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The Hungry Caterpillar

Artistic Adventures

Ages: 6-8

Less than 30 minutes

Grownup needed

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Remember Eric Carle's beloved Very Hungry Caterpillar? Recreate the classic scenes from the book using card paper and tissue paper. What's even more exciting is that this caterpillar actually moves!

Materials Needed

Green card paper
tissue paper
marker pens
pencil
scissors
PVA glue
ruler

An assortment of craft supplies arranged on a light wooden table. The supplies include a pale green sheet of paper, a folded white tissue paper, a bottle of white glue, a clear plastic ruler, a pair of black scissors, a pencil, and three white markers with red, yellow, and blue caps. These items suggest preparation for a paper craft project.

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1

Fold the green card paper in half.

Two hands are folding a pale green piece of paper in half on a light wood table. This image shows the first step in a paper folding activity.

Step 2

On the folded edge, draw half a leaf shape using the pencil.

A hand draws a curved line with a pencil on a light green piece of paper folded in half. The paper rests on a light wood table. This image shows the process of drawing a shape on folded paper, likely to create a symmetrical design when unfolded.

Step 3

Cut along the drawn outline to create the leaf shape.

A hand holds a piece of folded light green paper while another hand cuts along a curved line drawn on the paper with scissors. The paper is positioned on a light wood table. This image demonstrates cutting a folded piece of paper to create a specific shape.

Step 4

UFold the cut leaf as shown to create a complete leaf with veins when unfolded.

Two hands are shaping a light green paper airplane on a light wood grain surface. The plane is partially folded, and the hands are working on the fuselage. This image captures the process of making a paper airplane.

Step 5

Cut a 10cm x 2cm rectangle from the card paper.

A pale green strip of paper, 10cm long and 2cm wide, lies on a light wooden surface. Lines and labels indicate the dimensions of the paper strip. This image shows a piece of paper prepared for a craft project.

Step 6

Roll the rectangle into a tube and secure with PVA glue. Don't make the tube too tight.

Two hands hold a small, pale green cylinder made of rolled paper. The cylinder is held horizontally above a light wood grain surface. This image shows the next stage in a paper craft project.

Step 7

Next, cut a 30cm x 20cm rectangle from the card paper.

A light green rectangular piece of paper, measuring 30cm by 20cm, rests on a light wood grain surface. Lines and labels indicate the paper's dimensions. This image shows a sheet of paper ready for a craft or other project.

Step 8

Using a wooden stick, roll the rectangle into a thin tube as shown and secure with PVA glue.

Two hands are folding a piece of pale green paper in half lengthwise on a light-colored wooden table. A small section of a thin wooden dowel is visible at the bottom edge of the paper. This image captures a step in a paper folding or craft activity.

Step 9

Remove the wooden stick from the thin tube and cut it to 24cm length.

A pair of scissors held in one hand cuts the end of a long, thin, pale green tube held in the other hand. The tube and scissors are positioned above a light wood grain surface. This image demonstrates the process of trimming or cutting a paper tube for a craft or other project.

Step 10

Take the tissue paper and draw horizontal lines with different coloured markers as shown.

A hand draws a blue line along the bottom edge of a white rectangular piece of paper with alternating horizontal orange and blue stripes. Another hand holds the paper steady on a light wood grain surface. This image shows someone drawing on paper, possibly as part of a craft or artistic activity.

Step 11

Place the decorated tissue paper horizontally, apply PVA glue along the top edge. Roll using the wooden stick as shown and secure.

Glue is being applied along the top edge of a white rectangular piece of paper decorated with alternating orange and blue horizontal stripes. One hand holds the glue bottle while a finger of the other hand keeps the paper in place on a light wood grain surface. This image shows a step in a crafting process, likely involving gluing the paper to another object.

Step 12

Hold the wooden stick vertically and compress the tissue paper downwards until it crinkles. This will be your caterpillar.

Two hands are wrapping a piece of paper with alternating orange and blue stripes around a thin wooden dowel. This close-up image shows the process of creating a paper-covered stick, likely for a craft project. A light wood grain surface is visible in the background.

Step 13

Remove the caterpillar from the stick and draw eyes on one end using the marker.

A black marker held in one hand draws two small vertical lines on the top edge of a paper-covered stick held between the fingers of another hand. The paper has horizontal stripes in orange and blue. This close-up image depicts the process of adding details, likely eyes, to a handmade craft figure.

Step 14

Next, use PVA glue to attach the short tube under the leaf.

Two hands shape a pale green origami leaf on a light wood grain surface. The fingers pinch the base of the leaf where it narrows into a stem-like shape. This image captures the delicate process of folding and shaping paper in the art of origami.

Step 15

Thread the thin tube through the attached short tube.

A hand holds a pale green origami leaf next to a pale green paper-covered stem on a light wood grain surface. The base of the leaf has a small opening where it appears designed to attach to the stem. This image shows the components of a paper flower or plant craft before assembly.

Step 16

Apply PVA glue to both the top of the thin tube and middle of the short tube. Attach the caterpillar's ends to these glued areas and let dry.

Glue is being applied from a white bottle with a blue tip to the base of a pale green origami leaf. One hand holds the leaf and stem while the other applies the glue, preparing to attach the leaf to the stem. This image shows a step in assembling a paper flower or plant craft on a light wood grain surface.

Step 17

Pull the thin tube to make your caterpillar wiggle!

A hand holds a completed craft project featuring a pale green origami leaf attached to a pale green stem. A small, striped paper caterpillar, made with orange, blue, and white stripes, rests on the leaf. The background is a solid light gray or white. This image showcases a finished paper craft, likely depicting a caterpillar on a leaf.

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