt caterpillar kids activity

This felt board activity is fun for kids in preschool and kindergarten. It's easy to add to your spring and summer theme.

This is one little insect you won't mind having indoors!

Butterfly and Caterpillar Pinterest board