**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with any single founding organisation of International Orangutan Day. For official information about orangutan conservation efforts, please visit reputable organisations such as the Orangutan Foundation International (www.orangutan.org), Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (www.orangutan.or.id), The Orangutan Project (www.theorangutanproject.org), or World Wildlife Fund (www.worldwildlife.org).

Wednesday 19th August 2026

Understanding International Orangutan Day in EYFS & KS1

Swing into action! International Orangutan Day, observed annually on August 19th, is a crucial global day dedicated to raising awareness about the critical threat facing orangutans and the destruction of their rainforest habitats. These intelligent, tree-dwelling apes are found only on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, and all three species are critically endangered.

For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this day provides a powerful and engaging theme for exploring wild animals, rainforests, conservation, and biodiversity. It's about inspiring awe for these incredible primates, fostering empathy for endangered species, and understanding how our actions can impact animals and their homes. This day offers fantastic planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about global conservation both impactful and accessible.

Why Is Teaching About Orangutans & Conservation Important for Young Children?

Integrating lessons about orangutans and their rainforest habitats into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) is incredibly important for fostering scientific curiosity, ecological understanding, and a deep appreciation for the natural world. During their early years, children are often fascinated by animals and their unique behaviours.

Biodiversity and Ecosystems: Learning about orangutans introduces children to rainforests as vital ecosystems, highlighting the interdependence of animals and their environments.
Conservation Awareness: It provides a clear example of an endangered species and the concept of habitat loss, helping children grasp why some animals need our protection. This fosters an early sense of environmental responsibility.
Empathy and Respect: Understanding the challenges orangutans face cultivates empathy for animals and encourages respectful attitudes towards all living creatures and their homes.
Scientific Inquiry: Exploring orangutan characteristics (long arms, red fur, tree-dwelling life) sparks curiosity about animal adaptations and behaviour. Our 'Orangutan Pack' is a great starting point for this.
Global Citizenship: Discussing animals from different parts of the world helps children connect with global issues and understand their place in the wider world.

Engaging Orangutan & Animal Activities for International Orangutan Day (0-7 Year Olds)

Make International Orangutan Day a truly enriching experience with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on discovery, creativity, and celebrating these intelligent, tree-dwelling primates and their amazing homes! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by the printable resources we have available.

Here's some inspiration for bringing the wonder of orangutans and the importance of conservation into your setting: (Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken.)

Orangutan Movement & Role-Play: Encourage children to move like orangutans – swinging their arms, climbing, and mimicking their slow, thoughtful movements. Set up a "rainforest" area with blankets and cushions for them to explore.
Orangutan Art & Craft: Provide brown and orange paints, paper, and perhaps some fake leaves or twigs for children to create orangutan collages or drawings. Focus on their long, shaggy fur and thoughtful faces.
"Tree House" Building: Provide building blocks, large cardboard boxes, or blankets for children to construct their own "tree houses" or nests, similar to where orangutans sleep. Discuss why trees are so important to orangutans.
Rainforest Sensory Bin: Create a sensory bin with shredded green paper or fabric for "leaves," brown pipe cleaners for "vines," and small toy rainforest animals, including an orangutan.
Food for Orangutans: Discuss what orangutans eat (mostly fruit, leaves, bark, insects). Provide safe, healthy snacks like banana slices or apple pieces and talk about how these might be like an orangutan's diet.
Habitat Discussion: Talk about the rainforest, why it's special, and why it's being cut down (e.g., for palm oil, logging). Keep explanations simple and age-appropriate, focusing on solutions like buying products with sustainable palm oil labels if suitable for your context.
Story Time: Orangutan Books: Read age-appropriate books about orangutans or other rainforest animals. This helps build empathy and understanding.
Animal Sounds: Listen to rainforest sounds, including orangutan calls.
Conservation Actions: Discuss simple actions children can understand, like recycling or not wasting paper (linking to trees), as ways to help animals and their habitats.
Display: Create a display about orangutans and rainforests, showcasing children's artwork and facts they've learned.

These activities offer great inspiration for making International Orangutan Day a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering a sense of wonder for wild animals and the urgent need for their conservation.

To explore ideas surrounding additional early years events, please visit our 'Special Dates Calendar' page.

Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘International Orangutan Day’

Featured

ORANGUTAN PACK

The pages of this pack give some general information about orangutans and some fun and engaging activities to foster and develop children’s interest in them.

Pack includes:

• Fact posters x3 (Could be used as stimuli for a lesson input)

• Number slice activity (1-10) (Can be pre-cut for a pure number ordering activity or left to be cut by child to add scissor practice)

• Number slice activity - colouring version (1-10) (As above but to be coloured before cutting)

• Description sheet (Can be used as an independent writing activity or with an adult scribing the ideas of a younger child)

• A4 poster

• A4 poster - colouring version

• ‘Body Parts’ x3 (fully labelled, initial sounds only, blank)

• Draw and write sheets x3 (blank sheet, wide lines and narrow lines)

• 1x 4-piece puzzle

• Multimats x2 (for Colouring/Art & Craft/Loose Parts/Playdough)

Fine Motor, Mark Making/Drawing/Writing, Pencil Control, Drawing, Take Home, Zoo, Puzzles, Games, Activity, Animal body parts, Discussion Prompts, Print Carries Meaning, Problem Solving, Observational Skills, Posters/Displays, Using Shapes for Task, Number Recognition and Ordering, Endangered Animal Packs, Art and Craft, Orangutan, Mammals

Original artwork drawn by Sara Murphy and final digital resources created by Stuart Murphy. COPYRIGHT ON ALL OF THE RESOURCES HOUSED ON THIS WEBSITE IS HELD BY ‘LITTLE OWLS RESOURCES’. OUR RESOURCES (INCLUDING THE IMAGES WITHIN THEM), CANNOT BE SHARED OR SOLD COMMERCIALLY.

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Featured

PLANNING - Topic Plan Ideas - ANIMALS

This pack contains some activity ideas for learning about ANIMALS as well as some blank forms for you to note down your own ideas.

Staring at a blank page when planning can be difficult so we hope that even if you don’t end up using our exact suggestions, they will be a spark of inspiration for your own great ideas when planning for your children.

(For additional ‘Animals’ themed resources visit our ‘ANIMALS’ PAGE.)

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