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preschool skills

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Fall Tree

November 5, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

For the littles today, we’re crafting a pipe cleaner fall tree to celebrate the autumn season. Also, you’ll love my page Fall Season Unit Study {Pumpkins, Leaves, Corn, & More}.

Fall is a beautiful time of the year. The air turns crisp, the leaves burst into fiery colors, and nature itself becomes a beautiful work of art

Do this fun pipe cleaner fall tree and your littles will never know they’re learning about the season changes as they develop their fine motor skills.

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Fall Tree

And little fingers get a workout as they twist the tree and branches and create with the pony beads.

Besides, while your littles are crafting it leads to conversations about why leaves change colors, how trees prepare for winter and the importance of trees to earth.

Next, look at some of these fun fall books.

FALL BOOKS FOR KIDS

I prefer living books so I know you’ll love this roundup.

15 Fall Books For Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

With a chill in the air and leaves falling, grab one or two of these fun books for your home library.

Autumn: An Alphabet Acrostic

A compilation of Native American speeches affirming the desire to live in spiritual and ecological harmony includes the words of Geronimo, Sitting Bull, and Cochise, covering such topics as fishing rights, peace treaties, and the devastation of their land.

Autumn Harvest

"Mr. Tresselt writes quiet, factual prose about katydids, reapers and threshing, falling leaves, apple-gathering, and the first frost."--New York Herald Tribune.

Autumn Leaves

A concise text and crisp, close-up, color photographs of thirteen different leaves from North American trees teach very young children how to look at and compare the leaves of autumn, and are accompanied by an explanation of why they turn color.

The Apple Pie That Papa Baked

These are the apples, juicy and red,that went in the pie,warm and sweet,that Papa baked...for guess who!

Sophie's Squash

Kids will love this playful story of of a unique fall friendship between a girl . . . and her squash!On a trip to the farmers' market with her parents, Sophie chooses a squash, but instead of letting her mom cook it, she names it Bernice. From then on, Sophie brings Bernice everywhere, despite her parents' gentle warnings that Bernice will begin to rot. As winter nears, Sophie does start to notice changes.... What's a girl to do when the squash she loves is in trouble?

Autumn Story: Introduce children to the seasons in the gorgeously illustrated classics of Brambly Hedge!

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the miniature world of the mice of Brambly Hedge!

Bad weather is on the way and the autumn stores are still not gathered in!

Quickly, all the mice of Brambly Hedge set to work to finish the harvesting before the rain begins. Primrose, Lord Woodmouse's daughter, meant to help, but somehow she daydreamed her way over the cornfield and into the Chestnut Woods, and before she knew it, she was lost. The sun went down, the wind rose and it began to rain. Primrose was all alone in the dark and she was frightened.

Poor Primrose, would she find her way home again?

Mr. Hermit Miser and the Neighborly Pumpkin: the green edition |

Mr. Hermit Miser doesn’t like his neighbors, and they don’t like him. But when a pumpkin vine sprouts in Mr. Hermit Miser’s yard and makes its way into the neighbors’ yards, but he wants all those pumpkins for pies … well, what is he to do?

With adventures in pumpkin-snatching, failed attempts at baking pies, and pumpkin goo everywhere, this tale about being neighborly in a not-so-perfect way will be an endearing autumn story for all the readers in your circle.

This reprint of a 1949 classic adds some recipes, a poem, and a bit of pie-history as well.

Dance Like a Leaf

As her grandmother's health declines, a young girl begins to lovingly take the lead in their cozy shared autumn traditions. Poetic prose paired with evocative illustrations by Mexican illustrator Claudia Navarro make for a beautiful celebration of life and a gentle introduction to the death of a loved one.

The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night

"[Spier's] finely detailed, action-packed New England autumn vistas are almost startlingly beautiful."—The New York Times  Over fifty years after he won a Caldecott Honor for The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night, legendary illustrator Peter Spier went back to this time-honored favorite in 2014 to paint the half of the book that was originally printed in black and white. In this glowing, restored vision of Spier’s beloved classic, follow the wily fox as he roams a sleepy New England town in search of a meal, with tones and textures so vivid you can almost hear the crackle of crisp fall leaves and the ripples of the river in the moonlight.

Down Buttermilk Lane

An Amish family, traveling by buggy, spends a day doing errands in the village, visiting, and returning home in time for supper

Fall Leaves

Autumn is in the air: days grow shorter and nights are long. Birds leave, flowers, too. Apples and temperatures fall—then snow!Part poem, part silent stage, this luminous picture book puts autumn on display and captures the spirit of change that stays with us long after fall leaves. Unlock the secrets of this busy and beautiful time of year as the natural world makes way for winter.

Hooray for Fall!

Mama has a surprise for her three little squirrels: three bright red sweaters to keep them warm throughout the fall. Imagine the siblings’ surprise when they find that everything in the autumn woods—the leaves, the berries, even the setting sun—is red too, just like their sweaters.This celebration of a perfect fall day will have young and old alike looking for signs of autumn in their own neighborhoods. Kazuo Iwamura’s books celebrating the seasons (Hooray for Spring!, Hooray for Summer!, Hooray for Fall!, and Hooray for Snow!) are perennial favorites—introducing children to the beauty and joy of each season. Iwamura masterfully captures the small wonders of nature in his illustrations and his stories with their gentle humor warm the heart.

Hopefully the Scarecrow

The perfect Fall book for kids! A poignant picture book about a scarecrow who befriends the young girl who reads to him day after day until one day he's left wondering where she is.A scarecrow stood in the garden. Tall, proud, and smiling. Every day a girl brought her favorite books to the garden and she read to him. He heard tales of courage and of hope. And when she said, "The End," the scarecrow always felt a little bit taller and braver. Year after year, she came and she read to him.Until one spring, two different hands picked him up from the garden shed and placed him in the garden. He waited, but she didn't come to read to him.With poignant words from award-winning author Michelle Houts and lush illustrations by Pura Belpré Honor winner Sara Palacios, Hopefully the Scarecrow is a tender distillation of the enduring power of friendship and a heartwarming look at the ways stories connect us.

Maple & Willow Apart

Funny, relatable sibling dynamics make this story a wonderful way to address navigating big changes. Lori Nichols’s expressive artwork beautifully portrays Maple and Willow’s strong bond, and children will love the creative, kid-powered solution. Maple and Willow have always been inseparable. So what happens when Maple starts big-girl school and Willow stays behind? Well, of course, both girls have marvelous adventures of their own, but the truth is, they miss each other. And when they see that the missing is mutual, they find a unique way to feel connected even when they have to be apart.

Now It's Fall (Lois Lenski Books)

School bells and apples and big ripe pumpkins-all the pleasures of fall come alive in this newly reissued classic by award winner Lois Lenski. First published in 1948, Now It's Fall is a timeless celebration of autumn that will enchant a whole new generation of young readers with its gently recolored illustrations.

Next, look at more pipe cleaner crafts.

MORE PIPE CLEANER CRAFTS

  • How Do Mollusks Breathe | Easy Pipe Cleaner Snail Craft
  • How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Monkey | Howler Monkey Fun Facts
  • Fun Anatomy Activities For High School & How To Make An Easy Skin Layer Model
  • The World Of Slimy Insects: Snails Versus Slugs Unique Comparison
  • Explaining Thunder And Lightning To Preschoolers Easy Sensory Bin

Too, look at more fall craft ideas for preschool.

FALL CRAFT IDEAS FOR PRESCHOOL

  • Fall Y’all:Pumpkin Pie in a Bag (Easy Homeschool Co-op Idea)
  • Fun Corn Life Cycle Preschool Sensory Bin and Printable Lifecycle Foldout
  • Make Cute Felt Leaf Sachets For Fall Leaf Crafts for Preschoolers
  • How To Make Confetti Fall Leaves Crafts For Preschoolers
  • 10 Fall Felt Crafts & How to Make a Kids Felt Pie Garland
  • Fall Nature Crafts & How To Make A Pumpkin Nature Collage
  • How To Craft An Adorable Leaf Paper Plate Mask
How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Fall Tree

Finally, look at how to make this fun fall tree.

PIPE CLEANER FALL TREE FINE MOTOR ACTIVITY

First, look at this easy list of supplies.

  • Brown pipe cleaners
  • Pony beads in fall colors (red, orange, yellow, green)
How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Fall Tree

Twist a few brown pipe cleaners together to form the trunk of the tree.

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Fall Tree

Leave several ends sticking out at the top to create branches.

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Fall Tree

At the bottom, bend and spread out the pipe cleaners to make a sturdy “stand” so the tree can stand upright.

Invite kids to thread the fall-colored pony beads

How To Make A Pipe Cleaner Fall Tree

Benefits:

Seasonal learning – A hands-on way to talk about autumn leaves, colors, and changes in nature.

Fine motor skills – Threading beads onto pipe cleaners strengthens finger muscles and hand-eye coordination.

Creativity – Kids can design their tree however they like, experimenting with colors and patterns.

Focus and patience – Sliding small beads takes concentration, encouraging calm, mindful play.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: fall, fall crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, homeschool preschool, preschool, preschool skills

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

November 4, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

The letter K is a fantastic one to explore and this K is for key craft is just plain fun and invites your child on an adventure. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more ideas.

This week’s alphabet adventure focuses on K is for key. It is a theme that opens the door (literally and figuratively) to creativity, early learning, and hands-on fun.

Keys are one of those everyday objects that kids see often but don’t always get to explore.

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

They might watch adults using keys to open the front door, start the car, or unlock a special drawer, but to them, keys often seem a little mysterious.

That makes this a perfect topic for preschoolers because they’ll love discovering what keys do, why they’re shaped the way they are, and imagining what magical doors they might open.

Start your lesson by showing your child a few real keys. You can use house keys, car keys, or old keys from a junk drawer. Let them notice how heavy they feel, the different sizes, and how each key has its own unique pattern of teeth.

 Talk about how those tiny notches help each key fit just right into its designated location; no two are exactly alike.

If you have a padlock handy, demonstrate how a key turns to unlock it. Kids are fascinated by this simple cause-and-effect moment. It’s also a great way to introduce new vocabulary like lock, unlock, turn, and fit.

MORE KEY IS FOR KEY CRAFT ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES

  • Focus on the letter K—its shape, sound, and how it appears in words. Have your child trace a big K with their finger, make it out of playdough, or use crayons to color a giant K on paper.
  • Letter K | Explore & Learn Today — ABC See, Hear, Do
  • Practice saying K words aloud: key, kite, kangaroo, king, kitten, kitchen, kettle, kind, and kick. Make a game of finding K words around your home.
  • Alphabet Printable Craft Pack for Preschoolers
  • If you have extra keys, invite your child to sort them by size, color, or shape. Sorting helps build early math and observation skills.
  • Cereal Box Cat with Juice Box Kittens Kids Activities Blog
  • Trace the shape of several keys on paper, then let your child color or paint them. You can even make a “Key Collage” full of different designs.
  • Kite Craft
  •  As you read together, point out every time the letter K appears or when the story mentions something being locked, opened, or discovered.
  • Popsicle Stick Kings.
  • Ask your child to imagine what their key might open up, maybe it’s the door to a castle, a magical box filled with treasure, maybe it starts up a space ship.
  • Try some foods that start with K- Key lime, kiwi, kasha, kimchi, kombucha, kidney beans, kettle corn, kumquat, and kalamata olives.

Then, add a few more learning ideas.

Once you’ve explored real keys, it’s time for your main hands-on activity: making a giant cardboard key wrapped in shiny aluminum foil! This project is fun, inexpensive, and perfect for developing fine motor skills.

Preschoolers will love tearing off pieces of foil, wrapping, and smoothing them over the cardboard shape until their key gleams like silver. Add some sparkle with sequins, stickers, or gems if you’d like—it’s the perfect way to make their key look “magical.”

When the keys are complete, don’t just hang them up, use them for pretend play. Your child can “unlock” different parts of the house: the door to the kitchen, a toy chest, or a secret treasure box.

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

Also, look at more letter craft activities.

MORE ALPHABET LETTER CRAFTS

  • A is for Apple Craft | Apple Study
  • B is for Bird Craft | Bluebird Study
  • Quick And Inexpensive Letter C Handprint Craft – Crafty Crab Fun
  • How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids
  • E is For Easy Eagle Study
  • How to Make a Fun Paper Plate Fish | F is for Fish
  • G is for Gorilla Mask | Africa Study
  • H Horse Handprint | Horse Study
  • Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way
  • How to Make a Letter J Handprint Craft & Tasty Jam
  • K is for Kangaroo| Australia Theme
  • Letter L Handprint Craft | How to Make a Lobster Handprint
  • M is for Monkey Handprint | Monkey Study
  • N Is For Nest Handprint | Nests Study
  • O is for Owl | Great Horned Owl Study
  • P Is For Pineapple Craft | How To Make A Fun Handprint Pineapple
  • How to Make a Queens Crown | Letter Q Crafts for Preschoolers
  • R is for Rainbow | Rain Mobile
  • How To Create A Sweet Strawberry Letter S Handprint Craft
  • Easy and Fun Letter S Sun Craft Activity for Preschoolers (Free Template)
  • T is for Teeth | Dental Unit
  • Umbrella Is For Easy Letter U Handprint Craft
  • How to Make A Letter V For Volcano Handprint Craft
  • W Is For Winter | Snowman Oobleck Activity
  • How To Make A Letter Y Handprint Craft Featuring A Yak
  • X is for X Ray | Crayon Resist Skeleton

Finally, look at how to make a giant key with your preschool and kindergarten kids.

HOW TO MAKE A GIANT K IS FOR KEY CRAFT

Cutting cardboard, wrapping foil, and decorating their key all help strengthen the small muscles in their hands and fingers, skills that are important for writing later on.

You will need:

  • Cardboard
  • Aluminum foil
  • Pencil
  • Scissors, box cutter
How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

First, draw an oversized key shape on a large piece of cardboard; the bigger the better.

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

Next, cut the key shape out with a straight-edge blade or sturdy scissors.

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

Then, “paint” one side of the key using glue with a little bit of water mixed in to make it flow nicely.

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

Also, provide your child with small torn pieces of aluminum foil and demonstrate how to cover the whole thing with foil by pressing it in and wrapping the edges.

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

When finished, flip the key over, paint glue on the other side, and continue covering the surface with aluminum foil pieces.

How To Make A Giant K is for Key Craft

Allow to dry and trim off or glue down any loose pieces.

Use a black permanent marker to draw a lower and upper case K on the head of the key to help your child remember what it looks like.

Let your child use their imagination to unlock a world of fun.

Any leftover foil can be used for more sensory exploration-flatten it, crumple it, shape it into letters or objects that start with K.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: alphabet, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, letter sounds, phonics, preschool, preschool skills

How To Make A Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Sensory Bin

October 8, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a fun activity based on the book. It is a Chicka Chicka Boom Boom sensory bin. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more themed ideas for learning and playing. 

If you’re looking for a hands-on activity for your preschoolers to bring a book to life, we’re doing a fun sensory bin. It’s based on the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.

It reinforces letter recognition, fine motor skills, and creative storytelling.

How To Make A Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Sensory Bin

Because the letters race to the top of the coconut tree in the book, it’s a fun tactile way for your preschooler to learn the letters.

Then instead of passive learning your little one can touch, sort and explore with the letters.

In addition, preschoolers can use the letters for storytelling.

BOOKS FOR LEARNING LETTER RECOGNITION FOR PRESCHOOL

Next, look at these books to help your preschooler learn the alphabet.

10 Books For Learning the Alphabet

Preschool and kindergarten learners retain information through hands-on and reading aloud. Add one or two of these resources to your learning day.

Animalia

Within the page of this book You may discover, if you look Beyond the spell of written words A hidden land of beasts and birds . . .   Animalia is a book like no other. Abounding with fanciful, gorgeously detailed art, it is an alphabet book, a guessing game, and a virtual feast for the eyes. Each page features one letter and images related to that letter—as well as a hidden picture of Graeme Base as a child! Animalia will entrance any child or adult who enters its fantastical world.

Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z

Each turn of the page reveals a mouth-watering arrangement of foods: Indian corn, jalapeno, jicama, kumquat, kiwifruit and kohlrabi. Lois Ehlert's lively watercolors paired with bold easy-to-read type make for a highly appealing and accessible book for parents and children to devour.

At the end of the book, Ehlert provides a detailed glossary that includes pronunciation, botanical information, the origin and history of the particular plant and occasional mythological references, with a small watercolor picture to remind the reader of what the plant looks like.

Apple to Zucchini,

come take a look.

Start eating your way

through this alphabet book.

Bruno Munaris Abc

In this imaginative ABC book, acclaimed artist, designer, and children's author, Bruno Munari shows how fun letters can be. From an Ant on an Apple to a Blue Butterfly to a Cat in a Cage, Munari pairs words in whimsical ways until the Fly frees itself from its page, lands on the Hat, buzzes near the Ice Cream, and provides the final sound for Zzzzz.

A Peaceable Kingdom: The Shaker Abecedarius

An illustrated alphabet rhyme that includes the animals from alligator to zebra.

Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions

Artists Leo and Diane Dillon won their second consecutive Caldecott Medal for this stunning ABC of African culture. "Another virtuoso performance. . . . Such an astute blend of aesthetics and information is admirable, the child's eye will be rewarded many times over.

Dr.Seuss's ABC (Bright & Early Board Books)

From Aunt Annie's Alligator to Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz, this sturdy board book version of Dr. Seuss's ABC is now available in a bigger trim size. With Dr. Seuss as your guide, learning the alphabet is as fun and as funny as the feather on a Fiffer-feffer-feff!

A Is for Annabelle: A Doll's Alphabet

Learn the alphabet from A to Z with the help of Annabelle the doll. Each gorgeously illustrated spread features one of her favorite things. With antique boxes, parasols, and yarn for knitting, children can learn the alphabet in grand style.

LMNO Peas

Get ready to roll through the alphabet with a jaunty cast of busy little peas. Featuring a range of zippy characters from Acrobat Peas to Zoologist Peas, this delightful picture book highlights a variety of interests, hobbies, and careers—each one themed to a letter of the alphabet—and gives a wonderful sense of the colorful world we live in. Children will have so much fun poring over the detailed scenes that they won’t even realize they’re learning the alphabet along the way!

Apple Pie ABC

When an apple pie arrives piping hot on the kitchen table, a little pup does everything from A to Z to get his paws on it. He Ogles it. He Pines for it. But will his ABC antics land him a slice? APPLE PIE ABC is a delicious twist on traditional verse brought to life by Alison Murray’s simple words and whimsical illustrations. Sure to delight readers of all ages, it’s a book to savor again and again.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

A told B, and B told C, “I’ll meet you at the top of the coconut tree” In this lively alphabet rhyme, all the letters of the alphabet race each other up the coconut tree. Will there be enough room? Oh, no—Chicka Chicka Boom! Boom!

Then, look at more ideas for learning the alphabet.

ALPHABET ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOL

  • 10 Kindergarten Sensory Bin Ideas | How To Make A Summer Sensory Bin
  • DIY Games For Kids | Free K To 12 Alphabet Games
  • Jumpstart Learning with the Free Alphabet Frog Lily Pad Game
  • A is for Apple Craft | Apple Study
  • B is for Bird Craft | Bluebird Study
  • Quick And Inexpensive Letter C Handprint Craft – Crafty Crab Fun
  • E is For Easy Eagle Study
  • How to Make a Fun Paper Plate Fish | F is for Fish
  • T is for Teeth | Dental Unit
  • How to Make A Letter V For Volcano Handprint Craft
  • W Is For Winter | Snowman Oobleck Activity
  • How To Make A Letter Y Handprint Craft Featuring A Yak
  • X is for X Ray | Crayon Resist Skeleton
  • Free Printable Kindergarten Worksheets | Awesome Winter-Themed Alphabet Scavenger Hunt
How To Make A Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Sensory Bin

Then, look at how to make this fun sensory bin.

HOW TO MAKE A CHICKA CHICKA BOOM BOOM SENSORY BIN

First, look at this short list of supplies.

  • Kinetic sand (or make your own with my recipe)
  • Toilet paper rolls
  • Green paper
  • Brown paper
  • Glue
How To Make A Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Sensory Bin

Cut leaf shapes from green paper and small coconut circles from brown paper.

How To Make A Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Sensory Bin

Glue the leaves and coconuts to the top of a toilet paper roll to make a mini coconut tree.

How To Make A Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Sensory Bin

Fill the bin with kinetic sand. Place the coconut trees upright in the sand.

Add foam letters throughout the bin.

WAYS TO PLAY

  • Alphabet climbing: Have kids pretend the foam letters are climbing up the coconut tree, just like in the story.
  • Name play: Encourage children to find the letters of their name and “climb” them up a tree.
  • Letter hunt: Hide letters in the sand and let kids dig them out.
  • Story retelling: Use the trees and letters to act out parts of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.
  • Fine motor fun: Push letters into the kinetic sand or stand them upright to balance near the trees.

BENEFITS OF SENSORY BINS

  • Strengthens fine motor skills through digging, pushing, and balancing pieces
  • Encourages literacy and letter recognition in a playful way
  • Promotes imaginative storytelling and retelling of the book
  • Builds early spelling and name recognition skills
  • Offers hands-on sensory exploration with the kinetic sand’s unique texture
  • Provides a fun, screen-free way to connect literacy and play

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: alphabet, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, homeschool preschool, phonics, preschool, preschool skills, sensory, sensory bin

How to Make a Letter J Handprint Craft & Tasty Jam

October 5, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, we’re doing a letter J handprint craft. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more themed ideas for learning and playing and letter themed crafts.

And we’re not just doing one but two engaging ideas your little learners will love – a letter J handprint craft and making jam together.

These activities are perfect for reinforcing letter recognition while building fine motor skills and creating sweet memories.

How to Make a Letter J Handprint Craft & Tasty Jam

The beauty of this recipe is that you can use whatever fruit you have on hand, fresh or frozen, including a mix of a little of this and that.

Toss blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, or any other kind of berry into the mix or stick with your child’s favorite.

FUN BOOKS TO TEACH THE ALPHABET

First, look at these fun books for your preschooler to learn about the alphabet.

10 Books For Learning the Alphabet

Preschool and kindergarten learners retain information through hands-on and reading aloud. Add one or two of these resources to your learning day.

Animalia

Within the page of this book You may discover, if you look Beyond the spell of written words A hidden land of beasts and birds . . .   Animalia is a book like no other. Abounding with fanciful, gorgeously detailed art, it is an alphabet book, a guessing game, and a virtual feast for the eyes. Each page features one letter and images related to that letter—as well as a hidden picture of Graeme Base as a child! Animalia will entrance any child or adult who enters its fantastical world.

Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z

Each turn of the page reveals a mouth-watering arrangement of foods: Indian corn, jalapeno, jicama, kumquat, kiwifruit and kohlrabi. Lois Ehlert's lively watercolors paired with bold easy-to-read type make for a highly appealing and accessible book for parents and children to devour.

At the end of the book, Ehlert provides a detailed glossary that includes pronunciation, botanical information, the origin and history of the particular plant and occasional mythological references, with a small watercolor picture to remind the reader of what the plant looks like.

Apple to Zucchini,

come take a look.

Start eating your way

through this alphabet book.

Bruno Munaris Abc

In this imaginative ABC book, acclaimed artist, designer, and children's author, Bruno Munari shows how fun letters can be. From an Ant on an Apple to a Blue Butterfly to a Cat in a Cage, Munari pairs words in whimsical ways until the Fly frees itself from its page, lands on the Hat, buzzes near the Ice Cream, and provides the final sound for Zzzzz.

A Peaceable Kingdom: The Shaker Abecedarius

An illustrated alphabet rhyme that includes the animals from alligator to zebra.

Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions

Artists Leo and Diane Dillon won their second consecutive Caldecott Medal for this stunning ABC of African culture. "Another virtuoso performance. . . . Such an astute blend of aesthetics and information is admirable, the child's eye will be rewarded many times over.

Dr.Seuss's ABC (Bright & Early Board Books)

From Aunt Annie's Alligator to Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz, this sturdy board book version of Dr. Seuss's ABC is now available in a bigger trim size. With Dr. Seuss as your guide, learning the alphabet is as fun and as funny as the feather on a Fiffer-feffer-feff!

A Is for Annabelle: A Doll's Alphabet

Learn the alphabet from A to Z with the help of Annabelle the doll. Each gorgeously illustrated spread features one of her favorite things. With antique boxes, parasols, and yarn for knitting, children can learn the alphabet in grand style.

LMNO Peas

Get ready to roll through the alphabet with a jaunty cast of busy little peas. Featuring a range of zippy characters from Acrobat Peas to Zoologist Peas, this delightful picture book highlights a variety of interests, hobbies, and careers—each one themed to a letter of the alphabet—and gives a wonderful sense of the colorful world we live in. Children will have so much fun poring over the detailed scenes that they won’t even realize they’re learning the alphabet along the way!

Apple Pie ABC

When an apple pie arrives piping hot on the kitchen table, a little pup does everything from A to Z to get his paws on it. He Ogles it. He Pines for it. But will his ABC antics land him a slice? APPLE PIE ABC is a delicious twist on traditional verse brought to life by Alison Murray’s simple words and whimsical illustrations. Sure to delight readers of all ages, it’s a book to savor again and again.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

A told B, and B told C, “I’ll meet you at the top of the coconut tree” In this lively alphabet rhyme, all the letters of the alphabet race each other up the coconut tree. Will there be enough room? Oh, no—Chicka Chicka Boom! Boom!

Next, look at these activities for the letter J.

MORE LETTER J ACTIVITIES & CRAFTS

  • While working, say the sound of “J” together. Talk about other “J” words—juice, jump, jellyfish, jaguar, jester, jokes, jello, and jacket to expand vocabulary.
  • For a true hands-on experience, learn How To Make A Squishy Jello Sensory Bin.
  • Go on a J hunt around the house, looking for as many objects that start with the letter J as you can find.
  • Check out this fun Jelly Bean Counting and Sorting Activity.
  • Make a Handprint Jellyfish and Color Matching Activity to keep hands busy.
  • A cute Letter J Craft- J Is For Jaguar Preschool Craft is a great way to practice the letter J and one of the sounds it makes.
  • Work on fine motor skills and language skills with J is for Jacket: Paper Pasting.
  • Experiment with a tasty treat with this Bright and Colorful Jellybean Science.
  • These Touch and Feel Letters go along wonderfully with today’s craft!
How to Make a Letter J Handprint Craft & Tasty Jam

And look at more crafts and themes to go with the alphabet letters.

MORE LETTER CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES

  • A is for Apple Craft | Apple Study
  • B is for Bird Craft | Bluebird Study
  • Quick And Inexpensive Letter C Handprint Craft – Crafty Crab Fun
  • E is For Easy Eagle Study
  • How to Make a Fun Paper Plate Fish | F is for Fish
  • G is for Gorilla Mask | Africa Study
  • H Horse Handprint | Horse Study
  • Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way
  • K is for Kangaroo| Australia Theme
  • M is for Monkey Handprint | Monkey Study
  • N Is For Nest Handprint | Nests Study
  • O is for Owl | Great Horned Owl Study
  • P Is For Pineapple Craft | How To Make A Fun Handprint Pineapple
  • R is for Rainbow | Rain Mobile
  • Easy and Fun Letter S Sun Craft Activity for Preschoolers (Free Template)
  • How To Create A Sweet Strawberry Letter S Handprint Craft
  • T is for Teeth | Dental Unit
  • How to Make A Letter V For Volcano Handprint Craft
  • W Is For Winter | Snowman Oobleck Activity
  • How To Make A Letter Y Handprint Craft Featuring A Yak
  • X is for X Ray | Crayon Resist Skeleton

Finally, look at how to make this letter J handprint craft and tasty jam.

LETTER J HANDPRINT CRAFT AND TASTY JAM

You Will Need:

  • White construction paper or cardstock
  • Washable paint, purple, red, or blue
  • Painters or washi tape
  • Paintbrush
  • Markers or crayons
How to Make a Letter J Handprint Craft & Tasty Jam

Cover the very center of your child’s palm with a square of painters’ tape or washi.

How to Make a Letter J Handprint Craft & Tasty Jam

Brush washable paint thickly over your child’s palm and fingers with a paint brush or dip them into a shallow puddle of paint in a paper plate.

How to Make a Letter J Handprint Craft & Tasty Jam

Peel off the tape carefully.

How to Make a Letter J Handprint Craft & Tasty Jam

Help them press their painted hand onto the paper to create a bright handprint.

How to Make a Letter J Handprint Craft & Tasty Jam

Draw a simple bread outline and let your child smear “jam” all over it with their handprint or finger tips.

How to Make a Letter J Handprint Craft & Tasty Jam

Once dry, use a marker to draw on a lid, outline the handprint and fill in the “label” you created with the blank space and outline your bread.

TASTY REFRIGERATOR JAM ACTIVITY

Cooking with preschoolers is a wonderful way to mix learning with life skills. Making a simple jam or trying store-bought jam on bread is the perfect tie-in for the letter J.

Talk about where fruit comes from, count how many spoonfuls you add, and emphasize the “J” in jam as you taste.

Easy No-Cook Jam Recipe:

  • 1 cup mashed strawberries, or any soft fruit
  • 2 tablespoons sugar or honey
  • ½ Tablespoon lemon juice
How to Make a Letter J Handprint Craft & Tasty Jam

Place fruit, honey, and lemon juice into a small saucepan and let simmer for 10 minutes

How to Make a Letter J Handprint Craft & Tasty Jam

 Stir occasionally, this is a great time to teach your child about kitchen safety.

How to Make a Letter J Handprint Craft & Tasty Jam

You can use a potato masher or ground beef tool to mash up the fruit a bit.

How to Make a Letter J Handprint Craft & Tasty Jam

Spoon your jam into a small jar and top with a tight fitting lid.

How to Make a Letter J Handprint Craft & Tasty Jam

Keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Spread on toast or crackers and enjoy together.

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: alphabet, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool preschool, letter sounds, preschool, preschool skills

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

August 22, 2025 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re making a letter C caterpillar craft to add more fun to our units on letters of the alphabet. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more ideas. Too, grab the free template pattern at the bottom of this post. And look at my post Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping for more ideas.

This colorful, creative project combines early literacy skills with fine motor development.

The Letter C Caterpillar Craft fits beautifully into themes like: alphabet week, insects and bugs, springtime and of course use with the classic book The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

Plus pairing the craft with a story or a theme strengthens comprehension and keeps learning cohesive.

Also, cutting out shapes, gluing pieces together, and decorating the caterpillar all require careful hand-eye coordination.

Too, children will love learning that a caterpillar is a baby butterfly or moth.

BOOKS ABOUT INSECTS FOR KIDS

Next, here are some fun books about insects for kids.

11 Insect & Bug Books for Kids Who Love to Be Read To and Read

Add one or two of these books to your home library about insects. I love living books but love to add reference books to our day when I find them.

When Insects are Babies

Describes briefly the short infancy of such common insects as the grasshopper, praying mantis, cicada, earwig, and twelve others.

We Like Bugs

This illustrated book for children asks the Have you ever seen a doodlebug? A dragon fly? A leafhopper? Find out all about bugs in this book.

Fabre's Book of Insects

Hailed by Darwin as "The Homer of Insects," famed French entomologist Jean Henri Fabre (1823–1915) devoted hours of rapt attention to insects while they hunted, built nests, and fed their families. Working in Provence, in barren, sun-scorched fields inhabited by countless wasps and bees, he observed their intricate and fascinating world, recounting their activities in simple, beautifully written essays.This volume, based on translations of Fabre's Souvenirs Entomologiques, blends folklore and mythology with factual explanation. Fabre's absorbing account of the scarab beetle's existence, for example, begins with the ancient Egyptians' symbolic view of this busy creature, eventually leading to a careful discussion of its characteristic method of rolling a carefully sculpted ball of food to its den. Elsewhere, he discusses with infectious enthusiasm the physiologic secrets behind the luminosity of fireflies, the musical talents of the locust, the comfortable home of the field cricket, and the cannibalism of the pious-looking praying mantis, among other topics.These charmingly related stories of insect life are a rare combination of scientific study and literary classic that will delight entomologists, naturalists, and nature lovers alike.

Children of Summer: Henri Fabre's Insects

Henri Fabre (1823-1915) was a famous explorer yet he seldom left his own backyard. He spent his whole life discovering the secrets of the insect world. His home and its surroundings served as his laboratory, and his lab assistants were his wife and children. The entire family shared his passion for insects, especially his youngest son, Paul. Follow Paul as he assists his famous father uncover the secrets of his "children of summer"-insects. You'll meet the undertaker beetle that buries dead animals; the acorn elephant beetle, whose snout is so long that it must hold it straight out to keep from tripping over it; caterpillars that spin tents and roadways of silk; red ants that kidnap black ant babies and raise them as slaves; dancing scorpions; dung beetles that get their nourishment from animal droppings; male peacock moths that pay homage to their princess but don't eat a single meal as adults; and many other unusual creatures. On the way, you'll get to know a fascinating scientist widely regarded as the father of modern entomology. Through texts drawn from the beautiful written records that Fabre kept of everything he did and saw, and exquisite illustrations done in close, scientific detail, this enchanting book reaches far beyond the boundaries of its subject to engage even those who didn't know they were interested in bugs.

Creep and Flutter: The Secret World of Insects and Spiders

Acclaimed naturalist and illustrator Jim Arnosky brings out the beauty—and the “wow!” and the “yuck!” factors—of hundreds of insects and spiders. Eight spectacular gatefolds show moths and mosquitoes, butterflies and beetles, spiders and silverfish life-size, up close, and personal!

Insects Do the Strangest Things (Step-Up Books)

Describes insects that have peculiar and strange characteristics, such as the camouflage of the walking stick, and the driver ants that prefer people to picnics.

Insect Life

Be immersed in the fascinating world of insects as you're taken on a journey observing and learning about the world around you.

This volume teaches about what makes an insect, the parts of a caterpillar, moths, butterflies, beetles, wasps, bees, flies, crickets, grasshoppers and more!

The Big Book of Bugs (The Big Book Series)

From moths and beetles to worms and spiders, the world is crawling with fascinating bugs. The Big Book of Bugs is the first fact-filled book for children to explore the vast array of creepy-crawlies that share our Earth.

In the first pages, children learn that bugs live nearly everywhere on the planet and gain tips on how to become a young bug spotter. As the book continues, the scenic compositions on each page are dedicated to key groups of bugs, including beetles, moths, butterflies, bees, snails, crickets, grasshoppers, worms, and spiders. Some spreads approach the world of bugs thematically, such as bugs that come out at night, baby bugs, and life cycles, how bugs hide and show off, and how some bugs love to live in your home. The conversational, funny text is also full of facts that will astonish children and adults, and accompanied by Yuval Zommer’s colorful illustrations. Illustrated in color throughout.

Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies: Take-Along Guide (Take Along Guides)

An introduction to the world of insects, caterpillars, and butterflies including identification information, educational activities, and fun facts.Invites young naturalists to spot wildlife. Safety tips are provided and interesting activities are suggested.

The Beetle (Dimensional Nature Portfolio Series)

Features the beetle in huge, three-dimensional form. The book consists of an enormous center pop-up and two seven-page books, one bound into each cover, which are full of additional pop-ups, anatomical cutaways and photographs taken through electron microscopes.

The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science

In this beautiful nonfiction biography, a Robert F. Sibert Medal winner, the Newbery Honor–winning author Joyce Sidman introduces readers to one of the first female entomologists and a woman who flouted convention in the pursuit of knowledge and her passion for insects.

One of the first naturalists to observe live insects directly, Maria Sibylla Merian was also one of the first to document the metamorphosis of the butterfly. 

Richly illustrated throughout with full-color original paintings by Merian herself, The Grew Who Drew Butterflies will enthrall young scientists.

Bugs, of all kinds, were considered to be “born of mud” and to be “beasts of the devil.” Why would anyone, let alone a girl, want to study and observe them? The Girl Who Drew Butterflies answers this question.

Then, look at a few facts about caterpillars to share with your little one.

CATERPILLAR FACTS FOR KIDS

  • A caterpillar is a baby butterfly or moth.
  • This amazing change is called metamorphosis.
  • They eat leaves all day long.
  • Some caterpillars even eat flowers or fruit.
  • Caterpillars go through four main stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
  • Caterpillars can have as many as 16 legs.

Additionally, look at more letter crafts for preschoolers.

MORE ALPHABET LETTER CRAFTS FOR PRESCHOOLERS

  • A is for Apple Craft | Apple Study
  • B is for Bird Craft | Bluebird Study
  • Quick And Inexpensive Letter C Handprint Craft – Crafty Crab Fun
  • E is For Easy Eagle Study
  • How to Make a Fun Paper Plate Fish | F is for Fish
  • G is for Gorilla Mask | Africa Study
  • H Horse Handprint | Horse Study
  • Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way
  • K is for Kangaroo| Australia Theme
  • M is for Monkey Handprint | Monkey Study
  • N Is For Nest Handprint | Nests Study
  • O is for Owl | Great Horned Owl Study
  • P Is For Pineapple Craft | How To Make A Fun Handprint Pineapple
  • R is for Rainbow | Rain Mobile
  • How To Create A Sweet Strawberry Letter S Handprint Craft
  • T is for Teeth | Dental Unit
  • How to Make A Letter V For Volcano Handprint Craft
  • W Is For Winter | Snowman Oobleck Activity
  • How To Make A Letter Y Handprint Craft Featuring A Yak
  • X is for X Ray | Crayon Resist Skeleton
How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

Finally, look at how to make this fun paper plate caterpillar craft.

DOLLAR STORE PAPER PLATE CATERPILLAR CRAFT

First, look at this list of supplies.

  • Paper Plate – Dollar Store
  • Wiggle Eyes – Dollar Store
  • Chenille Stem, Black and Purple – Dollar Store
  • Pom Poms, Yellow – Dollar Store
  • Cardstock, Bright Green
  • Craft Paint – Red, Orange, Yellow, Blue, Purple, Pink
  • Glue Gun and Glue Sticks – Dollar Store
  • Paintbrush
  • Scissors 
  • Ruler
  • Permanent Marker
  • Sponge Dabber
  • PATTERN Paper Plate Caterpillar. Grab the pattern by adding your email at the bottom of this post.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

STEP ONE

First, gather all supplies. Fold the paper plate in half and crease firmly.

Basecoat half of the inside of the paper plate in wedges of red, purple, yellow, blue, and orange acrylic craft paint.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

Set aside to dry and apply a second coat, if necessary.

STEP TWO

Cut the paper plate in half with scissors, then cut along the curve to remove the center.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

This creates the caterpillar body shape.

PAPER PLATE CATERPILLAR CRAFT FOR PRESCHOOL

STEP THREE

Download and print the Caterpillar Pattern, then cut out with scissors.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

Trace the head once onto the bright green cardstock.

You could also use colored craft foam or craft felt for this project.

STEP FOUR

Cut out the caterpillar head pattern with scissors making sure to cut inside the traced lines for a clean, finished project.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

STEP FIVE

Attach two wiggle eyes to the caterpillar’s face with a glue gun and glue sticks.

Create cheeks by dipping a sponge dabber in pink acrylic craft paint and stamping on either side of the caterpillar’s face.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

TIP: You can use liquid craft glue for this project, but you will have to wait for it to dry.

STEP SIX

Cut a purple chenille stem in half with scissors.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

Bend in half, then attach a yellow pom pom to each end to create antennae.

STEP SEVEN

Cut two black chenille stems into one-inch pieces with scissors. These will become the caterpillar’s legs.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

STEP EIGHT

Flip the caterpillar over on your work surface and attach the chenille stem legs along the bottom edge with a glue gun and glue sticks.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

STEP NINE

Attach the antennae to the head and the head to the body with a glue gun and glue sticks.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

STEP TEN

To finish, draw a smile with a black marker to create the caterpillar’s mouth.

How to Make a Letter C Caterpillar Craft with Kids

This is a fun activity to keep the kiddos busy with coloring, counting and motor skills.

Make this super cute paper plate caterpillar kids craft in just about 30 minutes! 

HOW TO GET THE FREE CATERPILLAR TEMPLATE PATTERN

Now, how to grab the freebie. It’s a subscriber freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE.

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschool, homeschool preschool, letter sounds, preschool, preschool skills

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