Directed Art Activities for The Cat in the Hat

Pattern Art

• The book "The Cat in the Hat," is comprised of rhyming word patterns throughout. Translate that word pattern into a visual pattern display. Give children paper and have them divide the paper into four equal parts by drawing two intersecting lines. Then ask the children to color the four spaces in different bright colors. Have the children choose a visual element from the book, such as the cover art or the plate of green eggs and ham to draw. The children should draw the same image four times on white paper. Cut the images out and glue them to the four colorful spaces. This art piece teaches pattern.

"The Cat in the Hat" Hat

• Help children create their own "The Cat in the Hat" hat to wear while reading the book. Roll and fold the open edge of a paper grocery bag to form the brim of a Dr. Seuss hat. Paint alternating white and red strips on the hat. Another way to create a Dr. Seuss hat is to cut the center out of a paper plate and then tape alternating red and white strips of construction paper together to form the cylinder of the hat.

  Make an edible hat to go along with the book, "The Cat in the Hat." Use a sugar cookie as the base of the hat. Use icing to stack a couple of large marshmallows onto the cookie. Use red icing to make the strips on the hat.

"The Cat in the Hat" Puppets

• Direct children in creating "The Cat in the Hat" character puppets. Use paper lunch sacks to create the bodies of the puppets. Use construction paper, googly eyes and other materials to create detail. To create a "Cat in the Hat" character puppet, cut a hat shape out of white paper and draw red and white stripes on the hat. Add googly eyes to the bag and cut a red paper bow tie to place just beneath the fold of the bag. Cut four thin strips of black paper to form whiskers on the puppet and use a small black pom pom for the nose.

  Another way to create a "The Cat in the Hat" themed puppet is to draw a picture of the cat on white paper. Color the drawing and cut it out. Attach the drawing to a craft stick to create a stick puppet.

"The Cat in the Hat" Performance Crafts

• Help children create some large backgrounds for a retelling of the book. Use the illustrations in the book as reference. Hang large sheets of white butcher paper on the wall and allow children to paint the scenes from the book. After they are completed, have students stand in front of the background and act out the scenes from the play.

  Make a "The Cat in the Hat" mask out of a paper plate and other materials to use in a performance based on the book. Cut eye holes into the plate and add an elastic string to keep the mask in place. Draw the face of the cat on the plate, including whiskers. Make a hat by cutting the shape of it out of white paper and using a red marker to add the stripes. Glue the hat to the mask to complete it.