World Animal Day | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas

**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with World Animal Day. World Animal Day is an international day of action for animal rights and welfare celebrated annually on October 4th. It was started in 1931 at an international congress of animal protection organisations in Florence, Italy. For official information and to learn more about animal welfare, please consult reputable animal welfare charities or organisations.

Understanding World Animal Day in EYFS & KS1

Let's celebrate all creatures great and small! 🐾 World Animal Day is an international day of action for animal rights and welfare, celebrated annually on October 4th. It began in 1931 at an international congress of animal protection organisations in Florence, Italy. The day aims to raise the status of animals in order to improve welfare standards around the globe. It unites the animal welfare movement, mobilising it into a global force to make the world a better place for all animals.

For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this day provides a compassionate and deeply engaging theme for exploring animal welfare, biodiversity, habitats, and respect for living things. It's about fostering a love for animals, understanding their needs, and recognising our responsibility to care for them and their environments. This day offers fantastic planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about nature and empathy both heart-warming and educational.

Why Is Teaching About Animals & Welfare Important for Young Children?

Integrating lessons about animals and their welfare into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) is incredibly important for fostering their understanding of the natural world, developing empathy, and promoting responsible attitudes towards living creatures. Children are naturally curious about animals, making this a highly motivating topic.

• Empathy and Compassion: Learning about animals' needs and feelings helps children develop empathy and kindness towards all living beings.

• Environmental Awareness: Understanding animal habitats and threats (like endangerment) introduces early concepts of conservation and environmental protection.

• Biological Understanding: Exploring different animal types, body parts, and life cycles builds foundational scientific knowledge. Our ‘Iguana body parts - poster & writing sheets’ are a good example.

• Diversity of Life: Recognising the vast array of animals in the world broadens children's understanding of biodiversity.

• Literacy & Communication: Animal themes provide rich vocabulary, inspire storytelling, and encourage descriptive language. Our ‘Wild animal sounds mat - phase 1 phonics’ and ‘Animal description cards - phase 1 sounds’ are great for this.

• Problem-Solving: Discussing how to help animals in need (e.g., through habitat protection) can encourage simple problem-solving.

Engaging Animal-Themed Activities for World Animal Day (0-7 Year Olds)

Make World Animal Day a truly wild and wonderful experience with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on discovery, care, and celebrating the amazing animal kingdom! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by the extensive range of printable resources we have available, including our general Animals resources and various Animal packs.

Here's some inspiration for bringing the animal world 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.)

• Explore Different Animal Groups: Focus on different types of animals each day or throughout the week. Use our specific animal packs for in-depth learning. We have packs for: Barn Owl, Bat, Black Rhino, Bumblebee, Chimpanzee, Elephant, Gorilla, Lion, Orangutan, Sea Lion, Sea Turtle, Tiger, Vaquita, and Whale Shark. Our animal packs - rabbit also features.

• Mindfulness Colouring & Activities: Engage children with mindful colouring of animals like Lion - colouring (mindfulness), Elephant - colouring (mindfulness), and Tiger - colouring (mindfulness). Explore unique features with Tiger - stripes activity.

• Animal Habitats: Discuss where different animals live (e.g., jungle, ocean, farm, polar regions). Create mini habitats in sensory bins. Our Habitats page is a great resource.

• Endangered Animals Focus: Introduce the concept of endangered animals in an age-appropriate way, discussing why some animals are at risk and how we can help. Use our Endangered Animals page for more.

• Animal Sounds & Movement: Mimic animal sounds and movements. Use our ‘Wild Animal sounds mat - phase 1 phonics’ for listening skills. Encourage movement with animal actions.

• Animal Sorting & Classification: Have children sort animal pictures by characteristics (e.g., fur/feathers/scales, number of legs, where they live). Use Animal sorting game/activity.

• Numeracy with Animals: Integrate counting and number recognition with animal themes. Use Tiger - food counting puzzles and Turtle egg find game.

• Creative Animal Art: Provide various materials for children to create their favourite animals, perhaps focusing on animal patterns or textures. Our Animals of the World Mega Colouring Pack is a lot of fun!

• Role-Play/Vets Surgery: Set up a pretend "animal hospital" or "zoo" role-play area where children can care for toy animals.

• Display & Exploration: Create a vibrant display using our 'Animals of the world' display banner & headings. Showcase animal facts.

• Explore Our Extensive Animal Resources: Due to the vast number of animal-themed printables, narrow your search using our dedicated pages:

  • Animals

  • Beach School

  • Birds

  • Endangered Animals

  • Fish

  • Forest School

  • Habitats

  • Invertebrates

  • Life Cycles

  • Mammals

  • Minibeasts

  • Ocean

  • On the Farm

  • Pets

  • Polar

  • Reptiles

  • The Environment

  • The Enormous Turnip (for a story with farm animals)

  • The Little Red Hen (for a story with farm animals)

  • Under the Sea

  • Wetlands

  • Wildlife

  • Woodland (temperate)

  • Zoo

• Planning Support: Use our ‘Planning - topic plan ideas - animals’ for comprehensive planning.

These activities offer great inspiration for making World Animal Day a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering empathy, environmental awareness, and a lifelong appreciation for the animal kingdom.

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

Due to the vast number of ‘Animal’ themed printables we have on Little Owls Resources, you may wish to narrow your search by using the buttons below:

Just a few of our Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘World Animal Day’

(For additional resources please visit the topic pages listed above.)

More Early Years Event Pages for October

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 'World Animal Day'. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by the founders or organisers of World Animal Day. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this day. For official information and to learn more about animal welfare, please consult reputable animal welfare charities or organisations.