Kid Activities, Crafts and Printables for Fun Learning and Creativity

Letter of the Week: C is for Cat with Pete the Cat Free Printable

So we are HUGE Pete the Cat fans so when it was time for the letter C we had to include him in this weeks letter of the week activities (you don’t have to have the book to play along). I created a fun hands on learning activity and free printable that can be used in lots of different ways. My toddler and preschooler where both able to learn and play side by side. I just LOVE it when this happens. Also in today’s post is 19 more awesome hands on learning activities featured at this weeks Love to Learn Linky party. So let’s start learning…

Letter of the Week: C is for Cat with Pete the Cat Free Printable Math and Sorting activity

 

Find all our Letter of the Week A-Z Series here.
3 Reasons Why I Like Hands On Learning:

It sets up a “play” environment for learning

Movement and visualization improve memorization

More exciting and engaging compared to lectures and workbooks

C is for Cat with Pete the Cat

Button activities and free printable for preschool and tot school. Play along even if you don’t have the book.

Suggested Book: Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by James Dean
Free Printable: C is for Cat Game
Suggested Song: See Pete the Cat on You Tube by HarperKids
Objectives: Exploration, fine motor skills, sorting, patterns, memory, colors, matching, introduction to math
Age Group: Preschool/Tot School
Supplies:
Solid colored buttons matching as many colors from the printable that you have available
  • Page 1: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, White, Black, Brown
  • Page 2: Pink, Gray, Teal, Tan, Light Pink

 

Ice Cube Tray/Sorting container

Directions:
Print out C is for Cat printable and cut the cat cards out. I laminated our cards to keep them nice for multiple uses.
Use as many or as little cards in each game. You may also want to remove the striped and spotted cats (kind of like the joker in a deck of cards).
With hands on activities, it is always a good idea to let children explore the supplies presented to them before giving any instruction. 
 
Tot School Activities:
A Button for Pete (Motor Skills):
  • Lay cat cards out on the table. Have child place a button on each cat.

 

Mr. Tickles really liked giving each kitty a button.
 
Matchy Matchy Buttons for Pete (Colors & Matching): 
  • Match the color of the buttons to the colors of the cat. I lined up the cats in our ice cube tray, then Mr. Tickles (age 1.5) would pick up a button. I would say the color and point to the cat it matched and he would place it in the tray.

 

 

How Many Buttons (Counting):

  • Give child a random number of buttons. Have them place buttons in the tray as they wish. When all the buttons are in the tray, count the buttons found in each section.
Preschool Activities:
Which Buttons will Pete Like? (Sorting)
  • Give child several buttons of each color. Line the cats up (I placed ours in the ice cube tray). Have child sort the buttons into the matching cats section.

 

Ms. Tiger enjoyed sorting her buttons, and repeated this activity several times.
 
What Color Comes Next (Patterns):
  • Lay out 2 pairs of cats in an ABAB pattern. Talk about the pattern together (Yellow-purple-yellow-purple), then place the matching buttons with the cats while saying the pattern out loud.
  • Lay out 3 cats in an ABA pattern, Talk about the pattern together, then figure out what cat comes next and place it on the board. You could add matching buttons too if you would like.
Beginning activity to learning about patterns.

 

 
Find Pete’s Friend (Memory Game):
  • Select matching pairs of cats. Turn them face down on the table, then have child turn two cats over. If they make a match, remove the cats from the board. If the cats don’t match, turn them face down and return them to the board and try again. I would start out with around 5 pairs, then add more when child is ready.
Hello & Goodbye Pete (Addition & Subtraction):
  • Select a few cats (color doesn’t matter), line them up, then count them. Take away one cat or add one cat and count again to see how the number of cats changed. Talk about the change (We had 5 cats, we added one, and now we have 6. That means 5 + 1 is 6). I didn’t expect her to be able to tell me that 5+1=6, I just wanted to introduce her to math terminology.
I just LOVE watching my kiddos learn together!

 

Follow A Little Pinch of Perfect’s board Learn With Kids Activities on Pinterest.And that is the end of our C is for Cat activities for today. Let’s keep the learning going with more amazing hands on learning activities. Now Presenting:

20 Hands on Learning Activities & the 
Love to Learn Linky #10
I appreciate all those who shared at last week’s Love to Learn Linky party. I am always inspired and enjoy seeing everyone’s creativity. With all the great hands on learning we have been up to, I knew when I saw all the great ideas using manipulatives I had to share them with you!
Busy Hands: Alphabet Matching Activity  by Sand in My Toes
Bottle Top Maths by Mothers Messy Madness
 Candy Land Castle Game by Best Toys for Toddlers
Alphabet Quest by The Loving House of Mama Casale
Letter game – kids’ activity by Stella123
Silly Sentences by Mothers Messy Madness
Playing with 10 Frames by The Math Maniac
PomPom Ice Cream Shoppe by One Time Through
 Apple Science Activity: How An Apple Grows by Little Bins for Little Hands
Boat Activities for Tots & Preschoolers  by Every Star Is Different
Ridiculous Reading Phonics Game by Mosswood Connections
Encouraging Our Kids to Tinker by Planet Smarty Pants
Enginering 201: DIY Recycled Suspension Bridge by Left Brain Craft Brain
Water Fountain Color Mixing Kid Activity by A Little Pinch of Perfect
Make sure to stop by my lovely co-hosts to see what they have featured:
11 Unique Alphabet Learning Activities by Left Brain Craft Brain
10 Creative Art Activities by Totschooling
Tips for Early Writing by  One Time Through
If you were featured, be sure to grab a button!

 

Love to Learn Linky Featured
Love to Learn Linky Featured

Love to Learn Linky

Now it’s time for some more links! Bloggers, share your posts every Thursday and watch as we round them up and share them all over the place. Almost anything goes, we’re just hoping your activities teach kids (or us!) something (science, art, cooking, behavior, crafting, parenting etc…).

The Love to Learn Linky is hosted by:

Left Brain Craft Brain
Left Brain Craft Brain (leftbraincraftbrain.com): Anne is an ex-engineer, current stay-at-home mama writing about crafty ways to encourage creativity (and brain power!) in our kids. Each of her projects gives kids the chance to learn about a new subject and do something crafty at the same time.
photo 86dc3214-616a-44fc-919e-39cbe9235c1b_zps229eaa2a.jpg
Totschooling (totschooling.net): Viviana is a blogging mom to a toddler and a preschooler, sharing ideas and resources for early education. She specializes in unique, hands-on printable activities that are educational, fun and inspire creativity in young minds.
One Time Through Logo Button photo onetimethrough-button_zps6d59d16e.png
One Time Through (onetimethrough.com): Sue is an Elementary School Teacher currently on leave to be at home with her preschooler son. She shares ideas for connecting and learning with kids through meaningful, play-based activities that nurture curiosity and creativity.

A Little Pinch of Perfect (alittlepinchofperfect.com): Katie combines creativity, play, and learning for the perfect mishmash of fun activities that keep kiddos entertained throughout the day. She wholeheartedly believes in the power of play and feels that all activities naturally provide a fun way to learn.

Love to Learn Linky Etiquette:

Link up and grab a button!

Love to Learn Linky Featured
Love to Learn Linky Featured

 

Love to Learn Linky: An InLinkz Link-up

 

Comments

  11. What a great collection of learning activities!
    Thank you for stopping by the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop this week. We hope to see you drop by our neck of the woods next week!

    Reply

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