World Bicycle Day | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas

**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with World Bicycle Day. World Bicycle Day is observed annually on June 3rd. It was established by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to acknowledge the uniqueness, longevity, and versatility of the bicycle, and to promote it as a simple, affordable, reliable, clean, and environmentally fit sustainable means of transport. For official information and details, please visit the United Nations website: www.un.org/en/observances/bicycle-day.

Understanding World Bicycle Day in EYFS & KS1

Let's get ready to pedal and play! 🚴‍♀️🌍

For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this day provides a fantastic and active theme for exploring transport, road safety, exercise, health and well-being, the environment, outdoor play, and understanding the world. It's about inspiring children to be active, teaching them essential safety rules, and fostering an early appreciation for sustainable ways to travel. This day offers fantastic planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about bicycles, safety, and healthy living both essential and wonderfully exciting!

Why Is Learning About Bicycles and Safety Important for Young Children?

Integrating World Bicycle Day and themes of bicycles, transport, and road safety into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) promotes physical activity and fosters an early understanding of personal safety and environmental responsibility.

• Promotes Physical Health: Encourages outdoor play and exercise, contributing to children's physical development and well-being.

• Teaches Road Safety: Introduces crucial rules and awareness for staying safe when near roads or cycling.

• Develops Independence: Helps children gain confidence and independence in navigating their environment.

• Encourages Sustainable Transport: Introduces the concept of environmentally friendly travel choices.

• Enhances Motor Skills: Cycling and related activities improve balance, coordination, and gross motor skills.

• Fosters Awareness of Surroundings: Encourages children to observe their environment and be mindful of potential hazards.

Engaging Bicycle & Safety Activities for World Bicycle Day (EYFS & KS1)

Let's learn about bikes and how to ride safely for World Bicycle Day with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on active learning, safety awareness, and the joy of cycling! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by our dedicated ‘Road Safety’, ‘Transport’, ‘Exercise’, and ‘Active Journeys’ resources.

Here's some inspiration for celebrating World Bicycle 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. Emphasise positive messages about staying safe and being active.)

• Bicycle Safety & Awareness:

  • Discuss the importance of wearing a helmet and pads with 'Teddy Bike Safety A4 Poster - Helmet & Pads'. You can also use the 'Colouring' versions ('Teddy Bike Safety A4 Poster (Colouring) - Helmet & Pads', 'Teddy Bike Safety A4 Posters (Horizontal Colouring) - Helmet & Pads') for a creative activity.

  • Reinforce fundamental road safety rules with ''Stop Look Listen' A4 Posters'.

  • Engage with 'Road Safety Word Mat' and 'Road Safety Colouring' to learn key vocabulary.

• Exploring Transport & Travel:

  • Create a display about different ways to travel with 'Transport - 'Transport' Banner'.

  • Learn about various vehicles using 'Transport - Word Mat' and 'Transport - Word Cards'.

  • Play games like 'Transport - Description Match Listening Game' and 'Transport - Picture Snap'.

  • Encourage observation of different transport types seen during journeys with 'My Travel Tick Sheet - Scooter, Walk, Bike Or Car' and 'During My Ride/Walk I Saw...'.

  • Get creative with 'Transport - Colouring Pack' and 'Transport - My Transport Designs Booklet'.

• Developing Skills with Bicycles:

  • Practise pencil control with 'Ride The Bikes Home! - Pencil Control Activity Sheets' and 'Ride The Bike Home! - Pencil Control Mats'.

  • Use 'Transport - Multimats (Playdough, Loose Parts, Art & Craft)' to create different vehicles, including bicycles.

  • Complete vehicle pictures with 'Transport - Complete The Picture'.

  • Draw or write about bikes and journeys using 'Transport - Writing/Drawing/Mark Making Sheets' and 'Transport - Border Sheets’.

• Numeracy, Phonics & Puzzles:

  • Engage with numeracy using 'Transport - Number Subitising Posters/Mats (1-6)' and 'Transport - Counting & Number Match Puzzles'.

  • Practise phonics with 'Transport - Phase 1 Sound Posters' and 'Transport - Phase 1 Sound Mat'.

  • Solve puzzles with 'Transport - 2-Piece Puzzles', 'Transport - 4-Piece Puzzles', 'Transport - 4-Piece Puzzles - Colouring', and 'Transport - Word And Picture Match Puzzle'.

  • Use 'Transport - Checklist' for various counting or identification activities.

• Explore More: To explore our full catalogue of resources on this theme, please visit our ‘Exercise’, ‘Road Safety’, ‘Transport’, or ‘Active Journeys’ pages. You may also like to explore additional pages covering relevant and/or connected themes such as ‘Expressive Movement’, ‘Mental Health’, ‘Out And About’, ‘Stay Healthy’, ‘Stay Safe’, ‘Sun Safety’, ‘The Environment’, and ‘Weather’.

These activities offer great inspiration for making World Bicycle Day a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering active living, road safety awareness, environmental responsibility, and the pure joy of cycling.

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

Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘World Bicycle Day’

Free ‘Bicycle’ related resources for EYFS & KS1 | Activities & Ideas:

The following is a small selection of our inspirational ‘Bicycle’, ‘Transport’ and ‘Road Safety’ resources for EYFS & KS1:

(Please visit our ‘Exercise’, ‘Road Safety’, ‘Transport’ or ‘Active Journeys’ pages to explore our full catalogue of resources on this theme.)

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

More Early Years Event Pages for June

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 'World Bicycle Day'. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by the United Nations (UN), which established this international observance. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this event. For official information and details, please visit the United Nations website: www.un.org/en/observances/bicycle-day.