Stack the Hat: STEAM Storytime for preschoolers

STEAM Challenge: How tall can you stack the cups to create a pattern inspired by the Cat’s hat?

Materials:

• Red Plastic Cups
• White Plastic Cups

Objective: Recreate the Cat in the Hat’s famous hat with red and white plastic cups.

Step 1: Allow time for open exploration and play with the cups. Then after your students have had time to explore then introduce the challenge of stacking the cups to create a pattern like Cat in the Hat.

Step 2: Count the cups or even measure how tall you can stack the red and white cups. Encourage your child to see how tall they can build other structures using the cups.

Modification for younger children: Arrange the cups horizontally on the table in a red and white pattern rather than stacking.

STEAM Integrations:

Science: Why do the cups fall over?

Technology: Use a timer to see how long your stack of cups will stay upright before falling over.

Engineering: What can you build with the cups?

Art: Create a three-dimensional sculpture using the cups.

Math: How tall can you stack the cups?