About the Program

A Community of Science Explorers

Learning with The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!™

Resources for Teachers

 

 

A Community of Science Explorers

The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!™ is designed to spark a love of learning and an interest in science in preschool-aged children. Based on Random House's best-selling Beginner Book collection "The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library™," the TV series and online resources are designed to cultivate positive views about science and scientists among the next generation - the children who will become tomorrow's citizens and innovators — and help teachers and families build communities of science explorers.

In each program, the Cat in the Hat and his friends Sally and Nick go on a science adventure such as shrinking to bee-size to explore a hive and discover how honey is made; flying with birds to discover how and why they migrate; diving inside flowers to find out more about the animals that depend on them to live; or taking a snowcat to the Arctic to explore freezing and melting. Guided by the Cat, the children figure things out by engaging in science inquiry. They ask questions, make observations, make predictions, plan investigations, collect data, make discoveries, and generate and discuss ideas about how the world works.

Each half-hour television episode consists of two 11-minute animated adventures, along with corresponding short animated clips. Each adventure revolves around a specific science concept such as bird migration or animal camouflage. The animated clips feature songs and rhymes, interesting science facts, humorous science explorations by Thing One and Thing Two, and interviews of animals by Sally and Nick.

The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!™ is voiced by award-winning actor Martin Short and produced by Portfolio Entertainment Inc. and Collingwood O’Hare Productions, in association with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Random House Children's Entertainment, Treehouse, and PBS KIDS.

 

Learning with The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!™

Children are naturally curious about the world and how it works, and science learning for young children begins with wondering and asking questions. At the beginning of each The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!™ adventure, Sally or Nick poses a question about the natural world. Although the Cat knows a lot of things, he doesn't know everything and he's also curious to learn more. It's this insatiable curiosity that sparks the friends' adventures in the Cat's one-of-a-kind contraption, the Thinga-ma-jigger.

Learning Goals

The learning goals of The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!™ programs and resources are designed to support young children's science learning by...

• Building on and supporting children's curiosity about the natural world
• Introducing children to core science concepts
• Engaging children in the process of science inquiry
• Providing opportunities for children to learn, use, and practice inquiry skills
• Modeling what it means to think and act like a scientist
• Inviting children to engage in science practices including discourse and collaboration
• Providing a foundation on which later science learning will build

The PBS Parents, PBS Teachers, and PBS KIDS websites provide young children with opportunities to explore the science ideas introduced in The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!™ in the contexts of their own homes, neighborhoods, and schools. Children are also encouraged to visit their local libraries, science museums, aquariums, parks, and zoos to continue their science explorations. Direct exploration and observation, supported by knowledgeable and interested adults, are central components of children's science inquiry.

 

Resources for Teachers

Teacher resources for the series promote young children's science inquiry and learning by building on the series and its learning goals. The resources help teachers engage children in science explorations and investigations in the context of their everyday classroom routines and activities.

• ACTIVITIES offer teachers hands-on science explorations and investigations to extend their children’s learning from The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!™. Each activity includes video clips, recommended books, related games, and other tools to encourage children to explore science concepts inside and outside their classrooms.
• The EXPLORER'S GUIDE helps teachers understand what doing science means for young children and provides tips for using the programs and activities to facilitate children's science learning.
• VIEWING TIPS provide suggestions to teachers for using the programs to explore science ideas and enrich children's science experiences.

These resources support a new community of science explorers by helping teachers:

• Get excited about doing and learning science with their children.
• Connect the science concepts introduced by the Cat in the Hat and his friends to related explorations and activities in the indoor and outdoor world.
• Actively engage children in science inquiry and support their use of science inquiry skills.
• Encourage science learning experiences in everyday classroom routines and in school yards, playgrounds, parks, and other places children visit with their teachers.
• Utilize community resources such as science museums, libraries, aquariums, and zoos in ways that support children’s science learning and inquiry.
• Take advantage of nationwide events, such as Read Across America, that will involve children in learning about and doing science.

The Activities:

Each activity links to and extends the main concept introduced in one program. For example, the activity connected to "Migration Vacation" invites teachers and children to make bird feeders and observe birds as a way to learn more about bird migration. The activity includes a video clip about geese migrating, a definition of the word migration, book and website recommendations, and a game about bird migration that children can play on PBS KIDS. Children can also explore the concept at home with their families in an activity on PBS Parents.

The activities provide opportunities for children to learn, use, and practice the following skills that represent the spirit of scientific exploration and science inquiry:

• Asking questions
• Observing
• Collecting data
• Managing data (e.g., by recording, charting, listing, drawing, measuring)
• Making connections and seeing patterns
• Discussing observations and ideas
• Constructing and evaluating theories or explanations

Educational Standards

The content, skills, and strategies introduced in The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!™ reflect current approaches to preschool science education. The resources are designed to provide adults who work with young children the encouragement and support they need to engage children in the types of science experiences that form a foundation for future science learning. The activities are aligned with existing preschool standards and frameworks, such as the Head Start Outcomes Framework. They are also aligned with the National Science Education Standards. (You can find more information on the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework at http://www.hsnrc.org/CDI/pdfs/UGCOF.pdf.)

The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!™ programs and resources, including the activities and games, are designed to engage all preschool-aged children in science exploration, including girls and boys; children from different cultures and ethnic backgrounds; children with disabilities; and children with varying interests, abilities, and learning styles. Although the primary target audience is preschool-aged children, Kindergarten and first-grade children will also benefit from the series and its resources.

 

Copyright 1957, 1985 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! logo and word mark TM 2010 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P., Portfolio Entertainment Inc and Collingwood O’Hare Productions Ltd. The PBS KIDS logo is a registered trademark of PBS. Both are used with permission. All rights reserved.