Spring is almost here, and it’s a lovely time to make something bright and colorful with kids. This paper plate moving caterpillar craft is a fun craft idea to welcome the season.
Once finished, kids can turn it into a cute caterpillar puppet by sticking two popsicle sticks to the back and making it wiggle around.
This paper plate caterpillar craft is great for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and elementary school kids. It is perfect to make at home, in the classroom, or at childcares.
It also works beautifully as part of a butterfly life cycle activity or an insect craft for kids. You can also pair it with story time, especially when reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
This paper plate caterpillar craft includes a printable template to help with cutting and putting everything together.
Don’t forget to explore our other spring crafts for kids, including more paper plate spring crafts, a fluttering butterfly craft, popsicle stick caterpillar picture frame, paper bee craft and more!
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Supplies you need to make the paper plate moving caterpillar craft
- Two large paper plates
- Glue
- Scissors
- Paper fasteners
- Acrylic paint/ watercolor/ crayons
- Paper plate caterpillar template (You can download by signing up for our newsletters below)
- One white A4 cardstock (for printing the caterpillar template)
- One colored A4 cardstock (for tracing the caterpillar head)
- Markers
- Two jumbo popsicle sticks (optional)
- Clear tape (optional)
- Paper knife (optional, to be used by grown ups only)
Steps to make a Caterpillar puppet craft
Let’s get started and bring this cute caterpillar to life. Follow these simple steps to make a fun caterpillar puppet that kids will love to play with!
Step 1
Start by taking two large paper plates to make the caterpillar’s body.
Step 2
Let kids have fun painting the inside of the plates using watercolours, acrylic paint, or crayons. We used watercolours for a soft, bright look.
Once the painting is done, set the plates aside and let them dry completely before moving on to the next step.
Step 3
Fold each paper plate in half and gently press to make a crease in the middle. Cut along this crease to split the plate into two pieces.
Next, take each piece, fold it in half again, and cut along the new crease. You will end up with 4 pieces from one paper plate and 8 pieces in total from two plates, ready to form the caterpillar’s body.
This is a great scissor practice activity for kids, though little ones may need a helping hand from grown-ups depending on their age and skill level.
Step 4
Next, take one of the cut paper plate pieces and use scissors to gently trim the sides into a curved shape. Round off the corners to give it a smooth look.
Step 5
Use this curved piece as a template to trace and cut the remaining seven paper plate pieces so they all have the same shape.
Step 6
Take one paper plate piece and, using a paper knife, make a small hole at the top near the rim in the middle. Take a second piece and make a hole near the pointed bottom corner in the middle, then use a paper fastener to join the two pieces together.
Next, make a hole at the top of the second piece near the rim, and a hole at the bottom of a third piece. Connect them using another paper fastener.
Continue repeating these same steps, adding one piece at a time, until all eight paper plate pieces are connected and your caterpillar body can move and bend nicely.
Step 7
Download and print the paper plate caterpillar template on a white A4 cardstock by signing up for our newsletter below. If you’re already a subscriber, simply enter your details, and the template will be sent straight to you.
Cut out the circle to make the caterpillar’s head. Use this circle to trace onto a colored cardstock and cut it out. We used red cardstock for a red face.
If kids prefer, they can simply color the circle instead of tracing.
Step 8
Color the antennae, cut them out, and attach them to the top of the caterpillar’s head. Then stick on two eyes and draw a friendly smile.
Step 9
Attach the caterpillar’s face to the wiggling body we made earlier using a paper fastener.
Step 10
Next, let’s give our paper plate caterpillar some legs. Color the legs on the template, cut them out, and attach them under the caterpillar’s body.
Now for the final step, attach two popsicle sticks, one behind the head and one at the other end, using clear tape. Kids can now wiggle and play with their moving caterpillar craft.
If you prefer, you can skip the popsicle sticks and let kids play with the caterpillar directly using their hands.
This is a wonderful craft for kids to practice and improve their fine motor skills while having fun.
More paper plate spring craft ideas for kids
Looking for more fun and easy ideas? Here are some more bright and cheerful paper plate spring craft ideas for kids. These simple spring crafts are great for building creativity and fine motor skills while celebrating the season with colour and fun.
Paper plate garden with moving bee: Celebrate spring with a bright and happy paper plate garden craft that kids will be so excited to make. This fun activity includes colourful flowers and a cute moving bee that can buzz from flower to flower. Kids will love playing with their garden and making the bee move around.
Paper plate flower craft: This paper plate flower craft is a lovely and easy spring craft for kids. All you need are a few simple supplies like paint, paper plates, paper, and glue to get started. As kids cut out the flower petals, they can also practice their scissor skills.
Paper plate Cherry blossom art: beautiful cherry blossom art project for kids. This simple spring craft includes painting a paper plate, gluing yarn for the branches, and sticking soft tissue paper blossoms, keeping little hands happily busy.
Paper plate rainbow craft: This easy paper plate rainbow craft is perfect for spring or St. Patrick’s Day and is fun to make with toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and school age kids. To make it even easier, we’ve included a free printable template to help you create the cloud and raindrops.
Paper Chain Caterpillar with Number Sequence: This paper chain caterpillar craft is a fun counting activity that helps kids practice number sequencing from 1 to 10. The free printable includes numbered and blank templates for creative learning and hands-on fun.
Spring books for kids
The Very Hungry Caterpillar: This is the perfect book to pair with our moving paper plate caterpillar craft. This timeless classic, tells the sweet story of a little caterpillar who eats his way into becoming a beautiful butterfly.
The Good Egg: The Good Egg is a sweet and funny springtime story. It pairs beautifully with Easter crafts and classroom discussions about feelings. Kids will love meeting the very good egg who tries so hard to be perfect. Along the way, he learns that he does not have to be perfect all the time.
Dr. Seuss’s Spring Things: This is a fun and playful board book for kids. Written in simple rhymes, this sturdy board book is perfect for babies and toddlers. It’s a cheerful way to celebrate the season.
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