Kid Territory: Crafts: Clever Caterpillars

Did you know that a caterpillar can turn itself into a butterfly? This process is called metamorphosis. The caterpillar feeds on tasty leaves until it is time to make its cocoon, where it will stay while slowly becoming a butterfly.

Create a caterpillar on a leaf.

What you need

• 3 chenille stems
• Pencil
• 9-by-2-inch green construction paper
• Hole punch
• Marking pen
• Scissors

What you do

1. Make a bundle for the caterpillar’s head by wrapping a bit more than half of a chenille stem around a pencil, leaving the rest of the stem straight free. Then remove the pencil.

2. Make a coil for the caterpillar’s body by holding two chenille stems next to each other and then wrapping them together around a pencil. Then remove the pencil. (See Image 2.)

3. Slide the body coil on to the straight part of the stem with the caterpillar’s head. Bend the end slightly to hold the body coil in place. (See Image 3.)

4. Draw a large leaf on the construction paper, and cut it out.

6. Draw small butterfly eggs on the leaf, and punch some holes in the leaf (to show where the caterpillar has been eating).

7. Place or glue your caterpillar on the leaf. (See Image 4.)

Thanks to the San Diego Zoo for this cool kids’ craft. Visit www.sandiegozoo.org or Clever Caterpillars for more information.