The Cat In The Hat: Stem Activities For Creative Learning

Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat is a great source of inspiration for STEM activities. The story's whimsical nature and themes of balance lend themselves well to hands-on challenges that encourage children to think like scientists and engineers. These activities are designed to be easy to set up, quick to complete, and engaging for kids of all ages. From cup stacking challenges to engineering projects, these activities bring the beloved story to life while fostering creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.

Cup stacking challenge

Inspired by the Cat in the Hat's iconic red-and-white hat, this cup stacking challenge is a fun and easy STEM activity for kids. The objective is simple: stack the cups to create the tallest hat possible! This activity encourages creativity, problem-solving, and fine motor skills.

What You'll Need:

• Red and white large cups and small cups (plastic or paper)
• Construction paper, computer paper, or index cards in red and white
• The Cat in the Hat book (optional)
• Printable project sheet and challenge cards (optional)

Setting Up the Activity:

• Cut squares of paper to match the size of the cups. You can use two different cup sizes, as shown in the example, or stick to one size.
• Set out the cups and paper squares. If you have the book, you can read it together before starting the activity!

Stacking the Cups:

• Invite the children to start stacking the cups to create the cat's hat. They can experiment with different techniques and use the paper squares to create a stable base.
• Encourage them to discuss their designs and identify which structures are the most stable.
• Measure the height of each "hat" and compare the results.

Learning Opportunities:

• Gravity and Center of Gravity: Discuss why objects topple over and introduce the concept of the center of gravity. You can use examples like a child leaning to the side or the Leaning Tower of Pisa to illustrate this point.
• Engineering and Design: Talk about the different design choices and how they affect the stability of the cup tower. For example, why do larger cups or a wider base make the structure stronger?
• Trial and Error: Let the children experiment and make mistakes. This is an important part of the learning process, and it encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

This cup stacking challenge is a fun and engaging way to bring Dr. Seuss' beloved character to life while introducing children to fundamental STEM concepts.

Balancing everyday objects

To begin, invite your child to build a structure by balancing the objects they choose. You can extend this activity by providing craft sticks and sticky tape to make building easier or more challenging, depending on their skill level. Encourage them to experiment with different arrangements and stacking techniques to find the most stable design.

For younger children, you can modify the activity by having them balance objects on their finger, nose, or head. Start with one object, such as a book, balanced on their head. Then, add another object, like a spoon balanced on their nose, while still keeping the book balanced. Continue adding objects to increase the difficulty and see how many they can balance at once!

Another variation of this activity is to focus specifically on stacking cups, as inspired by the cat's hat. Provide red and white cups of different sizes, along with squares of red and white paper. The paper squares create a stable base and help disperse the weight of the cups. Encourage your child to experiment with different stacking techniques and observe how gravity affects the stability of their structure.

Through these activities, children can develop their problem-solving skills and gain a basic understanding of concepts like center of gravity and stability. So, grab some everyday objects, and let the balancing act begin!

Apple stacking

Apple Stack Engineering is a fun Cat in the Hat-themed STEM activity that pairs well with the Dr. Seuss book, *10 Apples Up on Top*. The challenge is simple: how many apples can you stack on top of each other?

This activity is a great way to get kids thinking about engineering and problem-solving. It also helps them develop fine motor skills and learn about balance and gravity.

To set up the activity, you will need a few apples. You can use any variety of apple, but try to choose apples that are similar in size and shape for the best results. You will also need a flat surface on which to stack the apples. A table or countertop works well.

Before beginning the activity, you may want to discuss with the children some strategies for stacking the apples. For example, they might consider starting with the largest apples at the bottom to create a sturdy base. They could also try to identify the apples with the most uneven surfaces, as these might be more challenging to stack.

As the children stack the apples, encourage them to observe which stacking techniques seem to work best. How many apples are they able to stack before the tower topples over? Can they beat their record by trying a different strategy?

For an added challenge, you can introduce other materials to the activity, such as craft sticks or paper squares, and ask the children to try stacking the apples on top of these surfaces.

Paper cup phone

Inspired by the Whisper-Ma-Phone in The Lorax, this activity will teach children about how sound travels while they engineer their own phone.

Materials

• 20 feet of string (yarn can be used)
• 2 paper clips (optional)
• 2 paper cups
• A pencil

Instructions

• Use the tip of the pencil to poke a small hole at the bottom of each of the two cups.
• Thread the string through the hole of one cup. Tie a knot in the string on the inside of the cup to keep it in place. If the string keeps slipping through the hole, you can tie it to a paper clip to help keep it in place.
• Pull the string through the bottom of the second cup, securing it with a knot on the inside, too.
• To use the cup phones, the string must be kept taut. When one person whispers into their cup, the other person should be able to hear their voice through their own cup.
• You can even try whisper-singing into the cup, turning it into a musical STEM activity.

Sound waves can travel through air, solids, and liquids. When you speak into the cup, the vibrations are transmitted into the string. They continue to travel through the string, as long as it is held taut, to the receiving cup. The vibrations are then transmitted to the air in the cup, around the listener’s ear, allowing the whisper to be heard.

Extension Activities

• Use a longer piece of string (40 or 60 feet). Does the homemade phone still work?
• Try making the phone with plastic cups or tin cans. Which works best?
• Replace the string with wire. How does this affect the phone?

Food colouring and flower experiment

Materials:

• White flowers (carnations work well)
• Food colouring (red, blue, green, yellow, pink, and purple)
• Cups or vases
• Scissors

Method:

• Trim the stems of the white flowers at an angle under water.
• Fill the cups or vases a quarter of the way with water.
• Add 10-20 drops of food colouring to the water and stir. You can also adjust the amount of food colouring based on the size of your vase.
• Place one flower into each cup or vase of coloured water.
• Check on the flowers every few hours to observe any changes.
• By the end of the day, you should see the flowers starting to change colour.
• Continue observing the flowers over the next few days to see the colours get brighter.

The Science Behind It:

Plants usually drink water from the ground through their roots. The water then travels up the stem and into the petals of the flower. Even without roots, cut flowers can still absorb water through their stems. This process is called capillary action, which allows plants to move water against gravity from their roots up into their leaves and flowers.

Frequently asked questions