1-2-3 Come Make a Christmas Ornament With Me

If you’re looking for a quick, easy & super-fun little craft for your students to make, I think you’ll enjoy these cool cat ornaments to help wish someone a “Purr-fect” Christmas.

My Young Fives love anything with animals, especially a cool blue cat, so I thought making a Christmas ornament would be entertaining.

You’ll love the versatility of this activity as there are 5 options, which fit a variety of ages, grade levels & abilities.

With 20 cat-themed balls to choose from, there is plenty of variety too.

As always, patterns come in black & white for students, as well as full color, so that teachers can quickly & easily make an example to share.

Making a sample, not only helps you explain what you want your students to do, it acts as a catalyst for excitement.

 If your students are like mine, be prepared for many of them to ask, "Can we please make another one." Woo Hoo!

Besides the pictures, I’ve also included two “greeting” ball options, plus a blank version, so that students can draw their own picture, glue on a school photo, or write their own greeting.

The options?

1. Keep things super-simple & have students color & cut out a single cat ball, then flip it over and add a greeting to make 1 flat ornament.

I always like to tuck a little something in my students’ back packs as a surprise.

“Paper love” is an inexpensive but truly thoughtful gift, and this simple flat ornament is really easy to make a class set of. 

I made 20 in just half an hour. You could also add their school photo & then laminate. 

Pick one of the designs for their ornament from you, then run off the other cat pictures for them to make one of their own. 

Punch a hole in the top, and tie with a yarn loop. Voila! You're done.

2. Another option is to make the ornament a “flip up”.

Here you choose a cat ball to color & cut out, then add a dab of glue to the top of a "greeting" ball, then press the cat ball on top. 

You could also include a blank ball as well, or instead of the greeting.

3. The third option is an “Ornament Dangler” involves 3 ornaments glued together vertically, with a greeting centered on the back.

Grab that teachable moment for vocabulary building, as some children will not be familiar with the terms vertical & horizontal.

Completed projects look amazing swirling & twirling from the ceiling.

Plus the dangler, still neatly folds up for safe travels home in a back pack.

4.  My personal favorite option is the  three-part, 3D ornament.

Although a 3 dimensional ornament looks a bit tricky, I think you'll find that after you make a sample of your own, you'll see that they are really quite simple to put together.

I twirled the ornament around, so that you can see all 3 cat pictures, which make one-3D ornament.

Whenever I want to do something a bit more complicated with my Y5s, I enlist the help of our 3rd grade reading buddies.

My littles get the one-on-one help that they need, plus it's a great experience & self-esteem builder for the older students.

If you do this, make sure you have ornaments for the older kiddos to make one right along with their younger partner, for they will be just as excited to make a cool cat ornament of their own.  

5. Finally, a four-part 3D ornament, is assembled just like a three-part one, so it's pretty easy too. 

A 4-part ornament involves just one more step; gluing the 4th ball to the ornament. Here I added a "greeting" ball to 3 cat pictures. 

I had an absolute blast designing this craftivity & making my samples.  I hope you enjoy making some ornaments too.

Today's featured FREEBIE is a sweet "Rip & Tear" snowman craft.

Ripping and tearing strips of paper is not only fun for your kiddos, it's a terrific way to help strengthen their finger muscles. 

Completed projects turn or amazing and make a "snow" special bulletin board or hallway display.

Well that's it for today. Thanks for popping in.

Gotta run and get ready to watch this evening's Christmas parade. Several of our grandchildren will be in it!

Wishing you and yours a “purr-fect” holiday season, brimming with a ton of fun. 

"Try to learn something about everything and everything about something." -Thomas H. Huxley

1-2-3 Come Do Some Pete The Cat Thanksgiving Activities With Me  

Are your students a bit bananas over Pete the Cat?  Mine are; so I was excited to find the book "Pete the Cat and The First Thanksgiving", which allowed me to carry my students' "fur frenzy"- enthusiasm into November.

Because this story is a “lift the flap” book, I thought it would be fun to make a “Flip the Flap Thankful Craft” for an interesting transition activity after reading the tale.

On the last few pages, Pete’s family goes around their Thanksgiving table and tells what they are thankful for.

His mom is thankful for family, his brother Bob is thankful for his skateboard, and Pete is thankful for the Pilgrims. The author then asks the reader what they are thankful for.

The craft features these characters as well. When you lift the flap you see a picture of what they said they were thankful for.

The last flap has a variety of options:
* There’s a blank section so that students can draw a self portrait, or for a sweet keepsake, children glue their school photograph on. (See sample pictures in the PREVIEW.)

* I’ve also included 4 boy graphics, as well as 4 girl clips for students to choose from.

Children pick an option then color, cut and glue their “thankful for” answers under the flaps; completing the project by writing what they are thankful for and then illustrating it.

During Pete’s “The First Thanksgiving” play, children learn a variety of fun facts; so I’ve included a “color me” writing prompt worksheet, where they can list some of these.

There’s also a fill-in-the-blank worksheet, where students complete the 3 sentences with what that character was thankful for, as well as an “I’m thankful for . . .” writing prompt page, where students can write a lot more, then color the picture.

Finally, I’ve included 2, “Roll and Color” game sheets. One is for numbers 1-6 for younger kiddos, the other for numbers 1-12, where students roll 2 dice, then add them together to get numbers 7-12. 

This activity is no longer available in my TpT shop, so if you'd like a copy, please e-mail me for details. (Simply click the blue LINK.

Today's FREEBIE is a Thanksgiving-themed Pete the Cat number puzzle, which comes in black and white so students can make their own, as well as one in color to use as an independent math center.  The FREEBIE is one of the four 6-piece puzzles included in my big packet.

Students can simply color, cut and put their puzzle together, or they can pick a partner and take turns rolling a dice.

Whatever number they roll, they place that numbered piece on the matching numbered square on their puzzle grid. The first one to complete their puzzle is the winner. 

Besides the black and white patterns for your students, I’ve also included colorful templates that you can use for an independent math center.

My students absolutely love the puzzle games, so if you're looking for a "sanity saver" before the holiday break, these provide a quick, easy, and educationally fun activity, which can be used as a sweet Thanksgiving card for parents too.

To extend the activity, have students glue their pieces to the puzzle grid as they play the game, then when done, write about the things that they are thankful for, or a note to parents of why they are thankful for them on the back of their completed puzzle.

Well that's it for today. My feet have hit the floor running, as 2 of my grandchildren are coming over for the day. 

Wishing you a day filled with giggles galore and lots of snuggly hugs.

"Even when my grandchildren are not in my arms, on my lap, or in my home,they are in my heart and there they will stay forever." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Play Some Color Games With Pete and Me

To get my students excited about learning, I try to design things that feature a “hot button”.

Since they absolutely love Pete the Cat, I made these color games and activities with a shoe theme, inspired by 2 of their favorite stories: Pete’s “I Love My White Shoes” and Pete’s “Rockin’ In My School Shoes”.  

I'm featuring my 5 newest creations on the blog today, along with today's fun FREEBIE. 

First up, is the packet "We're Rockin' In These Color Shoes!"  which is a whole group game and assessment, as well as an independent center activity.

Use the 12, colorful posters featuring a wonderful variety of ethnicities, as a super-fun, non threatening way to individually assess colors and color words. 

My students can’t wait for their turn to show me what they know, as they get to play a game with their teacher.

The packet also includes black and white worksheets featuring 12 different children, so that students can color, cut and make their own game, which can now be used as a whole group assessment tool.

When everyone is done, simply call out a color. Children find those matching colored shoes, as well as the color word and place them on their worksheet. You can see at a glance who is having difficulty. 

Next up is the "Cool Cat Rockin' In My School Shoes!" color game, which includes spinners in color as well as black and white, with a "color me" bookmark.

You can also skip making the spinners (I use them for a center), and run off the black and white game sheet, which have the spinner already on the worksheet; simply "Print & Go!"  

I also made the "We're Rocking In Our School Shoes" color-me booklet, to not only reinforce colors and color words, but as a fun way for students to learn how to read and write their fellow classmates’ names.

To complete the first sentence on each page, Students fill in the name of one of their new friends.

There are 2 pages on a template to create a “just the right size” booklet.  Children color, trace and write the color words then color the graphics accordingly.

Besides the booklet, I’ve also included a colorful set of pocket chart cards featuring color words with matching colored shoes.

Another emergent reader "Cool Cat Shoe Colors" is a bit more advanced as it includes 20+ Dolch sight words; however, I keep it simple by setting this up like a worksheet, with just 3 pages.

Children read the simple sentences, fix letters that should be capitalized, and add end punctuation, then trace, write and color the color words and shoes.

For the cover, children color the cat their favorite color, color his shoes to match the color shoes they are wearing, then name their cat.

The story ends with children drawing a picture of the shoes that they are wearing. 

Finally, my largest Pete Color Packet ("I Love My Shoe Colors!") can be used for centers, games, and assessments.  

The main focus of the packet is having fun playing games using 20+ sets of colorful cards.

Besides depicting a huge variety of shoes, the cards include colorful cats, paw prints, and guitars. 

There are also word cards in matching colored ink, as well as sets in black ink so you can test comprehension.

Children enjoy using the cards for . . .

Sorting: Simply print and laminate the color-word sorting "mats" on a matching color of construction paper; have children pick X number of cards, then sort them by color.

Patterning: Children choose 2 to 3 colors or kinds of cards, then create a row of patterns. (ABAB, ABC etc.)

Math: Children can make groups/sets with the cards, and use them as manipulatives to count, add, subtract, and show greater & less than. I’ve included those math symbol cards as well as a “recording equations” worksheet.

Games: Most of the templates have 11 color cards on a full page pattern, so they are perfect for Memory Match and “I Have; Who Has?” games, or card games like “Go Fish”.  

Besides the individual card games, I’ve also included several whole group games like...

“Pete! Pete! Where are you? We think you’re hiding under a shoe!”;  "What's Missing?";  "Oh No! Pete's Lost A Shoe."; "1-2-3 Come Find Pete With Me" (a number recognition game) and "Cat-Cat Who Took Your Shoe", as well as a syllable, color-chant game.  

In addition to the games, I’ve also included 2 color-word worksheets, which can be used for an assessment.

There's also an Itty Bitty “My Colors” booklet, plus 2 mini-certificates of praise.

Use the activities for centers, as a whole group, partner fun, in small groups, or as an assessment tool.

Today's FREEBIE also features Pete's shoes, and is called Alpha-Cats.  I hope you find it useful. 

Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. I usually don't post on Saturdays, but it pouring rain and my husband's taking a nap. 

Perfect time to dash off a blog article. Wishing you a relaxing and fun-filled week. 

"Anyone who thinks sunshine is pure happiness, has not danced in a gentle summer rain." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do Some More Pete The Cat Activities With Me

Since Pete the Cat stories are so popular with students, I decided to design a “getting to know you” cat-themed writing prompt.

I think building a community in your classroom is one of the most important things teachers can do to ensure appropriate behavior, kindness, camaraderie and a team spirit.

One of the easiest ways to do this, is for your students to get to know their classmates. Thus the reason for “Check Meowt!”

Although this is a super-fun icebreaker for the first week of school, I continue to do “getting to know you” activities throughout the year.

No matter what grade I taught, whenever I tossed in a bit of craftiness to the lesson, my students were excited to get down to the business of writing.

They particularly enjoyed sharing things about themselves, interests, opinions, likes and dislikes.

In this packet there are several options.
Children can make the cat head, then complete that worksheet and attach it under the “Check Meowt!” header, or they can simply fill in and color the worksheet.

If your kiddos are crazy over Pete the Cat, then run the pattern off on blue paper, if not, a variety of crazy colored cats makes for a vibrant display.

There’s an easier version for younger students, as well as one with more questions for older children.

PK kiddos can dictate their answers to a reading buddy, classroom aide or the worksheet can be completed at home with the help of a parent.

The inspiration for this craftivity came from the song “I’m a Cat”, which is on YouTube. The link’s in the packet.

If you like it, why not play it while children work on their “Check Meowt!” writing prompt, or use it to introduce the lesson.

Completed projects make a cute bulletin board.

I’ve included several posters to use for the center of your display, as well as a color copy of the worksheet so you can easily make a sample to share.

While I was in the "creating cats" mood, I thought it would be fun to learn about, and practice the 5 senses with a cat theme as well.

This packet includes an Itty Bitty “My Cat” booklet, as a fun way to reinforce the 5 senses as this cool cat sees, hears, smells, & tastes things as he moseys along. When you pet him, how does he feel?

Children color their cover, complete the prompt by writing one or two words of what their cat saw, heard, tasted etc. then draw a picture.

Encourage older students to write short, but descriptive sentences and turn this activity into an emergent reader.

When students have completed their worksheet, they cut out the pages, put them in any order they want, then staple them to the “purr-fect” section on the cover of their booklet.

There are pages with word prompts for K-1, as well as ones with picture prompts for PK kiddos.

I’ve also included pages that go along with the story “Pete The Cat’s New White Shoes”.

Besides the booklet, the packet also includes:

* A colorful cool cat 5 senses poster.

* 2 “Label the cat’s senses” worksheets, with write-in, or cut & glue options. There are 2 size choices as well.

* For more practice, students can also think of one more thing their cat could see, hear, smell etc. and write those answers on the bookmark-size worksheet.

* There’s also an “I listen with my whole body” classroom management poster, as well as one for students to color. 

Today's FREEBIE also features Pete the Cat. 

Even before Pete the Cat made the saying "It's All Good!" popular, others felt the same way, like Glennon Melton, so I used her quote to make a cat-themed poster.

There's one in black and white for kiddos to color, as well as a colorful one for you to introduce the writing prompt with, then hang in the center of your display of students' work.

Using the worksheet, children write whether they agree or disagree with the quote and why. 

Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.

Praise the Lord that the 90 degree temps have flown the coop to be replaced with a wonderfully sunny, 70 degree day. 

Time to clear my brain and walk Chloe (my poodle pup).  Wishing you a fun-tastic day filled with everyone and everything you enjoy the most. 

"There is no elevator to success.  You have to take the stairs." -Unknown

Since my kiddos absolutely love Pete the Cat, I designed this Pete's "It's all good" poster to help motivate them to want to write.

1-2-3 Come Do Some More Pete The Cat Activities With Me

Are your kiddos crazy over Pete the Cat? If you’re a fan, then these packets are for you! Today I'm featuring 2 of my newest creations featuring a cool blue cat.

Since my other name activities have been such a hit, I decided to make some with a cat-theme. These keepsake, name writing booklets enable me to assess my students’ abilities from that first day on to the last.

They are not only a quick, easy and super-fun assessment tool, but a great way to keep interest high as children continue to practice.

The booklets also provide me with something easy that I can share during conferences to show progress, and at the end of the year, with no added work on my part, children will have an awesome keepsake to take home.

They’ve also worked as a wonderful “stress buster” when I’m ill, or if an emergency arrises, as I’ve easily plugged them into my sub plans with no extra work or running things off.

My kiddos are also familiar with doing them, and where they are located, so it’s a real win-win.

The packet includes:

* 3 different keepsake writing booklets to choose from.
However, I specifically designed them all differently, so that you can make all of them for your students if you want.

All of the templates have 2 pages on one, so that the booklets are half size, which is less overwhelming, expedites coloring and ensures good effort, as well as saves on paper.

The first one is short. “My seasonal name writing booklet”, which features a page for fall, winter, spring and summer.
It’s perfect for when you need a “fill in” or have a sub.

The second booklet “I Can Write My Name With Different Stuff!” gives children an opportunity to write with different things: pencils, crayons, markers, pens and chalk.
They also have a picture to color.

Finally, the “My Monthly Writing Booklet” is a real keepsake, as it shows how children wrote their name on the first and last days of school, as well as each month.

The cat-themed graphic depicts something appropriate for that month, with several options for some of them. Mix and match to make a booklet just right for you.

Next up are my ever-popular "sliders".  I gave them that name because children “slide” a strip of paper through a “window” in a crafty little graphic, that displays numbers, letters, or 2D shapes.

The cutting & sliding are great for strengthening finger muscles too.

There are 5 cat graphics in this packet, (full-page & 2-on-a-page) as well as 3 different sizes for the sliders, so you can make more than one.

If you’re a big “Pete the Cat” fan, have children color their cats various shades of blue, or if you want your students to get in some cutting practice, run off the patterns on blue construction paper.

I’ve included shoe patterns as well. All of the cat patterns come with and without shoes.

There are “sliders” (number strips) for sequencing numbers from 0-10 as well as 1-30; plus a strip for counting backwards from 10-0 or 20-0, as well as strips for skip counting by 2s, 3s, 5s, & 10s.

There’s also a slider for uppercase letters, as well as lowercase letter strips, plus a strip of 2D shapes as well as a “shoe slider” that reviews colors/coloUrs.

Students trace the numbers/letters and color the 2D shapes/shoes on their slider strips. 
If you’re working on patterning, have children choose 2-3 colors to show an AB-AB, ABC-ABC color pattern.

My favorite thing about sliders is that they are a quick, easy and interesting way for me to review, as well as whole-group assess a variety of standards, by playing a “Show me the number, letter, color or shape” game.

Today's featured FREEBIE is a sweet treat idea. It's perfect for your students' first day/week of school, or something you can give them during those grueling tests, or whenever you need a little surprise treat.

Print off the star template (2 to choose from) and attach Starburst candy with glue dots.

While they're chomping away, have them write "I AM a star!" on the back and sign their name, then hang up as a positive "you got this" happy space.

Well that's it for today. My grandchildren are coming over, so it's time to change hats.

We'll for sure be coloring some Pete pictures!  Wishing you a super-groovy kind of day.

"A good day is a good day.  A bad day is a good story.  At the end of the day it's all good." - Glennon Melton

  1-2-3 Come Do Some Pete The Cat Activities With Me

Are your kiddos crazy over a blue cat named Pete? Mine are; and one of their favorite stories is “I Love My White Shoes”.

With that in mind, I designed a variety of Pete-themed activities to practice an assortment of standards.  I'm featuring 2 of them on the blog today.

First up is a whopping 125-page jumbo literacy packet which I just finished this morning! Woo hoo. Thrilled to be done is an understatement!

It's chock full of a huge assortment of activities for you to choose from.

The packet includes:
* A variety of Worksheets
* Writing prompts plus a class-made booklet

* “Sentence writing” activities, which practice beginning capitalization and end punctuation, along with . . .
* Graphic organizers, plus 2 graphing activities, as well as . . .
* Helpful Literacy Posters to introduce and explain things. 

All of my literacy packets include at least one, quick, easy and fun craftivity.

* The “My Shoes Are . . .”  kitty craft is a personal favorite.

Completed projects make a really cute bulletin board or hallway display.

* The “Let’s Text!” activities are for “Making Connections“: (text to self, text to text, text to world).

I've included BW patterns for your students to fill in, as well as matching colorful posters to use to help explain things. There are also . . .

* “Cat Comprehension” activities that include a cute "Popsicle Stick Pete Puppet", which children make & manipulate to answer "Yes!" and "No!" questions about the story (28-question sheet included).

* Lots of super-fun “Word Work” and vocabulary-building activities, games, worksheets, and a word booklet, as well as 50+ word cards for all of the words in the story, most of them are Dolch sight words! 

For more word practice there's the...
“Feed The Face” Cat Craft as well as a
* “Syllable Sorting” word mat. 

"I Love My White Shoes" is perfect for teaching "Cause & Effect" so I've included...
Cause & Effect activities with black and white worksheets for students, a full color version to use as a whole group, plus an answer key. 

* There are Activities comparing “I Love My White Shoes” with “Rockin’ In My School Shoes” plus more

* Comparison-Contrast activities with Venn diagrams.

* Another literacy standard is . . .”Sequencing the events of the story”, so I designed a variety of worksheets, including an ordinal number booklet along with a set of colorful pocket chart cards.

I’ve tried very hard to include a variety of materials suitable for PK-2nd, so you can diversify for the various skill levels of your students; helping the strugglers, while challenging others.

Simply choose which activities are appropriate for your students, then “print & go!”  For PK kiddos do the activities as a whole group.

Use the packet for morning work, table top lessons, centers, early finishers, homework or a sub tub. 

As a back to school special, this packet is on sale for just $8. That's $3 off.  If you'd like to purchase it, please send me an e-mail at dianehen@teachwithme.com as the packet is not available in my TpT shop. (Just click this LINK and my e-mail request will pop up.)

Finally, Pete's "I Love My White Shoes" is also great for teaching and practicing "how to sequence and retell a story", since this packet was already huge, I decided to make the Pete's Story Telling Slider a separate item.  This too, is not available in my TpT shop. If you'd like to purchase it for $2.50 click the LINK to let me know.

There are several slider options:
* Check comprehension by having older students color, cut and glue the pictures in the correct sequential order on their slider.

* For PK kiddos the picture "cards" are in the correct order, or skip the cutting and gluing steps and have little ones simply color the slider with the pictures already on the strip. 

Besides the water graphic option, there's also a slider with a picture of bucket.

I’ve also included a full-color copy so that you can quickly and easily make a teacher’s sample to share with your students, helping to explain what you want them to do.

As children pull on the end of the “slider” the various pictures go through Pete’s “neck window”, so that students can take turns retelling the story to a partner or reading buddy, then take Pete home to share with their family, once again practicing these standards.

I’ve also included a color as well as BW “Here’s What Happened…” writing prompt worksheet, as another way to check comprehension, plus practice sequential writing.  

Today's featured FREEBIE is also a Pete the Cat craftivity.

This one's sure to become a keepsake as I’ve included a heart pattern that says: “This is the hand you used to hold when I was only _______ years old.”

Children write in their age, trim and glue it to their hand print paper, which says: “We read ‘I Love My White Shoes.’ Please ask me to tell you the story.” 

The head is glued to the top of their (traced then cut out) blue hand, with their thumb being the "tail".

The colorful shoes glued to the cat's "legs" (their fingers), will help them sequence the story in the correct order.  

Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.

It's another rainy morning, but I'm glad for the respite from the super-hot and humid days all week long.  Wishing you a refreshing day.  

"When life throws you a rainy day, play in the puddles."

1-2-3 Come Do Some Alphabet Activities With Me

Lorraine, over in Texas, has 3 cats.  Her love for them spills over into her preschool classroom, as she has a cat theme going on.  Pete the Cat stories are some of her favorites.  She also collects the seasonal alphabet cards I design, using them in her ABC center. Mrs. K wondered if I had time to make some alphabet cards with cats. 

Since I was already putzing with the "Cool Cat"  packets, it was perfect timing! Do you decorate your room with a cat-theme?  Do your kiddos enjoy Pete the Cat stories?  If so, I think you'll like this alpha cat packet.

The packet includes separate upper and lowercase letters that are purr-fect for Memory Match and "I Have; Who Has?" games. 

There's also a set of cards with both the upper and lowercase letter on them.  Cut them up to make puzzles, or run off a set for each student.  They color, trim, collate and add a cover to make an Itty Bitty ABC booklet.

The packet also includes an upper and lowercase letter assessment mat, recording sheets, plus matching upper to lowercase letter worksheets. 

For easy printing, there are 2 different worksheets on a page.  Simply cut them in half to use for table top lessons, morning work, something for your sub folder, or for "early finishers" to work on.  Send them home with struggling students for extra practice, or as homework if your district requires that.

I've also included 2 trace and write the letter worksheets. (One for uppercase letters, the other for lowercase.)  There's a 3-page tip list of ideas for using the cards, plus a Kaboom game as well.

Click on the link to view/download the Alpha Cat packet.  Thanks for visiting today. 

I'm off to a huge "It's all about kids" consignment sale.  With 4 wonderful grandsons and a baby girl on the way, I'll be in search of "pinkalicious" stuff, toys, books and whatever else I just have to have...  Hope your day is as exciting. 

"Think less. Do more." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do Some More Pete The Cat Activities With Me

I'm back, with some more "Cool Cat" activities that will go nicely with any cat-theme you may have going on.  The story element packet is also perfect for Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, or Pete the Cat's Rockin' School Shoes. 

The packet includes a variety of activities to help review and practice story elements, and includes pocket cards for character, setting, and event.

Two graphic organizer options, help students write about the beginning, middle and end of the story. 

There are 6 Venn diagrams as well, that will help introduce comparison and constrast to your students. 

Venn diagrams are a quick, easy and fun way to visually show students similarities and differences. 

Children can practice this form of writing, by comparing two different cat characters, 2 different cat stories, and/or compare their shoes with a friend, or even the cat's. 

Practice graphing, by having children fill in the color shoe that they are wearing.  

For more color practice, I've included a trace and color word worksheet too.

There are also four, "I Spy a Word" games, featuring 56 words. ( Most of them from the Dolch word list.) 

All of these words appear in Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes story.  The "I Spy a Word" worksheets, are a simple and quick way to whole group assess word recognition. 

Choose students to call out a word.  Children find that word and then cover it with the little tennis shoe card. 

If you don't want to use the game each year, simply have students circle the word when they find it. 

For more practice, have them write the words in alphabetical order on the back of their paper.  You could also have students use the word in a sentence. 

Finally, in keeping with the Pete the Cat stories, there are 3 posters (including a poster-definition of what "the moral of the story" means). So that students can practice reading the repetitive lines, hold a poster up when you come to that part of the story.  

Click on the link to view/download the Cool Cat Story Elements and More packet. 

Since all of the other "story sliders" that I've designed, have been such popular downloads, I couldn't resist making one for Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes.

To make one, simply run my cat pattern off on blue construction paper.

Students trim and add a bit of color for some pizzazz.

Run off the slider strips and sequencing pictures on white paper.  Pre-cut slits on the cat. (I used an Exacto knife.) 

Children color the pictures, cut them out and then glue them to their "slider" in the correct sequential order of the story. 

When everyone has completed their cat creation, review the story, by retelling it, via the pictures on the slider, adding details when appropriate.  Encourage students to share their cat slider with their families, so they can once again retell the story. 

Click on the link to view/download the Pete the Cat Story Slider. 

Thanks for visiting today.   It's one of those perfect-weather days.  My grandson is up from his nap, so it's time for a stroller ride.  Wishing you a love-filled day.

"Believe you can, and you're half way there." -Theodore Roosevelt

1-2-3 Come Do Some Pete the Cat Activities With Me

The Pete the Cat series of children's books, is a new favorite of mine.  Pete is a cool cat, and his positive up-beat attitude is refreshing.  "Does he cry when things don't go his way?"  "Goodness no!" 

Pete is the brain child of James Dean, an illustrator, who in real life loves cats.  Eric Litwin, is a "folksy songwriter" who helps create the stories and writes catchy little tunes to go with the books.  Kids quickly catch on to the funky-repetitive lyrics.  They stick in your mind like "It's a Small World" and if your kiddos are like mine, they'll be singing the little tunes through out the day. 

Harper Collins is the publisher of the Pete the Cat stories.  Click on the link to check out the entire collection.  You can download a variety of FREEBIES there as well.

One of my personal favorites is Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes.  You can hear it on YouTube by clicking on the link. 

In this story, Pete has a brand new pair of white shoes.  However, they change to the color red, as he steps into a pile of strawberries, and so the story goes, for Pete's shoes continue to change color, as he steps into blueberries and mud. Finally, all of the colors are washed away, because he steps into a bucket of water. 

Oh no!  His shoes are now wet! Does Pete cry? Goodness no!  He just walks along singing his song, because it's all good.

Even though the story only involves four colors, I thought it would be fun to design some quick and easy activities to help reinforce 10 colors and their color words.

In the Cool Cat Colors: An Easy Reader packet, students read the sentence; correct the letters that should be capitalized and add end punctuation.  They trace and write the color words, and then color the shoe(s). 

For more teachable moments, be sure to reinforce the use of a variety of pronouns, as well as plurals in the sentences.  The last page of the story, asks students what color shoes they are wearing.

Children color a picture of their own shoes to complete the story.   Click on the link to view/download the easy reader: Cool Cat Colors.

Another fun way to reinforce colors and color words is by playing Memory Match and "I Have; Who Has?"  games. 

In the Cool Cat Shoe Color packet, I've included shoe cards that students match up with color words. 

For students just learning colors and color words, use the full-color word cards for the game. 

If you want to assess to see if your students can read and match the color words to their appropriate colors, use the set printed in black. 

I've also included a mini-color booklet for them to make.  They color the sneaker cards, then write the color word underneath in the matching color.  There's a cover for them to add.

For even more practice, have students complete the color word matching worksheet.  

Click on the link to view/download the Cool Cat Shoe Color packet.

Finally, for the Cool Cat Spinner Game, have students pick a partner and take turns spinning the color wheel. 

Whatever color they land on, they color that sneaker on their recording sheet, and then trace and write the word in the matching color. 

The first child to complete their bookmark with all of the colors, is the winner. I've included a certificate of praise for them.  Click on the link to view/download the Cool Cat Colors Spinner Game. 

Thanks for visiting today.  Be sure and stay tuned, as I'll be busy designing more Pete the Cat activities for these sweet stories.  Remember, according to Pete, "it's all good"... especially when it comes to FREEBIES!

"Elegance is not about being noticed; it's about being remembered." -Giorgio Armani