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…
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
- Page 1: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, White, Black, Brown
- Page 2: Pink, Gray, Teal, Tan, Light Pink
- Lay cat cards out on the table. Have child place a button on each cat.
|Mr. Tickles really liked giving each kitty a button.|
- 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.
- 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.|
- 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.|
- 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.
- 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!|
11 Unique Alphabet Learning Activities by Left Brain Craft Brain
10 Creative Art Activities by Totschooling
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 (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.
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 (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.
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