Squirrel Appreciation Day | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas

**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with Squirrel Appreciation Day. Squirrel Appreciation Day is an annual observance, typically celebrated on January 21st. It was created in 2001 by Christy Hargrove, a wildlife rehabilitator. For more information about the day and its origins, you can visit resources like The Wildlife Community.

Understanding Squirrel Appreciation Day in EYFS & KS1

Let's scamper and learn about squirrels! 🌰 Squirrel Appreciation Day is an annual observance, typically celebrated on January 21st. It was created in 2001 by Christy Hargrove, a wildlife rehabilitator. The day's purpose is to encourage people to appreciate squirrels and to learn more about these common, often overlooked, creatures. It highlights their fascinating behaviours, their role in the ecosystem (like helping to plant trees by burying nuts they forget!), and their importance in our local environments.

For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this day provides a delightful and accessible theme for exploring wildlife, nature, seasons (winter/autumn), animal behaviour, and environmental awareness. It's about encouraging close observation of creatures found in our gardens and parks, understanding their habits, and appreciating their place in the natural world. This day offers wonderful planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about ecology and local wildlife both curious and fun.

Why Is Teaching About Squirrels & Local Wildlife Important for Young Children?

Integrating lessons about squirrels and local wildlife into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) helps develop their connection with the natural world, developing observation skills, and promoting an early sense of environmental awareness.

• Observation Skills: Encourages children to watch animals closely, notice details in their behaviour (e.g., burying nuts, climbing trees), and understand their adaptations.

• Understanding Ecosystems: Introduces the concept of animals' roles in the environment (e.g., seed dispersal by squirrels).

• Seasonal Changes: Squirrels are particularly active in autumn and winter, providing a tangible link to seasonal changes and animal preparations.

• Empathy & Care: Fosters a sense of compassion and respect for common local animals, even those often seen as pests.

• Physical Development: Observing squirrels climbing and jumping can inspire children's own gross motor play.

• Literacy & Numeracy: Provides contexts for counting (nuts!), sorting, creating stories, and learning new vocabulary.

Engaging Squirrel & Wildlife Activities for Squirrel Appreciation Day (0-7 Year Olds)

Make Squirrel Appreciation Day a truly engaging and observant experience with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on learning about squirrels, observing their behaviours, and understanding their role in nature! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by our dedicated 'Autumn', 'Winter', 'Forest School', and 'Animals' resources.

Here's some inspiration for scampering into the world of squirrels 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.)

• Squirrel Observation Walk: Take children on a "squirrel hunt" in your outdoor area or a local park. Encourage them to observe squirrels (from a distance!), noticing how they move, where they hide nuts, and what they eat. Use our 'Autumn Walk Checklists' or 'Winter Walk Checklists' to look for signs of squirrels or other animals.

• "What Does a Squirrel Need?" Discussion: Talk about what squirrels need to survive (food like nuts, shelter in trees, water). Use our 'Helping Wildlife In Winter' Poster', 'Helping Wildlife In Winter - Banner', 'Helping Wildlife In Winter' Cards', 'Helping Wildlife In Winter - Illustrations Activity', 'Helping Wildlife In Winter' Cards - Colouring', and 'Helping Wildlife In Winter - Feeding Poster' to discuss how we can help local wildlife.

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

• Squirrel-Themed Numeracy:

  • Counting: Use our 'Squirrel Numbers 0-20', 'Squirrel Playdough/Loose Parts Counting Mats - Version 2', and 'Squirrel Playdough/Loose Parts Counting Mats' for counting and number recognition activities.

  • Autumn Counting: Connect to autumn themes with 'Autumn Counting Posters (1-20)', 'Autumn Counting (1-20) - Colouring', 'Autumn Number Snap Cards', and 'Autumn Number Slice Puzzle Picture (0-20)'.

• Squirrel Arts & Crafts: Provide opportunities to draw, paint, or create squirrels. Use our'Finger-Paint Acorns' for a related art activity. Children could create their own squirrel masks using 'Autumn - Animal Masks - Colouring' and 'Autumn - Animal Masks'.

• Squirrel Movement Game: Play a "Squirrel Dash" game where children pretend to gather and hide nuts. Our 'Squirrel Dash Game' provides inspiration. You could also use 'Autumn Movement Activity Challenge Cards'.

• Seasonal Connections: Emphasise how squirrels prepare for winter. Discuss 'Signs Of Autumn Posters', 'Signs Of Autumn - Colouring', 'Autumn Colouring', 'Autumn Big & Small Colouring', 'Signs Of Winter Cards/Posters', 'Signs Of Winter Cards/Posters - Colouring', and 'Hibernation Fact Cards'. You could play 'Winter Hibernation Game'.

• Animal Footprints: Explore animal tracks. Use 'Footprints In The Snow - Banner', 'Animal Footprints In The Snow Poster', 'Winter Animal Footprint Puzzles', 'Animal Footprints In The Snow Cards - Which Animal Made That Footprint?', and 'Animal Footprint Multimats'.

• Woodland Wildlife: Broaden the theme to other woodland creatures. Use 'Woodland Wildlife Walk - Winter', 'Woodland Wildlife - Mindfulness Scavenger Hunt Prompt Cards’, and 'Woodland Animals - Fact Cards’.

• Explore More: Please visit our 'Forest School', 'Autumn' or 'Winter' pages to browse our entire collection of educational materials on this theme!

These activities offer great inspiration for making Squirrel Appreciation Day a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering observation skills, environmental awareness, numeracy, and a genuine love for local nature.

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

Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘Squirrel Appreciation Day’

Free Squirrel activities for EYFS & KS1:

Squirrel activities for EYFS & KS1:

Please visit our ‘Forest School’, ‘Autumn’ or ‘Winter’ pages 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 January

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 'Squirrel Appreciation Day'. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by Christy Hargrove, who created this observance, other than providing a resource link for more information about the day's origins and purpose. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this event. For more information on squirrels and wildlife, you can consult reputable wildlife rehabilitation centres or nature conservation groups.