Want to hear the funnest thing that happened to me in my early years of teaching? We did a pet day at school and I allowed each of the children to bring a pet to school to share. We lived in rural Idaho and I was excited to see what came. We had lizards, dogs, cats, and even a sheep! The best part thought was when one little girl came riding up on a camel! My jaw dropped. I couldn’t believe it. It was her Grandpa’s camel and he helped her bring it to school to show the students. That was a day I’ll never forget. So today I am sharing some other fun pet preschool activities as well!
As a preschool teacher, incorporating pets into your classroom can be a fun and engaging way to teach young children about responsibility, empathy, and animal care. Here are four pet-themed activities that you can do in your classroom to keep your students entertained and engaged.
- Pet Matching Game
For this game, you’ll need pictures of different pets, such as dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, fish, and birds. Cut out these pictures and laminate them to make them more durable. Then, create a set of matching cards with two identical pictures of each pet.
Divide your students into pairs and give each pair a set of matching cards. Have them take turns flipping over two cards at a time to try and match the pets. This game not only teaches matching skills but also introduces your students to different types of pets. You can use this FREE printable matching game below:
- Pet Show and Tell
This is another fun activity to add to your list of pet preschool activities. Ask your students to bring in a picture or a small stuffed animal of their favorite pet. Have each student take turns sharing their pet with the class, telling the name of the pet, what it likes to do, and how they take care of it.
This activity not only helps develop public speaking skills but also promotes empathy as your students learn about different types of pets and how to take care of them.
- Pet Care Chart
Create a chart with pictures of different pets and their basic needs, such as food, water, exercise, and grooming. Discuss with your students how to take care of a pet and why it’s important to be responsible for their well-being.
Hang the chart in a visible place in your classroom and assign each student a task related to pet care, such as feeding the class fish, watering the plants, or cleaning up after the classroom pets. This activity not only teaches responsibility but also encourages your students to work together to take care of their classroom pets.
Here at Little Owl Academy we LOVE pets. I have two dogs myself who follow me everywhere. That is why I created the Pet Preschool Theme Bundle. It includes a variety of activities for your preschoolers to complete during a pet preschool theme. They include:
Pet Theme Preschool Task Cards
Pet Theme Preschool Math
Pet Theme Preschool Circle Time
And if you’re like me and love books the two books below are perfect to add to your pet preschool activities!
Some Pets Preschool Book Companion
The Night Before the New Pet Book Companion
In conclusion, incorporating these pet preschool activities into your classroom can be a fun and engaging way to teach young children about responsibility, empathy, and animal care. Try these three activities and see how much your students enjoy them!