Ready to have some summer fun? We have the perfect activity to keep your little ones busy, engaged, and entertained!
Inspired by the popular children’s book “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle, the growing caterpillar science experiment brings together a little STEM learning with a lot of fun. It’s a simple, hands-on activity that feels exciting for kids and easy for families to set up at home.
With just some paper towels, markers, a pencil, and water, your child can create their very own “growing” caterpillar and watch it come to life right before their eyes!
As they explore, children are also being introduced to a real scientific concept called capillary action, which is how liquid flows through small spaces using things like cohesion, adhesion, and surface tension (we promise it’s more fun than it sounds!).
Read below to learn what materials you’ll need, review simple step-by-step instructions, and learn about the benefits of this creative activity.
Materials
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Paper towels
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Markers
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Pencil
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Water droppers
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Tray
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Cup of water
Benefits
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Introduces a basic scientific concept (capillary action) in a fun, hands-on way
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Encourages creativity and imagination
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Easy, low-prep activity — perfect for summer days at home
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: Color your paper towel with markers (kids can get as creative as they’d like!).
Step 2: Roll your colored paper towel tightly around a pencil.
Step 3: Gently squeeze and scrunch the paper as you remove the pencil.
Step 4: Drip water onto your paper caterpillar and watch it grow!
How does this connect with the real world?
This is actually similar to how plants drink water. Just like the water moved through your paper caterpillar, water travels through a plant’s stem to reach its leaves and petals.
If you try this at home, we’d love to see your caterpillars — each one turns out a little different!
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