Getting kids out into the woods to explore is a powerful learning tool. and an important part of our homeschool. Even very small children enjoy learning about wildlife. My new woodland animals preschool theme unit study is a great way to get kids hooked on nature.
One of the best ways to help inspire kids to explore nature is to read books to them about the various animals that make their homes out in the woods.
In this two-week woodland animals preschool theme, you and your child will read books, make crafts, enjoy outdoor activities and science, and do a little seatwork each day. All of these activities have been chosen to encourage a love for all things woodland.
(Note: this post is part of my series on Wilderness & Woodland Animals for Kids. Once you've finished the woodland theme, you could move into one or more weeks of my free deer preschool theme (four weeks, one for each season of the year) or even our polar bear unit.)
I think one of our great goals as parents should be to encourage our children to spend time outdoors. As study after study has shown, sunshine and fresh air are good for our bodies and our minds. One of the joys of my adult life is getting outside for a good ramble in the woods.
I spent time outside growing up only under duress (because my parents made me) but I sure do appreciate that now.
Looking back, being consistently sent outside eventually helped me develop a deep appreciation for nature. I just didn't see it at the time. So hang in there, mama! What you are doing is making a difference.
Woodland Animals Preschool Theme Unit Study
As a homeschooling and homesteading family, hands-on learning and "book learning" have been a part of our life forever. However, I discovered a trick early on to help my littles sit still for the book-learning activities.
By including outdoor picture books, coloring sheets, rhymes, and even video clips, I could capture their attention. Sometimes, depending on the weather, we could start the day with outdoor time in the woods looking for animal tracks.
Then I could tie in that experience with some "academic" learning - a win for everyone.
Related: Are Moose Dangerous? My Own Near-Death Experience
How to Use Woodland Animals Resources with Your Preschooler
I created this two-week woodland animal preschool theme pack to give busy homeschool families valuable activities for preschoolers. I know all-too-well how difficult it can be to keep little ones busy when you're also trying to homeschool older kids.
And guess what happened? My seven-year-old LOVED it - even though I thought it would be a bit young for her! So you might find that it will capture the attention of your first-or-second-grade students too.
Use this schedule to plan two weeks of woodland animals activities for your preschoolers and/or kindergarten kids.
Woodland Animals Preschool Theme Week One
Day One:
Read: Over in the Forest: Come and Take a Peek Marianne Berkes
Make: Woodland Animal Craft from Blue Bear Wood
Explore: Find a Mindful Sit Spot from Nurture Store.
Complete: Two or Three Pages from either our Woodland Animals Counting Book OR our Woodland Animals K-2 Printable.
Day Two:
Read: The Busy Tree By Jennifer Ward
Make: Four Seasons Tree Craft from Easy Peasy and Fun
Explore: How Do Leaves Breathe Science Experiment from KC Edventures.
Complete: Two or Three Pages from either our Woodland Animals Counting Book OR our Woodland Animals K-2 Printable.
Day Three:
Read: Owls by Gail Gibbons
Make: Tin Can Owl Craft from I Heart Crafty Things.
Explore: Owl Eyesight STEM Exploration from J Daniel's 4 Mom
Complete: Two or Three Pages from either our Woodland Animals Counting Book OR our Woodland Animals K-2 Printable.
Day Four:
Read: The Squirrel's Busy Year by Martin Jenkins
Make: Squirrel Craft in Tree from Buggy and Buddy
Explore: What Lives in Dirt? Science Experiment from Go Science Kids
Complete: Two or Three Pages from either our Woodland Animals Counting Book OR our Woodland Animals K-2 Printable.
Day Five:
Make: A Cardboard Tube Fox from The Craft Train
Explore: Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt from Messy Little Monsters.
Complete: Two or Three Pages from either our Woodland Animals Counting Book OR our Woodland Animals K-2 Printable.
Day Six:
Read: The Very Brave Bear by Nick Bland
Make: Paper Bag Bear Craft for Kids from Crafts on Sea
Explore: Let's Go On A Listening Walk from Creative Family Fun
Complete: Two or Three Pages from either our Woodland Animals Counting Book OR our Woodland Animals K-2 Printable.
Day Seven:
Read: The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
Make: Watercolor Bunny Art from Best Toys for Toddlers
Explore: Create a Wildlife Home with Logs from Rainy Day Mum
Complete: Two or Three Pages from either our Woodland Animals Counting Book OR our Woodland Animals K-2 Printable.
Day Eight:
Read: Woodpecker Wham! by April Pulley Sayre
Make: Woodland Handprint Badger Puppets from Kid's Craft Room
Explore: Woodpecker Science Experiement from Activity Box.
Complete: Two or Three Pages from either our Woodland Animals Counting Book OR our Woodland Animals K-2 Printable.
Day Nine:
Read: Crow Not Crow By Jane Yolen
Make: Crow Paper Plate Craft from Crafts By Amanda
Explore: Nest Nature Hunt Outdoors from Still Playing School
Complete: Two or Three Pages from either our Woodland Animals Counting Book OR our Woodland Animals K-2 Printable.
Day Ten:
Read: The Snowy Nap by Jan Brett (Hedgehog)
Make: Handprint Hedgehog Craft from Simple Everyday Mom
Explore: Patterns Outside in Nature from Megan Zeni
Complete: Two or Three Pages from either our Woodland Animals Counting Book OR our Woodland Animals K-2 Printable.
We have two new ebooks you can get to go with your Woodland Animals Preschool Theme! The first is a Woodland Animals Counting Book and the second is our Woodland Animals K-2 Printable.
Woodland Animals Counting Book for our Woodland Animals Preschool Theme
Here's what you will find in our Woodland Animals Counting Book. This covers number recognition, counting, one-to-one correspondence, number words, and handwriting.
- Counting Pages 1-20, with a place to practice writing the number.
- Ten-Square Pages for Numbers 1-20, asking your child to color the appropriate number of squares for each number (or use chart stickers.)
- Counting Activity for numbers 1-10, without the number provided, where your child needs to count and come up with the correct number.
- Ten Writing Practice Pages for Numbers 1-10.
Woodland Animals K-2 Printable for our Woodland Animals Preschool Theme
Use our Woodland Animals K-2 Printable to add basic skills to your studies. Your child will work mazes, solve puzzles, copy letters, and more. All 36 pages have fun animals to brighten up the pages. Here are the pages included in our Woodland Animals Printable.
- Four Mazes of Different Skill Levels
- For Woodland Animals Words Handwriting Pages
- Four Counting Pages
- One Word Search
- One Crossword Puzzle
- Two Woodland Animals Puzzles
- Two Woodland Animals Sudoku Puzzles
- Woodland Animals Patterning Pages
- One Woodland Animals Dice
- A Woodland Animals Movement Game (using the dice) - two pages
- A Woodland Animals Board Game (also using the dice)
- An Alphabet Maze
- A Numbers Maze for 1-30
- Two Woodland Animals Writing Prompts
- Solutions for all puzzles.
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