Hobbies And Interests
Memory Activities
Make a set of cat memory cards for each small group. Print pictures of cats (two of each) on small slips of paper and laminate each one. Give one set to each group and have the children play a game of cat memory. The child who finds the most pairs wins the game. For another memory game, place a small tray of cat-related items, such as a collar, cat toy and picture of a cat, in the middle of each group. Remove the trays and place them where the children cannot see them. The group who can remember the most cat items from the tray wins the activity.
Cat Sort
Print several pictures of different colors of cats. Give each group a set and have the preschoolers sort the cats by color. Make this a contest to see which group can sort the cats by color in the fastest amount of time. For a more difficult challenge, print different breeds of cats and have the preschoolers work together to sort the cat breeds. The first group who correctly sorts the cats by breed wins the activity. Encourage the children to try their best by awarding small prizes to activity winners.
Cat Crafts
Preschoolers can work together in small groups to make cat crafts. For a basic craft, give the children construction paper, craft foam, chenille stems, googly eyes and tape to make a cat. Have a contest by awarding small prizes for the best, most creative and funniest crafts. Give the young children pictures of small cats to use as guides. Another idea is to have them work together to make a cat wreath. The children can use magazines to cut out pictures of cats to tape on a small foam wreath.
Group Time
Have a teacher read a cat-themed book or teach the children a cat-themed song. Books the teacher can read include "Clifford's Kitten," "If You Give a Cat a Cupcake" and "The Cat in the Hat." Teach the children "Carrie had a little cat" sung to the "Mary Had a Little Lamb" tune. "Carrie had a little cat, little cat, little cat; Carrie has a little cat, its fur as white as snow."