A caterpillar activity on the felt board provides fine motor fun with preschoolers. Count and sort felt circles to make a colorful caterpillar on a tree branch. Welcome summer with this fun caterpillar activity!

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Spring and summer crafts are all about the bugs and insects we observe in backyards and on nature trails. Whether we want to reach out and touch a furry caterpillar, swoop with a butterfly across the lawn, or hop and bounce like a noisy cricket, seasonal creatures offer lots of opportunity for sensory and gross motor play.

We can extend the fun and learning with indoor crafts and activities. Caterpillars are interesting creatures that can be explored in books and videos, then created in unique ways with basic craft supplies and lots of imagination.

This caterpillar activity is fun for toddlers and preschoolers. The felt board pieces are easy to make, and can be used in different ways to support early language and cognitive skills.

Felt board caterpillar

This caterpillar activity is easy to set up with two materials - burlap and felt.

The cute little caterpillar is created with felt circles. Building with the small circles promotes fine motor and creative play. Kids can assemble the caterpillar on a branch of the tree, then remove the pieces to recreate the scene in different ways. 

Option: You can also arrange a few felt circles on a piece of felt, then glue in place to make a 'permanent' caterpillar. Use this prop for other felt board activities and stories.

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. 

Instructions 

1. Cut out the 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. 

If you don't have burlap, you can easily substitute felt for the tree trunk. Burlap is fun to use for added texture and visual interest.

2. Cut a tree top and leaves from green felt.

3. Cut circles from felt in different colors. We used green and yellow but you don't have to stick to traditional colors.

4. Glue small felt pieces or draw features onto a felt circle to make the caterpillar's face and antennae.

Circle time

Place the felt pieces in a tray in front of the flannel board. Invite kids to place cutouts on the board as you tell a story or request a color or shape to build the caterpillar.

After a teacher-led activity, make the felt pieces accessible for independent play.

Place the pieces on the felt board, beginning with the tree trunk and tree top.

Hang leaves from the branches.

Add circles one at a time to make the caterpillar creep along the branch.

Which leaf will the caterpillar nibble first?

Learning through play

• Count the circles as you add them to the branch to build the caterpillar.
• Countdown: As the caterpillar nibbles a leaf, remove the leaf from the tree. Count the remaining leaves.
• Name the colors you use to build the caterpillar.
• Position recognition: Place the caterpillar on the branch, under the branch, beside the tree trunk.

This is a fun activity to add to your insect or nature theme. Provide access during free play time for a child-led activity.

Butterfly and Caterpillar Pinterest board