A Funny Book (Series) & Cat Toy Painting
After reading Deborah Underwood’s “Here Comes Teacher Cat” we used cat toy balls and paint to create a marbled painting! If you’re looking for a quick & easy art project that’s tons of fun, this one’s for you. So, let’s get started…
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Summary of “Here Comes Teacher Cat”
“Here Comes Teacher Cat” by Deborah Underwood and illustrated by Claudia Rueda is a funny book that is one of many in a fantastic series. Each Cat book features an expressive cat who communicates with the narrator of the story via hilarious facial expressions, gestures and poster signs he holds up.
In this particular book, Cat is asked to be a substitute Kitty School teacher for the day. Although initially quite reluctant, he gets on board and makes the most of it. Reminiscent of Amelia Bedelia, Cat puts a unique spin on teaching the kitties music, building and art. The illustrations are awesome and deliver so much communication without words. The back and forth text between Cat and the narrator are hysterical.
I Definitely recommend this book & series to everyone regardless of age. It would make a great Teacher gift too! 😉
How We Made a Cat Toy Painting…
We tend to keep the activities as simple as possible around here. We’re not interested in complicated or costly. We are also all about fostering independence. This activity was quick and easy. Set up was my daughter opening the package of cat toy balls, grabbing the red, yellow & blue paints & a piece of white cardstock paper. I got the scotch tape and tray. We placed some rolled up scotch tape on each corner of the paper and stuck in on the center of the plastic tray.
Next my daughter squirted a drop of each color, here and there on the white paper on the tray. Then we headed outside and placed all six cat toy balls on the tray. Lastly, she began rolling the cat toy balls all around the tray, actively making them roll in the direction she wanted; and targeting each squirt of paint, until she was satisfied with the results. That was it!
Clean up consisted of washing the balls with soap and water. We waited until the paint dried before peeling the painting off the tray. You could easily make more than one painting by taking turns (carefully peeling the wet painting and having it dry someplace else), or using another tray (if your working with multiple kids).
A box would work just fine too. In the classroom we used to use a box with a lid on it and let the kids go wild in their shaking it all around. What it looked like would be a surprise until we lifted the flaps and saw how it turned out. This is a great option for young children also, as there is less opportunity for a cat toy with paint on it to come flying at you. 😮
The great thing about this art is there is no “wrong” way to do it. The most important thing is to have fun. It was fun listening to the bells jingle around (I’m thinking there will be a repeat of this activity when our “Here Comes Santa Cat” book comes out with our Christmas stuff! 😉 ).
Wait?!? Am I Supposed To Be Making One Too?
I highly recommend getting hands on and doing art projects with your child. If you’d rather not, thats okay too, but please do not correct anything they do. If you want the art to look a certain way – make your own.
Especially if your child is little, its okay if it doesn’t turn out the way you imagined. Maybe its what they imagined. Also, its a process. They are learning. They will learn more through trial and error than if you correct them or do it for them. All they will learn if you “help” is that they didn’t do a good enough job on their own or they can’t do it; not exactly the message you want to give your kid. Am I right?!?
Believe me, I know it can be really challenging to let them make “mistakes”. Try doing the project along side them. It will allow you to focus on your own work, give them appropriate modeling of how to use the materials, and show them that you like art too! A lot of what I talk about in “What about the Sensory Mess?” applies to Art projects as well, you might wanna check it out! I love how each artwork has its own identity. I would suggest Cat Toy Painting if you’re looking for a very quick and easy art activity to connect with your child.
Materials We Used
- “Here Comes Teacher Cat” by Deborah Underwood (from the library or buy it here)
- White cardstock (thick) paper
- Tray
- Scotch tape
- Red, yellow & blue paint
- Cat toy balls (we found ours 6 for $1 in the dollar store)
Click HERE for Free Printable copy (Email Subscribers Only)
How to Make a Cat Toy Painting?
- Place scotch tape on all four corners of the white cardstock paper.
- Stick the white cardstock paper to the tray.
- Squirt a drop of each color paint onto the white paper cardstock paper.
- Place the cat toy balls onto the tray.
- Shake and tilt the tray from side to side to roll the cat toy balls through the paint and make designs.
- Stop when you are satisfied with the painting.
Click HERE for Free Printable copy (Email Subscribers Only)
Wait, There’s More…
I believe you can easily strengthen communication skills and foster independence all while playing and connecting with your child. To help you do this; I’ve created a FREE printable for each activity called, “Communicating & Connecting”.
It will give you a list of suggestions I’ve found very helpful as a Mom & as a special education teacher; to help you build lifelong skills. Please don’t feel obligated to do everything on the list (but if you do, you’re a rockstar 😉 ).
As a Thank You for subscribing; this is a special FREEBIE for our Email Subscribers Only. 🙂 Click here if you’ve already subscribed. Otherwise, Sign Up below to get the password & access to our entire FREE Printables Library today! 😉
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