Animal Theme ideas for OSHC
37 DIY activities for a animal theme at before and after school care or vacation care, usually run around NAIDOC Week (first full week of July) or 7 September. Pick and mix, or build a balanced day in one click.
Animal Face Mini Pizzas
Children decorate mini pizza bases with toppings to look like jungle animal faces, then bake and eat them.
Wild Rescue · Threatened Species Day · Animal Theme +1Animal Sanctuary Diorama
Children build and decorate a wildlife sanctuary in a shoebox for toy animals, thinking about the food, water and shelter animals need.
NAIDOC Week · Animal Theme · Aussie Outback Day +3Animal Track Casting
Children press model animal tracks into clay or plaster to make casts, then learn to identify native animal footprints.
Wilderness Adventure · Outdoor Explorers · Aussie Outback Day +2Animal Track Trail
Children follow a trail of printed animal footprints around the yard and work out which animal made them.
Down on the Farm · Games Day · Animal Theme +1Barnyard Games
Children play classic circle and running games with a farm twist, such as farmyard tag and barnyard races.
Threatened Species Day · Easter · Aussie Outback Day +1Bilby Ears Headbands
Children make bilby ear headbands and learn about this threatened Australian marsupial and why it needs protecting.
Polar Day · Science Week · Winter Wonderland +2Blubber Glove Experiment
Children put one hand in a shortening-lined bag and dip both hands in icy water to feel how fat keeps polar animals warm. Memorable science.
Rabbit Garden Day · Easter · Cooking Day +1Bunny Face Biscuits
Children decorate round biscuits as bunny faces with icing and simple toppings. A sweet treat for a garden day.
Clay and Pottery Day · Animal Theme · Craft Day +2Clay Animal Sculptures
Children sculpt animals from clay, practising shaping, joining and adding texture.
Polar Day · Winter Wonderland · Animal Theme +1Cotton Wool Polar Bears
Children glue cotton wool onto a bear shape to make fluffy polar bears. A soft, sensory craft.
Everything's Duckie · Great Race Day · Animal Theme +1Duck Walk Relay
Children squat low and waddle like ducks to the finish line in a giggle-filled relay race.
Lost Creatures · Threatened Species Day · Environmental Day +3Extinct Animal Research
Children research an extinct or endangered animal and present their findings to the group.
Down on the Farm · Sensory Day · Animal Theme +1Farm Animal Sensory Tub
Children dig through oats or hay to find hidden toy farm animals, naming each one and the sound it makes.
Down on the Farm · Animal Theme · Detective DayFarm Animal Tracks Match
Children match footprint cards to the farm animals that made them, learning to look closely at shapes and patterns.
Flying High · Bird Watching Day · Bug Day +1Flying Animal Mobile
Children make card birds, bats and insects and hang them from a coat hanger to create a flying mobile.
Animal Theme · Under the Sea · World Oceans Day +3Group Ocean Wall Mural
Children create sea animal artworks that are collected into one large underwater mural, giving everyone a part in a shared display.
Pet Day · Kindness Day · Cooking Day +2Homemade Dog Biscuits
Children mix and bake simple oat and pumpkin dog biscuits to donate to a local animal shelter. Cooking with kindness built in.
All About Australia Day · Animal Theme · Aussie Outback Day +3Kangaroo and Koala Masks
Younger children paint and decorate paper plate masks of kangaroos or koalas, talking about the features of each native animal.
Autumn Leaves · Nature Play Day · Animal Theme +3Leaf Animal Creatures
Children collect fallen leaves and arrange them into animals and creatures, using shape and colour imaginatively.
Greek Myths Day · Mythical Creatures · Dinosaur & Unicorn Day +3Mythical Creature Mash-Up
Children invent a new mythical creature by combining parts of different animals, then draw it and give it a name and story.
Wild Aotearoa · Threatened Species Day · Animal Theme +1Native Creature Fact Cards
Children research an animal native to Aotearoa and make a trading-card style fact card with a drawing and key facts.
Paper Crafts Day · Japan Day · Craft Day +2Origami Animals
Children follow step-by-step folds to make paper animals like frogs, cats and fish. Builds focus and following instructions.
Jungle Safari · Jungle Mission · Animal Theme +2Paper Chain Snakes
Children loop and link paper strips into colourful paper chain snakes.
Rainforest Day · Paper Crafts Day · Animal Theme +1Paper Frog Jumping Contest
Children fold origami frogs and see whose jumps the furthest. Craft and competition combined.
Down on the Farm · Animal Theme · Paper Crafts Day +1Paper Plate Farm Animals
Children turn paper plates into pigs, sheep and cows using paint, cotton wool and card features.
Panda Quest · Animal Theme · Craft Day +1Paper Plate Panda Masks
Children paint and cut paper plates into panda masks, then use them for animal play. A simple craft that sparks talk about pandas and their habitat.
Backyard Play Day · Pet Day · Animal Theme +2Paper Plate Puppy Masks
Younger children make cartoon puppy masks from paper plates, then use them for dog-themed backyard pretend play.
Polar Day · Winter Wonderland · Animal Theme +1Penguin Waddle Relay
Children waddle like penguins with a ball between their knees. A silly relay that suits younger children.
Yarn Day · Craft Day · Animal Theme +1Pom-Pom Creatures
Children make woolly pom-poms and turn them into animals by adding felt ears, eyes and tails.
Wild Aotearoa · Yarn Day · Animal Theme +2Pom-Pom Kiwi Birds
Children wrap brown wool into pom-poms and add a long card beak and feet to make kiwi birds, learning about this flightless bird of Aotearoa.
Pet Day · Dramatic Play Day · Careers Day +3Pretend Vet Clinic
Children run a vet clinic for soft toys, taking turns as vets, nurses and pet owners. Rich role-play about caring for animals.
Jungle Mission · Rainforest Day · Jungle Safari +2Rainforest Canopy Craft
Children layer paper leaves, vines and animals onto a cardboard tube tree to show rainforest layers.
Pet Day · Game Show Day · Animal ThemeResponsible Pet Owner Quiz
Children answer quiz questions about what pets need, from food and water to exercise and vet care. Fun facts with a message.
Threatened Species Day · Wild Rescue · Animal Theme +1Threatened Species Fact Files
Children research a threatened Australian animal and create a fact file covering its habitat, diet, threats and how people can help.
Wild Aotearoa · Treasure Hunters Day · Outdoor Explorers +1Tuatara Camouflage Hunt
One child hides a painted tuatara rock somewhere in the yard and others search for it, learning how camouflage helps animals hide.
Mindfulness Day · Pamper and Zen Day · Wellbeing Wednesday +2Yoga Story Adventure
Children act out a story using simple yoga poses, turning into trees, animals and mountains as the tale unfolds.
Lunar New Year · Animal Theme · Culture Celebration DayZodiac Animal Discovery
Children find their zodiac animal from their birth year, read about its traditional traits and compare animals with friends.