Very Hungry Caterpillar Hat

March is Reading Month, so Logan's preschool class did an author study on Eric Carle. Yesterday, he came home with this cute Very Hungry Caterpillar hat to share with his sister. It's a quick and easy craft to do with little ones.

{Celebrate Reading Month with this Fun Hat!}

Materials:

• construction paper (red, yellow, green, black)
• scissors
• paper trimmer (optional)
• glue stick
• stapler

Directions:

1. Cut two strips of red paper about 3-4 inches wide. Staple one piece to the other, end to end. Wrap the extra long strip around your child's head for size, and then cut off the excess. Tip: A paper trimmer is nice for this, but scissors will work, too.
2. Cut two yellow circles for eyes. Ours are about 2 1/2" wide. Cut two green circles, slightly smaller (Ours are about 1 1/2" wide), and have your child glue them to the yellow circles. Glue the eyes to the center of the red paper strip. Note: Circles do NOT need to be perfect!
3. Cut two narrow strips of black paper, about 1" wide, for antennae. Tip: Again, a paper trimmer is helpful, but you can use scissors if you don't have one. Staple these to the red paper strip, on either side of the eyes.
4. Staple the ends of the red paper together to finish the caterpillar hat, which your child can now wear!

Wearable Easter Bonnet Craft

{Mia models the Easter bonnet I made.}

Some of my previous ideas for wearable crafts have been tricky to keep on the wearer's head, but I think I have this problem solved now. The ribbons on this Easter bonnet craft that I came up with are both pretty and functional. I am happy with how it turned out.

 

Materials:

{Easter Bonnet by Mia, Age 4}

• paper plate
• scissors
• crayons or markers
• construction paper
• tape
• paper trimmer (optional)
• hole punch
• ribbon, yarn, or curling ribbon
• decorations: silk flowers, craft foam, felt, lace, feathers, buttons, beads, pom poms, etc.

Directions:

1. Color the outer ring of the back (non-eating) side of a paper plate.
2. Use scissors to cut out the inside circle. Discard or save for another project.
3. Cut construction paper into strips. For my bonnet I used 10 strips that were 1" x 9". For Mia's we used 4 strips that were 2" x 11". I think the larger size worked better.
4. Tape one end of a paper strip to the underside (non-colored part) of the plate, hold the strip across the paper plate ring, and tape the other end of the strip to the opposite side. Place a second strip perpendicular to the first and tape either end of it. Repeat with additional strips, crossing them over each other until the top of the bonnet is formed. Gently push the strips of paper through the ring so that they are arched.
5. Decorate your bonnet with whatever materials you like. We used ribbon, craft foam, and silk flowers attached with brads.
6. Looking at the front of the bonnet, punch two holes, one on each side of the wearer's head.
7. Thread ribbon, yarn, or curling ribbon through holes and secure by knotting (or with tape if needed).
8. Wear your Easter bonnet, using the ribbon or yarn ties to help it stay on your head.