The Very Hungry Caterpillar Activities

The Very Hungry Caterpillar book inspires many playful book-related activities for kids including these two play favorites: making clay creations to match the story and creating a stop-motion animation movie of the story. The clay activity is perfect for kids ages 2 and up. The stop-motion animation movie is a great activity for older siblings, ages 7 and up.

Very Hungry Caterpillar Activity with Clay

Get out any kind of modeling clay — it can be the baking kind if you want your clay creations to be permanent.

As you read the book for the first time, let your child make the Hungry Caterpillar out of clay.

It’s helpful to teach your child how to roll a ball of clay in the palms of your hands. This is the best way to start any of the shapes.

When you are finished with the story for the first reading, go back through and look at all the details. Encourage your child to make the specific food items that the Caterpillar eats. This can help your child practice counting and learn about sequencing — first, second, and third.

We used non-hardening modeling clay because that’s what we had available. But you can also try colorful polymer clay that bakes hard. (not shown)

Very Hungry Caterpillar Stop-Motion Animation

When you’ve finished the clay activity, you can take those pieces and add technology to retell the story of the Very Hungry Caterpillar in stop-motion animation.

Download LEGO’s free Movie Maker app. It’s easy to use and our favorite app for stop-motion.

Prepare a space for your filming, one with a solid color background and where your tablet can stay in the same position.

The app will guide you through taking photos, moving the scene, and editing the final product.

Make small movements with your items for each photo.

Keep at it until you’ve retold the story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Watch the movie that my 10-year-old made of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Very Hungry Caterpillar Sweepstakes on Pinterest

To celebrate Eric Carle’s new book, Very Big Wiggle, make your own Very Hungry Caterpillar inspired crafts, recipes, and activities. Post them to your Pinterest boards with a #VHCday and #penguinkids hashtag. Penguin Kids is offering a sweepstakes of $100 gift card and Caterpillar tote bag. If you want to enter, see the rules here. Follow PenguinKids on Pinterest here. Follow ME (Imagination Soup) on Pinterest here.