cat Archives - JDaniel4s Mom

Cat Shape Coloring Pages

October 26, 2022 By Deirdre

Children will have fun exploring this set of shape coloring pages. The pages have a cat theme that will be fun to work on them around Halloween or after reading a book about cats. Each shape has a page that displays a large version of the shape. There is also a version that features a smaller version of the shape.

It will be up to you to decide which shapes and versions of each shape you want to use with your children. The idea was that young children would be able to color the larger shapes. The smaller shapes would be better for older children.

Getting Ready to Use the Shape Coloring Pages

Downloading the Shape Coloring Pages

First, you will need to download the set.

Cat Shape Coloring Pages Download

Second, if you don’t have Acrobat Reader you will need to download it. The algorithm page is an Acrobat Reader PDF file.

Third, you must go to your download file and open the page. You may be asked if you want the file to open right after downloading it. You won’t have to hunt for it in your download file if you are.

Building Background

Before starting the coloring pages, you may want your children to explore shapes. Below you will find some shape puzzles that could be used to introduce or review shapes.

The links below are affiliate links.

Exploring the Color By Code Monster Pages

While each of the coloring pages features a particular shape, each of the cat shapes has other shapes that are a part of it. You may want to go over the shapes that make up its ears and facial features. Some of the facial features resemble basic shapes but have curved lines like the nose.

Some of the pages have shapes that are formed between the cats. You may want to point that out to your children. However, you may have children that notice them on their own.

Before they start coloring the cats and the spaces between them, you may want them to count how many of the shape there is on the page. If you have not discussed the shapes created between the cats, now would be a good time to do that.

What Shapes are Explored?

Trapezoid
Diamond
Square
Hexagon
Rectangle
Triangle

More Shape Activities

Exploring Bee Shapes

Bird Shape Activity Pages

Geometric Shapes for Kids Snow Globe Puzzles

Geometric Shape Puzzles

Binary Code for Kids- Spelling Sneaker Words

July 22, 2020 By Deirdre

Binary code can be challenging for kids to understand. This set of worksheets invites kids to spell various parts of a sneaker in binary code. While these worksheets were created to go with a Pete the Cat coding unit, they could be used to just explore binary code. If sneaker words aren’t what you want to explore, I have more sets available. There are currently sets that examine parts of a shark, patriotic words, and Valentine’s Day words.

Getting Ready for the Activity

First, Getting the Binary Code Set

Before you download the Binary Code for Kids – Spelling Sneaker Words, you will need to make sure you have a PDF reader. Acrobat reader is a popular PDF and is the one I use. Next, you will need to decide which of the words you want to explore with your children.

You may want to print out two different worksheets for each of your children. One you would do with your children. Then one they could do on their own.

Explaining Binary Code to Your Kids

It is the code used by a computer to understand letters, numbers, symbols, and commands. The code uses groups of 8 numbers to represent each letter, number, symbol, and command you type in on a keyboard. The only numbers that the computer can use to create the code are 0s and 1s.

Binary code can be confusing. Therefore, you may want to visit Teach Kids Binary in One Simple Step to get more information on how to teach it to your kids.

Exploring the Sneaker Words

First, you will want to explain what binary code is to your children. A simple explanation is shared above.
Then your children will need to look for the code for each letter in the chart at the bottom of the page.
Next, they will need to write each number for the code on one of the little lines after each letter.
After that, your children must fill in circles next to the number representing a one.
Finally, you will want them to check their work. It is really easy to color in the wrong circle or put a zero in one’s place.

If they have worked on this page with you, you may want them to work on another one on their own. They could also try and come up with another sneaker word. The code for their sneaker word could be written on a separate piece of paper or the back of the worksheet.

If you like this binary code activity, you will love these:

Pool Noodle Ideas- Building Binary Codes

Color By Binary Numbers Shark Coloring Pages

Binary Code Countdown Rockets

Cat Mask Template Based on Pete the Cat

July 12, 2020 By Deirdre

Pete the Cat is a favorite book character. He may be one of the top children’s books cats of all time. This cat mask template could be colored to look like him. The mask could be decorated to look like a number of other cats found in children’s literature. Therefore you can use this mask template over and over again as you read other cat books. However, it was created to resemble Pete.

Let’s Start with a Book

Below you will find a collection of children’s books that have a cat as the main character. Before you have your children decorate their masks, you will want to read one of the books below. You will notice that there is only one Pete the Cat book. The other books are old favorites of mine. Even if you decide to have the mask be Pete it would be great to read some of the others.

The links below are affiliate links.

Preparing the Mask

Before you download the Printable Cat Mask Template Based on Pete the Cat, please make sure you have a PDF reader on your computer. Acrobat Reader is the one that I use. Once you have downloaded the template, you can open it up with your PDF reader.

The mask will be sturdier if you print it out on bright white cardstock. If you buy “regular” white cardstock, it will look a little gray. (My masks were printed on white cardstock I had at home. They look a little gray.)

Finally, you will need to decide if you want to cut the mask out before or after it is colored. If you cut the mask out before it is colored, your children can wear them right away. Waiting to cut out the mask means it will have to be cut out before it can be worn.

Decorating the Mask

You can put out a variety of coloring tools for your children to use or choose just one. Below you will find a list of fun ways to color.

Magic Markers give the mask some texture. They also give you a brightly colored mask. The color doesn’t fade much.
Crayon also five a mask texture. They aren’t messy and are easy to color over if you make a mistake. They don’t create bright vividly colored masks.
Color pencils give a mask a soft and fuzzy look. They aren’t messy!
Watercolors give the mask a sheer layer of color. They are messy and colors can run from one area of the mask to another.

Wearing the Mask

There are a number of ways you can wear the mask.

First, you can punch holes on either side of the mask. Then you can attach yarn to both of the holes. You can tie the two pieces of yarn in the back.
Second, you can attach a strip of cardstock to both sides of the mask. Your children can then slip the mask over their heads.
Third, you may have children that don’t want to wear the mask on their face. You can attach a wooden craft stick to the mask. Children can hold the mask over their faces.

If you like this mask craft, here are some more masks you will love. They are all free to download.

Cute Shark Mask

There Was An Old Lady Printable Mask Template

Cow Mask Template

Free Koala Mask

How to Draw a Cat with an Algorithm Using Looping

July 25, 2019 By Deirdre

Your children will have fun learning how to draw a cat using an algorithm with this fun worksheet. It will introduce your children to Blockly blocks and how they are used to create an algorithm. Previously I have shared with a two simple How to Draw a Cat with an Algorithm worksheets. If you have checked out those worksheets, you will remember that they featured only command blocks. Today’s How to Draw a Cat with an Algorithm worksheet features command blocks and loop blocks.

What is the difference between a command and a loop block?

Let me start by saying I call the single block a command block with my students. It isn’t the technical name. You can call it a command block with your students or another name if you like.

A command block features a single command like a direction you need to go or something you need to do.
A loop block sandwiches a command block. It displays the word repeat and a number box. Your children can type in just how many times the command or direction needs to be done. It will save them from having to place two, three, or seven of a command in a coding column. You will just need a looping block and the command you need to be repeated.
Example:

Learning about Cats with Books

I love tying books to activities. Your children might like that too. Below you will find some of my favorite books about cats.

Links below are affiliate links.

Getting Your Free How to Draw a Cat with an Algorithm Using Looping

First, you will need to download a copy of the How to Draw a Cat with an Algorithm Using Looping.

Second, you will need to open the PDF.

Finally, you will need to print out a worksheet for each of your children.

Exploring the How to Draw a Cat Worksheets

You can have your children do any of the following:

They can work on their own.
You can work through it with them.
They can work with a partner who can check their work.

If you like this activity, here are some more coding activities you will love.

Little Miss Muffet Coding Activity for Preschoolers

Coding the Moon

Coding the Planets in Order

Magical Creatures STEM Coding Coloring Pages

Exploring Coding Algorithms on Dinosaur Drawing Pages

How to Draw a Cat Using an Algorithm

July 25, 2019 By Deirdre

Whether you are looking for an activity that ties coding to a book with a cat theme or you want to introduce your children to Blockly blocks, this set of worksheets will be fun to explore. You will find two worksheets in this set. Your children can use a worksheet that features Blockly blocks displaying the steps in pictures needed to draw a cat. There is also a worksheet that features the words along with the pictures. If you choose to have your children learn to code on Scratch or Code.org, they will see the same coding blocks featured on the worksheets.

What is an Algorithm?

A kid-friendly definition is that an algorithm is a series of steps needed to complete a task. Computer programmers or coders create the series of commands needed for a computer to complete a task. Your children complete algorithms or a series of steps to complete tasks every day. ( You will find an everyday example of an algorithm on the How to Draw an Astronaut post.)

Learning about Cats with Books

If you don’t have a book about cats you would like to tie in, here are some I really like. It would be fun to read about cats before creating one on How to Draw a Cat worksheet.

Links below are affiliate links.

Getting Your Free How to Draw a Cat

First, you will need to download the Drawing a Cat with an Algorithm Coding Worksheet

Second, open up the download. (It is a PDF.)

Third, print out the worksheet or worksheets you want your children to explore.

Exploring the How to Draw a Cat Worksheets

You can have your children draw the cat on their own or with a group of other children. You will probably want to explain what Blockly blocks are before you have them start the worksheet. A simple explanation is that computer coders use them to create the algorithm a computer needs to complete a task. Each block displays a step that needs to be done to complete the task.

If you have young children, you may want to walk them step by step through the algorithm. They may need you to point out what they will need to do during each step.

If you like this activity, here are some more coding activities you will love.

Little Miss Muffet Coding Activity for Preschoolers

Coding the Moon

Coding the Planets in Order

Magical Creatures STEM Coding Coloring Pages

Exploring Coding Algorithms on Dinosaur Drawing Pages

Let’s Make Robots that Look like Robo-Pete the Cat

March 30, 2018 By Deirdre

Let’s Make Robots that Look like Robo-Pete the Cat! When you think of word robot, I bet you think of it moving across the floor. This robot features an internal gear system that makes Robo-Cat’s body spin. Your children will have fun creating a Pete the Cat themed robot that can spin around.

Links below are affiliate links.

Before your children start the Let’s Make Robots activity, you will want to read them the bookPete the Cat: Robo-Pete. In the book Pete the Cat: Robo Pete builds a robot so he will have someone to play with when all of his friends are busy. Your children will have fun creating a cat robot they can play with.

Let’s Make Robots

Gathering the Supplies for the Let’s Make Robot Activity

You will need the following:

Two Wood Craft Dowel Rods per child
One plastic or container per child
Two small foam circles
Hole Punch
Glue
Tape
Drinking Straw
Blue posterboard or construction paper
Items to decorate the robot with (construction paper, buttons, markers, etc…)
Scissors

Building the Robot

You will start cutting out a Robo-Pete out of construction paper or posterboard. Then your children will need to decorate their robot.

Once that is done, they will place a hole in the top of the cup or container.

Then you will place two holes in the side of the cup. Both need to be across from each other. They also need to be about an inch from the bottom of the cup.

You will then take a small section of a straw and tape it to the top of plastic cup or container.

Next, you need to put one of the wooden dowels through the top hole. You will need to push a foam circle unto the dowel inside the cup. The circle should be horizontal. You can push it all the way to the top of the cup for now.

Then you will place the second wooden dowel into one of the side holes. You will reach up into the cup and slip on a foam circle. The circle should be standing upright.

Next, you will move both foam circles into the center of the container so they are touching.

It is now time to glue your Robo-Pete to the dowel sticking out of the top of the container.

Making Let’s Make Robots Move

You will need to hold the plastic container in one hand. Then you can turn the horizontal dowel with your other hand. When you turn the dowel the robot.

If you like this let’s make robots STEM activity, here are some more we have done.

Building a Garden Fence for Peter Rabbit

Growing Carrot Tops in Bottle Greenhouses

Growing Pumpkin Seeds in a Pumpkin

Harry the Dirty Dog Thaumatrope

This post is part of the Storybook Science Series hosted by Inspiration Laboratories.

Pete the Cat Paper Plate Mask For Kids

August 3, 2016 By Deirdre

This post contains affiliate links.

Pete the Cat was introduced to us in a Mommy and Me class when my son was little. The book had just come out. The librarian who taught the class was so excited about sharing it with us. When I was looking for Back to School themed books to share with you, two Pete the Cat books came to mind. Both Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes and Pete the Cat: Too Cool for School are fun Back to School books I am excited to share with you.

After reading one or both of the books to your children, I thought it would be fun to make a Pete paper plate mask. Last week I shared a few other paper plate masks. There was an If You Take a Mouse to School , a There Was an Old Lady, a Llama Llama and a Kissing Hand raccoon masks.

Making the Pete the Cat Mask

Supplies

Paper Plates
Scissors
Blue, Gold, and Black Paint
Glue Stick
Plastic Fork
Paint Brush

Directions for Cutting Out the Mask

First you will cut a paper plate in half. The top half of the plate will be the face portion of the mask. The bottom half of the plate will be used to cut out the ears and the nose. Next your will cut out the four almond shaped eyes sections out of half of a second plate. Two will cut smaller and they will be glued on top of the larger sections later on.

Once you have all of the mask pieces cut out of the paper plate, you will cut the eyes out of the face section. You will find it is easier to cut the eyes out before you paint. Then you will trace the shape of your eye holes onto four almond shaped sections. Next you will cut eye holes out.

Directions for Painting the Mask

You will start by painting the face section and the ears blue. We used a fork to paint those sections of our mask.

Then you will paint the large almond shaped eye sections gold. You can fork paint them or use a paintbrush.

Finally you will paint the small almond sections black.

The cat’s nose is white and so is the plate. You will not need need to paint the nose. You may want to outline the nose with black at the same time you are creating nostrils on it.

Final Mask Creation Steps

The final step is to glue each of the sections to the facial part of the mask. You can glue the ears anywhere on the top of the head that you like. The black eye section will be glued to the gold section. Then the gold section will be glued to the plate. If they eye holes don’t match up anymore, you can trim them a little.

If you make a mask, please share a picture of it on my Facebookpage.