Dr. Seuss’ birthday is March 2, so it’s always fun to have a Dr. Seuss theme in preschool around that date. Lots of books to read, invented words to talk about, and of course a ton of rhyming. Here are some Dr. Seuss activities for preschool kids to get into at the beginning of March (or anytime really)!
Preschool Dr. Seuss Activities for the Cat in the Hat
These activities were all inspired by the classic The Cat in the Hat.
Cat in the Hat Play Dough Invitation
Everything’s better with play dough. At least, that’s what the kids seem to think. You can either make your own red and white play dough, or just grab some from the store.
Then set out the play dough with a variety of loose parts and observe what the kids make. Be sure to incorporate literacy with lots of rhyming.
DIY Dress Up
A few years ago, the preschool kiddos dressed up like Things 1 and 2 from The Cat in the Hat. It was a simple activity, but the kids (and teachers!) enjoyed it.
Make a Cat’s Hat
This simple activity is a hit every time. Simply cut out red strips of construction paper, along with a basic hat shape from white paper.
Let the children make patterns of red and white, or just let them design their own hat for the Cat!
To take this idea a step further, you need to check out Still Playing School’s Cat in the Hat name activity. I am so in love with it (but I have a thing about fun name activities for kids).
Matching the Hats
I’ve used Joyfully Weary’s hat matching activity for a few years now.
The preschool kids see it as a tricky puzzle to solve, and their observation skills get a nice workout.
Seuss-tastic Treat
For Fun Friday, one of our awesome parents made a yummy fish-in-a-bowl snack in honor of Seuss’ Cat in the Hat. This idea came from The Metzgars’ Dr. Seuss Party, which has even more Seuss-inspired fun.
In case you’re wondering, these treats were quite yummy!
Rhyming Words with Magnetic Letters
For the ABC center, we talked about changing words we know into new words. We started with ‘cat’, and the children just had to change the first letter to make new words.
We also talked about how the words rhymed because they sound the same at the end.
Dr. Seuss Activities for Preschool Kids Who Love The Lorax
If the kids are wild about The Lorax, these ideas will be great book extension activities.
Paint with Your Own Truffula Trees
Use a few pompoms and paper straws to make Truffula tree “paintbrushes”. Then pair them with paint for a Seuss-inspired art experience for the kids.
Lorax Masks
Mary Poppins (one of my awesome former co-teachers) had fun helping the kiddos make masks inspired by The Lorax.
I was most entertained listening to her instructions from across the room. “Paint your face orange. Now glue your eyebrows on. Oh, wait, your mustache just fell on the floor!” Yes, I am easily amused. This comes in handy when teaching preschool! 
Truffula Trees
These Lorax-inspired Truffula trees are one of my favorite activities! They were rather simple to make, and the kids had a great time making the colorful creations.
Use them as writing tools or part of an open-ended play dough invitation.
Ten Apples Up On Top Dr. Seuss Activities for Preschool
Ten Apples Up On Top is a wonderful addition to a preschool apple theme, and there are a ton of fun activities to go along with it.
Apples Up On Top Names
You can use printable apple letters, or make your own apple letters from prints made with real apples.
Ten Apples Play Dough Fun
Break out the play dough, and some decorative apples, for this book-inspired activity.
Lots of STEM exploration and hands-on fun.
Ten Apples Up On Top Counting Activity
Break out some favorite math manipulatives for this apple math idea.
Preschool Activities for Additional Dr. Seuss Books
Of course, Dr. Seuss wrote quite a few books for children. Here are a few others we’ve enjoyed over the years.
Make Colorful, Scented Oobleck
Inspired by Bartholomew and the Oobleck, this fun sensory material is sure to add fun to any Dr. Seuss theme!
We kept calling it scented slime, but slime is a whole other (also awesome!) creation.
Go Fishing!
In the discovery/sensory table, the children used homemade fishing poles to “catch” foam fish.
This activity related to One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.
Paint a Masterpiece
I’ve often let the children choose a favorite Seuss character to paint.
The usual winner is that mischievous Cat, and I love seeing how their character interpretations turn out!
Fishy Math
The kiddos used Oopsey Daisy’s graphing freebie to sort, graph, and count their Goldfish during snack time one day.
It seems to be consistent, year after year, that children love to incorporate math into their snack time.
Even More Dr. Seuss Activities for Preschool
- Mom to 2 Posh L’il Divas’ delicious Cat in the Hat fruit kabobs
- In Lieu of Preschool’s absolutely awesome Lorax sensory bin with DIY Truffula trees
- A Little Delightful’s cute hand print Lorax
- Toddler Approved’s darling Thing 1 and Thing 2 stick puppets
- Living Montessori Now’s fun fine motor hat play
- Sweet Rose Studio’s Seuss-inspired rhyming game
- Buggy and Buddy’s Ten Apples Up on Top math activity
My Book-Inspired Pinterest board has more ideas to check out!
What are some of YOUR favorite Dr. Seuss activities for the kiddos?
Ten Apples Preschool Lesson Plans
Save time and get right to the playful learning with our printable lesson plan sets. Each set includes over 30 playful learning activities related to the theme, from whole class activities to small group and center ideas. Our Ten Apples theme centers around a variety of favorite apple and counting books – perfect for the fall or as a book extension theme.
Get your 10 Apples Lesson Plans at Preschool Teacher 101
Also available on Teachers Pay Teachers
This set includes active hands-on learning ideas and the following printables:
- Apple Number Cards (0-35)
- “Counting Apples” emergent reader
- “I See Apples” emergent reader
- Apple Letters (uppercase and lowercase in both red and green)
- Apple Life Cycle Cards (in color and b/w)
- Label the Apple Diagram (in color and b/w) with labeling cards
- Apple Pattern Cards
- Put the Apples on the Tree Game Mat
- Editable cover and pages for a class apple book
Originally published March 8, 2013. Updated to add more activities and a few new pictures.
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