National Robin Day | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas

**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with National Robin Day. National Robin Day is an annual UK observance, typically celebrated on December 21st, the shortest day of the year. It was launched in 2016 by the charity SongBird Survival to raise awareness of not only robins but also all small garden birds who may struggle to survive the cold winter months. It's a day dedicated to appreciating the beloved robin, a familiar and often iconic garden bird, particularly associated with winter and Christmas in the UK, and highlighting the importance of supporting garden wildlife. For official information and to learn more about this initiative, please visit the SongBird Survival website: www.songbird-survival.org.uk/national-robin-day.

Understanding National Robin Day in EYFS & KS1

Chirp, chirp, little red breast! ��🔴 National Robin Day is an annual UK observance, typically celebrated on December 21st, coinciding with the shortest day of the year. This day was launched in 2016 by the charity SongBird Survival and is dedicated to appreciating the beloved robin, one of the UK's most familiar and iconic garden birds, particularly associated with winter and the festive season. It's a charming way to highlight the beauty of these small birds, their resilience, and the importance of supporting garden wildlife, especially as the weather gets colder.

For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this day provides a delightful and nature-focused theme for exploring wildlife, seasons (winter), environmental awareness, observation skills, and caring for living things. It's about fostering a connection with local nature, understanding the needs of birds, and encouraging kindness towards animals. This day offers wonderful planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about ecology and animal welfare both fascinating and compassionate.

Why Is Teaching About Birds & Wildlife Important for Young Children?

Integrating lessons about birds and wildlife, especially iconic ones like the robin, into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) can help foster their understanding of the natural world, promoting empathy, and encouraging a sense of responsibility towards living creatures.

• Environmental Stewardship: Helps children understand biodiversity and the importance of protecting local wildlife and their habitats.

• Observation Skills: Encourages close observation of nature, developing attention to detail and scientific inquiry.

• Understanding Life Cycles: Learning about birds can introduce concepts of life cycles, feeding, and nesting.

• Empathy & Care: Fosters a sense of care and responsibility towards animals, understanding their needs, particularly in winter.

• Sensory Exploration: Engaging with nature (listening to bird song, observing movement) provides rich sensory experiences.

• Literacy & Numeracy: Bird themes can be integrated into counting, sorting, letter recognition, and descriptive writing activities.

Engaging Robin & Wildlife Activities for National Robin Day (0-7 Year Olds)

Make National Robin Day a truly observant and caring experience with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on appreciating robins, learning about birds, and helping wildlife in winter! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by our dedicated 'Birds' page and 'Helping Wildlife in Winter' resources.

Here's some inspiration for connecting with robins and other winter wildlife in 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.)

• Robin Spotting: Go on a "robin hunt" in your outdoor area or local park. Provide children with binoculars (even homemade ones!) and encourage quiet observation. Use our 'Garden Birdwatch Mat' and 'Garden Birdwatch Checklist' to track sightings. You could also use 'Birdwatch Draw What You See - Binoculars'.

• Learning About Robins: Focus specifically on the robin. Use our 'Robin Body Parts - Poster & Writing Sheets' to learn about its features. Read books about robins.

• Helping Wildlife in Winter: Discuss how we can help robins and other birds when food is scarce. Display 'Helping Wildlife In Winter - Banner' and 'Helping Wildlife In Winter' Poster'. Use 'Helping Wildlife In Winter' Cards and Colouring' for discussions and activities. Create simple bird feeders (e.g., pine cones covered in lard and bird seed).

• "Feed the Robin" Activities: Engage fine motor skills and early learning with our 'Feed The Robin Pencil Control Mats', and 'Feed The Robin Pencil Control Activity Sheets'.

• Robin-Themed Literacy & Numeracy:

  • Letters & Sounds: Play 'Feed The Robin Letters & Sounds Dice Game - Phase 2 & 3' to practice phonics. Use 'Winter Robin Alphabet Display Posters/Flashcards' and 'Winter Robin Alphabet Colouring Cards'.

  • Counting: Use 'Winter Robin/Worms Number/Counting Activity', 'Winter Robin Number Line/Posters/Cards 0-100' and 'UK Birds Number Slice Puzzles (1-5 & 1-10)' to practice numbers.

• Bird Art & Craft: Provide colouring sheets for various birds. Our 'UK Garden Birds Colouring' are great for this. You could also use 'Decorate A Bird Box Multimat - Playdough, Loose Parts, Art & Crafts' for creative expression.

• Other Garden Birds: Extend the learning to other common garden birds. Use 'UK Garden Bird 2-Piece Puzzles', 'UK Garden Bird Pom Pom Mats', and 'Garden Birdwatch Egg Match Game'. Learn about body parts with Body Parts Poster & Writing Sheets for Blue Tit, Blackbird , Pigeon, Magpie and Sparrow.

  Winter Wildlife: Discuss how animals adapt to winter. Use 'Animals In Winter UK Hibernation Poster' and 'Winter Size Ordering Picture Activities'.

• General Bird Resources: Display our 'Birds - Display Banner', and use 'Birds - Silhouette Puzzles', 'Birds - 0-20 Counting Display Posters/Cards', 'Birds - 0-20 Colour And Count Display Posters/Cards'. Children can draw their favourite bird using 'My Favourite Garden Bird Sheets' or 'Design Your Own UK Garden Bird Sheets'. Play games with 'Garden Birdwatch Picture Snap Cards Game'.

• Life Cycles: Our 'Endless Life Cycle Puzzles' can be used to discuss the life cycle of a bird.

• Explore More: Please visit our 'Birds' page to browse our entire collection of educational materials on this theme!

These activities offer great inspiration for making National Robin Day a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering environmental awareness, observation skills, empathy for wildlife, and a genuine love for nature.

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

Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘National Robin Day’

Free Bird related activities for EYFS & KS1:

Robin & Helping Wildlife in Winter activities for EYFS & KS1:

Bird related activities for EYFS & KS1:

Please visit our ‘Birds’ page to browse our entire collection of educational materials on this theme.

Additional Pages you may like to explore which cover relevant &/or Connected themes

More Early Years Event Pages for December

Explore special dates (including awareness dates, festivals, celebrations & events) relevant to your EYFS & KS1 children

Browse our ‘Special Dates Calendar’ page using the link below. You’ll find calendars for every month of the year to aid your planning!

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Disclaimer:
This page is for educational purposes only and is intended to support early years and primary practitioners with ideas and resources related to 'National Robin Day'. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by SongBird Survival, which launched this observance, other than providing their official website as a source of information about the initiative. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this day. For official information and to learn more about the campaign, please visit their website at www.songbird-survival.org.uk/national-robin-day.