Katakana "Po" Coloring Pages

"Po" in "Popcorn"

This coloring page lets you trace Katakana "Po".
The picture on the left is a paper cup full of popcorn.
The cup has vertical stripes on it.
"Popcorn" comes from English, so we write it in Katakana.
We often use Katakana to write words from other countries, names of animals and plants, and sound or feeling words like "woof-woof" or "thump-thump".
"Popcorn" has both a small "tsu" and a long sound line "ー".
Say it out loud and see how your breath stops at "po", and stretches out at "ko".

The Kanji That Formed Katakana "Po"

"Katakana "Po"" is the letter Katakana "Ho" with a small circle (handakuten) added to the top right.
The original "Ho" came from the bottom-right part of the Kanji 「保」.
It is said that long ago, monks created Katakana by taking parts of Kanji so they could quickly write down how to read books and scriptures.
When you put a circle on "Ho", it becomes "Po", and when you put two dots, it becomes "Bo".
Try saying "Ho", "Bo", and "Po" out loud and listen to how the sounds are different.

Tips for writing Katakana "Po"

Katakana "Po" is written in 5 strokes by adding a circle stroke to the 4 strokes of "Ho".
The 1st stroke is a horizontal line.
The 2nd stroke goes through the middle of the 1st stroke from top to bottom, and it ends with a flick.
The 3rd stroke is a short dot on the left side of the vertical line, pointing down to the left.
The 4th stroke is a short dot on the right side, pointing down to the right.
Finally, draw a small circle on the top right.
Leave a little space so the circle does not touch the 1st horizontal line.
If you make the left and right dots the same size, Katakana "Po" will look great!

Words that start with "Po"

Besides popcorn, words that start with Katakana "Po" include postbox, pocket, potato, and pump.
They all came from other countries, so we write them in Katakana.
Katakana "Po" also pops up a lot in sound words and action words, like "pokapoka," "potapota," and "ponpon."
A warm day feels "pokapoka," and falling water sounds like "potapota."
Try saying words with Katakana "Po" while clapping your hands in a fun rhythm!

Color the Big Katakana "Po" with Your Favorite Colors

Color inside the lines of the big Katakana "Po" at the top right using any colors you like!
If you use one color for "Ho" and another for the little circle at the top right, the circle will really stand out.
It might look tasty if you color it cream or butter yellow, just like popcorn!
Color slowly near the edges so you do not go outside the lines, and fill in the middle freely.

Color the Popcorn Cream and Yellow

Each piece of popcorn has a fluffy shape.
If you color them with cream or light yellow and leave a few white spots, they will look extra fluffy.
Adding a little bit of ocher at the bottom of the bumps will make them look round and puffy.
If you want caramel flavor, try using light brown.
It is also fun to make colorful popcorn by mixing in strawberry pink or melon yellow-green!
For the cup, color the stripes with alternating colors like red and white or blue and white to make it look like a real snack shop cup.

Trace the Letters Slowly with a Pencil

There are 8 light gray Katakana "Po" letters in the boxes at the bottom right.
Use a pencil instead of a crayon to trace over the gray lines.
Use the vertical and horizontal dotted lines inside the boxes as your guide.
Draw the second vertical stroke down along the dotted line, and finish it with a small flick at the end.
Write each one carefully. When you finish writing them neatly, show your work to your family!
By the time you finish all 8, your hand will remember how to write it.

Why Popcorn Pops

Popcorn comes from dried corn kernels.
There is a tiny bit of water inside each kernel.
When you heat the kernels, the water inside turns into steam and tries to expand.
When the hard skin cannot hold the pressure anymore, it pops open with a "Pop!" and turns fluffy inside.

Special Corn Just for Popcorn

You cannot make popcorn with just any kind of corn.
You need to use a special type of corn for popcorn that has a hard skin and pops well.
It is different from the sweet corn you usually eat.

The Name Comes from the Popping Sound

"Pop" is an English word that shows the sound and action of popping open.
"Corn" means corn.
So, the name means "corn that pops open."
People say that popcorn has been eaten by people in the Americas for a very long time.
It is a popular snack at movie theaters and festivals, too!