Big Art
Crafts
SponsoredPreschoolers24 Comments
The Very Hungry Caterpillar (affiliate link) by Eric Carle is probably the most well-known, and popular, of his books. At least it is to me.
I asked Henry if he’d like to make a caterpillar out of tin cans.
He jumped at the chance and wanted me to read the book constantly while he painted.
Tin cans have been on my brain lately, wondering what else I can do with them.
I figured a caterpillar was possible.
We’ve already painted tin cans with a sponge and with a paintbrush.
Trying to come up with a new way for Henry to paint, I decided on using the can itself.
Squirt some green paint on a tray and roll the tin can in it.
Covering it with paint as you create designs on the tray.
Save one tin can to roll in red paint!
(Henry thought we should paint the inside of the tin cans as well.)
Add some glitter if you’d like.
The designs Henry was making in the paint looked neat, so I tried making a print with one of the labels torn off the tin cans.
Henry was so excited to make prints!
He created a print with every label he could find!
He actually ran out of paint.
(A great way to use up that last bit of paint after an art project.)
He was doing even the small scraps of labels towards the end.
Henry had to show me every last print that he did.
(Love those messy hands!)
He really, really enjoyed this project!
I lined the tin cans up to look like The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
I intended on punching holes in the sides of the tin cans and tying them together.
(Along with creating holes to insert pipe cleaners for feet.)
Turns out that the tin cans aren’t strong enough for me to punch the hole.
So then I attempted tying yarn around the cans together, but that was just a disaster.
I have yet a way to attach the tin cans together and here they sit waiting for something to be done with them.
Suggestions?
(I think I should have Henry play a game of “Where is it?” and hide something under the tin cans.)
(He can’t seem to keep his hands off of them.)
To celebrate Eric Carle’s birthday, Kate at An Amazing Child is dedicating an entire week birthday party on her blog! Below there is a link up of all things Eric Carle! Crafts, art, activities, all in Eric Carle style. Happy 82nd Birthday Eric Carle!
Share this link-up on your site
WANT TO SAVE THIS ACTIVITY?
Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox so you can access this activity later! Plus, you'll get simple activities from us every week!
Allison says
Hands down the coolest caterpillar project I’ve seen. My boys will be thrilled. Now I need to go buy some canned food, so we can start saving cans LOL.
Carolyn says
An excellent way to reuse the old tin cans, and encourage some preschooler fun. An excellent variation for caterpillar craft.
JDaniel4's Mom says
This such a great idea! It would be perfect for holding crayons.
Toddler Approved says
Maybe use those huge rubber bands somehow to attach different cans to one another?
or nail the bottom of the cans to a wall or piece of wood and create a tin can hungry caterpillar for storing crayons, markers, and other craft tools.
himadri says
simple yet very creative way of making a caterpillar….looks that henry had a grt time working on this project
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
This is fabulously unique Jamie! I love it :-) I love Deborah's idea of using adhesive velcro tape! Then he can rearrange it and play with it! Or else hot glue it and mount it on the wall as a piece of permanent sculptural art in his room?
Deborah says
Attach the cans with velcro that way it becomes a toy that can be rearranged!
Melissa @ The Chocolate Muffin Tree says
I think this is a Great idea! I would make the face on the circle part of the cans. (maybe you were going to do this , but ran out of paint!) I could see putting holes on the sides of the cans and connecting them as a hanging caterpillar.Maybe it could become an instrument or another wind chime?
Anonymous says
if you fill the cans with water and freeze them, then you can punch a hole in them.