National Unicorn Day | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas

**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with any single founding organisation for National Unicorn Day. National Unicorn Day is celebrated annually on April 9th. While its exact origins are a bit whimsical and not tied to a formal historical or charitable body, it is widely recognised as a day to celebrate the mythical, magical creature that is the unicorn. The unicorn, a symbol of purity, innocence, magic, and enchantment, holds a special place in folklore and popular culture, even being the national animal of Scotland.

Friday 9th April 2027

Understanding National Unicorn Day in EYFS & KS1

Let's sparkle with magic and gallop into the world of unicorns! ✨🦄 National Unicorn Day is a special day celebrated every year on April 9th. This day is all about celebrating the amazing, magical creature that is the unicorn! Unicorns are symbols of purity, innocence, magic, and enchantment, and they are loved in stories and by many people around the world. This day encourages us to use our imagination, be creative, and enjoy all the happiness that magical creatures bring to our stories and games. It's a day to believe in a little bit of magic!

For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this day provides a wonderfully imaginative and enchanting theme for exploring creative arts, storytelling, fantasy play, language development, and personal, social & emotional development (PSED) through the joy of make-believe. It's about encouraging children to express their creativity, engage in imaginative role-play, and delight in the wonder of mythical creatures. This day offers fantastic planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning through fantasy and play both sparkling and exciting!

Why Is Celebrating Unicorns Important for Young Children?

Integrating National Unicorn Day and themes of magic and mythical creatures into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) can help in nurturing imagination, fostering creativity, and supporting diverse areas of development.

• Boosts Imagination & Creativity: Encourages children to think beyond reality, create new worlds, and express themselves artistically.

• Enhances Storytelling & Language: Provides rich inspiration for creating narratives, expanding vocabulary, and developing descriptive language.

• Supports Emotional Expression: Fantasy play can be a safe space for children to explore emotions and social scenarios.

• Encourages Social Play: Promotes collaborative imaginative play, role-playing, and sharing ideas with peers.

• Fosters a Sense of Wonder: Introduces children to the magic and beauty found in stories and folklore, sparking curiosity.

• Provides a Positive Theme: Unicorns are associated with positivity, kindness, and beauty, reinforcing these values.

Engaging Unicorn & Magic Activities for National Unicorn Day (0-7 Year Olds)

Let's sprinkle some glitter and embrace the enchantment for National Unicorn Day with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on imagination, creativity, and all things magical! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by our dedicated 'Unicorns' resources, as well as broader 'Fairies', 'Mermaids and Mermen', and 'Space' themed materials.

Here's some inspiration for celebrating National Unicorn Day 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.)

• Unicorn Art & Craft:

  • Provide 'Unicorns - Colouring' sheets for creative expression.

  • Set up an art station with glitter, pastels, paint, and paper for children to draw or create their own unicorns.

  • Make unicorn horns using cardboard cones and decorating them with glitter, ribbons, and paint.

• Magical Storytelling & Play:

  • Read stories about unicorns, magical creatures, or fantastical lands.

  • Encourage imaginative role-play as unicorns, exploring magical meadows or flying through rainbows.

  • Connect to other fantasy themes: explore resources related to 'Fairies', 'Mermaids and Mermen', and 'Traditional/Fairy Tales' like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, The Enormous Turnip, The Gingerbread Man, The Little Red Hen, and The Three Little Pigs.

  • Use song words and illustrations from 'Nursery Rhymes' if any have a magical or animal theme.

• Literacy with Unicorns:

  • Use 'Unicorns - High Frequency Word Cards - Phase 3', 'Unicorns - High Frequency Word Mat - Phase 3', and 'Unicorns - High Frequency Word Bookmarks - Phase 3' to practice reading and writing.

  • Encourage children to write or dictate their own magical stories about unicorns.

  • Create a "magical word jar" with new, sparkly words they learn.

• Unicorn-Themed Rewards & Celebration:

  • Use 'Unicorns - End Of Year Certificates', 'Unicorns - Reward Charts', and 'Unicorns - 'Well Done!' Certificates' to recognise children's magical efforts throughout the day or week.

• Movement and Magical Journeys:

  • Play music and encourage children to move like graceful unicorns, galloping and prancing.

  • Create an imaginary obstacle course: "leap over the rainbow," "trot through the enchanted forest."

• Exploring Related Themes (Beyond Unicorns):

  • Connect to other mystical or natural themes: 'Dinosaurs' (ancient creatures), 'Space' (otherworldly wonders), 'Polar' (imaginary icy realms), 'Under The Sea' (underwater magic), 'Woodland' (enchanted forests), or even a 'Teddy Bears' Picnic' with magical guests.

  • Imagine unicorns visiting a 'Zoo' or meeting 'Pirates' for a silly twist.

These activities offer great inspiration for making National Unicorn Day a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering imagination, creativity, language development, and a lifelong appreciation for the magic of stories and play.

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

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

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

More Early Years Event Pages for April

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!

Search ‘Little Owls Resources’ Using the following Menu Buttons…

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 Unicorn Day'. This day is a celebratory observance of the mythical creature and is not officially affiliated with or endorsed by any single founding organisation. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this informal celebration. The activities provided aim to encourage imagination, creativity, and fun through the theme of unicorns.