Preschool Forest Animals Theme

Explore fun and engaging Woodland Forest-themed preschool activities that introduce trees, forest animals, and nature-based learning. Find hands-on ideas for small groups, whole class lessons, and independent centers—perfect for planning magical, forest-inspired lessons your preschoolers will love.
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Theme Planning

Activities

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Preschool Woodland Forest Animals Theme Planning  Section

Below, you'll find our Theme Map outlining key topics to explore, suggested learning objectives to guide your lessons, and a free activity plan to help you get started. Club Members can download our Rocks Dirt and Mud theme planning guide and all of our printable resources and instruction pages for free inside our Activity Library! Not a member? Learn More Here

Preschool Woodland Forest Animals  Topic Ideas & Learning Objectives

Here are some suggested preschool learning objectives for a Woodland Forest Animals theme:
Cognitive & Science

• Identify common woodland animals and describe their characteristics (e.g., fur, feathers, tails).
• Recognize forest habitats and name elements that animals need to survive (food, water, shelter).
• Sort animals by features (e.g., fur vs. feathers, two legs vs. four legs).
• Understand and describe simple life cycles of forest animals (e.g., frog, deer, owl).
• Explore the concept of camouflage and how animals use it for protection.

Language & Literacy

• Listen to and retell woodland animal-themed stories using key details.
• Use descriptive vocabulary related to forest animals and habitats (e.g., burrow, hollow log, den).
• Identify the beginning sounds in the names of forest animals (e.g., “B is for bear”).
• Engage in dramatic play by acting out animal movements and sounds.
• Ask and answer questions about forest animals using "who," "what," "where," and "why."

Math

• Count groups of forest animals or animal tracks (1–10).
• Sort forest animal figures by size, type, or color.
• Identify patterns using natural materials (e.g., leaf, acorn, leaf, acorn).
• Use positional words to describe where animals are in relation to objects (e.g., The owl is in the tree, The rabbit is under the log).
• Measure and compare footprints or pretend animal “nests” using nonstandard units.

Social-Emotional

• Practice empathy by discussing how to care for animals and nature.
• Work cooperatively during pretend play in a "woodland animal rescue" or nature explorer role.
• Identify and express emotions using animal characters as examples (e.g., "How does the bear feel when he loses his acorn?").

Fine & Gross Motor

• Develop fine motor skills through activities like cutting animal masks, threading “vines” through forest beads, or drawing animal tracks.
• Practice gross motor movements by moving like forest animals (hop like a bunny, slither like a snake, climb like a squirrel).
• Build dens or nests with natural materials (sticks, leaves, cotton balls) to strengthen coordination and creativity.
  
  

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Free Woodland Forest Animals Preschool Activity Plan

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Rocks Dirt and Mud Preschool Activities

Below you will find some of our favorite activities for this theme. Click on a button below to find specific activities by type, or visit our free Preschool Activity Library to find even MORE Preschool Activities for this theme! Use the yellow arrow to return to the top!

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Pine  Branch Process Art*

Create an invitation to paint with pine branches for a fun process art experience. View Member Instructions

*Pine Cone Process Art

Place your paper in a shallow box. Dip your pine cones into  paint, and place them inside the box. Roll the pine cones around like marbles, until your desired effect is achieved. View Member Instructions

Try this!

Bear Bubble Painting

Offer students a bear cutout along with brown paint, googly eyes, pom poms, and construction paper. Children can paint the bubble wrap with paint and stamp it onto the bear cutout. Glue on eyes, and add brown pom poms onto the stomach for added texture.  View Member Instructions

Baby Snowy Owl Pine Cone

Tear cotton balls into pieces. Push cotton fluff into the pine cone, until it looks like a fluffy nestling.
Add googly eyes, and a paper beak. View Member Instructions

*Sleeping Bear Craft

Create an adorable Sleeping Bear Craft that will engage and excite your little learners. Perfect for enhancing fine motor skills and exploring creativity, this easy DIY project is a must-try for preschool teachers!
View the Blog Post or View Member Instructions

Try this!

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Provide play silks, clips, and a variety of stuffed forest animals for children to create animal homes. 

*Build a Bear Den

Create a Bear Den in your dramatic play space this week. You can add a Faux Christmas Tree and Woodland Creature Costumes to the space as well.
View Member Instructions

This adorable bear cave was created by Community Member Veronica G. of Ronnie's Dayhome

Photo Credit: Veronica G of Ronnie's Dayhome

Act out Goldilocks and the Three Bears

After reading this story, set out a variety of props. You can include different sized spoons, bowls, chairs, and blankets.  Discuss the different scenes in the story and sequence of events, discuss the the characters (how would the different characters talk, walk). Practice repeating the lines of the characters using different voices. Encourage the students to use the provided props to practice acting out the story.
You can find these hats in our Goldilocks and the Three Bears Storybook Theater. Buy Now

Get this in our shop

Campground Dramatic Play

The best way to explore the forest is by camping! Set up a pretend campground for children to really get into this theme!

Buy this activity pack!

Wildlife Animal Doctor

Provide stuffed animals and doctor equipment for children to pretend to be wildlife animal doctors. View Member Instructions

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STEM Challenge Build a Bear Den

Work on planning and building skills with this fun invitation to play! Download your own copy of this
free Build a Bear Den Stem Activity!

Buy this activity pack!

Forest Small World Play and Building Ideas *

*Add a variety of Forest Animals to your construction space this week. Add nature blocks, pine cones, Pine Trees, Rocks, Branches and other items you may find in the Forest.

Member Adria J. created this small world play setup as part of a Forest Theme.
I like how she used a variety of materials, there are so many wonderful
textures that add richness to this wonderful play experience.
She cut oatmeal containers and covered them in craft moss to create the animal homes.  View Member Instructions

Photo Credit: Adria J

Forest Small World Play

​Alina of Growing Up Montessori & Waldorf Inspired Hybrid  provided the children
in her care natural elements from the forest, and forest animals for
them to create their own small world play spaces.
View Member Instructions

Photo Credit: Alina of Growing Up Montessori

This fabulous small world play invitation was create by Community
Member Alina D. of Growing Up Montessori & Waldorf Inspired Hybrid

Photo Credit: Alina of Growing up Montessori

Build a Bear Den or a Cave

Member Jenna L. provided materials for creating animal habitats and places to hibernate! I love the creative use of both classroom materials and outdoor collections that were used! Buy Now

Photo Credit: Jenna L.

Invitation to create your own
woodland forest habitat

Community member Lisa M. created this Forest Small World Play Area invitation.
She used a cardboard box and provided the children many natural elements.
View Member Instructions

Photo Credit: Lisa M.

*Build a Cave with Blocks

Invite your preschoolers to design and construct caves in the block area for play animals.
View Member Instructions

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Who lives in the forest?

Preschoolers will love the cute forest characters from this activity! Support print awareness, improve attention to detail, and vocabulary development. 
​You can find this activity inside our Forest Activity pack. Buy Now

Buy this activity pack!

*Forest Animal Tracing Cards

These forest animal tracing cards are a fun and engaging way for preschoolers to practice their fine motor skills and learn about different animals. Just print, cut, and let the tracing begin! Each card features a unique forest animal, such as a bear, fox, and deer, along with the corresponding word. Ideal for preschoolers or homeschooling activities. Buy Now

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Whoo Is Calling?

Have your participants sit in a circle with their backs facing inside the group.
Choose one child to be the owl, the owl will make owl sounds while the rest of the children try and guess who the owl is based on sound. Check out a related activity inside our Nocturnal Animals Science set.
View Member Instructions

Feed the Bear Name Recognition

Get your little ones excited to learn their names with this fun Feed the Bear Name Game and Worksheets printable activity! Perfect for preschoolers, this editable activity allows you to personalize it with their names. Watch as they practice recognition, spelling, and fine motor skills while having a bear-y good time! Buy Now

Sleeping Bear Rhyme

This Sleeping Bear Rhyme is a fun rhyme for this theme!
Check out this rhyme and the rest from this Winter Circle Time Rhymes pack here. Buy Now

Buy this activity pack!

*5 Little Owls Chant

This fun little finger-play is perfect for this theme! Hold up 5 fingers to represent owls as you chant...
5 Little Owls Sitting in a tree. One flew away, how many do you see? Continue counting down and reducing fingers until you get to the last one 1 little owl sitting in a tree, he flew away now there are no more to see!
View Member Instructions

More Ideas from Around the Web:

​​​DIY Printable Forest Animal Felt Set from 1234 More Storytimes

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Whoo's There? A Bedtime Shadow Book
​by Heather Zschock

Moonlight Animals
​ by Elizabeth Golding

Forest Bright Forest Night
​by Jennifer Ward

.Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?
​by Bill Martin Jr/Eric Carle

Night-Night Forest Friends*
​by Annie Bach

Owl Babies
​by Martin Waddel

We're Going on a Bear Hunt
​by Michael Rosen

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Learn Positional Phrases

This printable preschool activity focuses on teaching positional phrases to young learners. With engaging visuals and fun exercises, your child will master concepts like up, down, in, out, and more! Perfect for sensory play and developing spatial awareness. Get your hands on this educational resource now!
Buy Now

Buy this activity pack!

Sleeping Bear Counting Mat 0-20

This adorable Sleeping Bear Counting Mat is a fun and educational preschool activity! Help your little ones practice counting from 1 to 20 as they place the correct number of bears on each mat. Perfect for teaching early math skills in a playful way! Download and print now. Buy Now

Buy this activity pack!

​Deer in the Forest Count to Ten Rolling Game*

This hands-on counting game is great to play solo or as a small group!
This power activity supports children in learning math skills, learning about habitats, and learning to take turns. 
While playing engage in discussion about the habitat that deer live in. Are there deer in your community?
​ Included in the Woodland Forest Activity Pack. Buy Now

Buy this activity pack!

Bear Nose Shape Clip Cards*

These adorable bear shape clip cards are a fun and engaging way for preschoolers to practice identifying and matching shapes! Simply clip the correct shape on each card. A great hands-on activity for little learners that promotes shape recognition and fine motor skills! Grab your FREE sample now! Buy Now

Buy this activity pack!

Sort and Graph Woodland Animals

Use toy woodland animals or photos of animals to sort and classify by a number of characteristics such as where they live what type of feet they have, and sounds they make. 
Check out our Sort and Classify Animals Activity Pack for related activities. Buy Now

Sort and Classify Animals Activity Pack available in our shop!

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Going on a Bear Hunt Gross Motor Activity

Act out Going on a Bear Hunt! Set up an obstacle course with items to represent each part of the story. View Member Instructions

Woodland Forest Animal Movement Activity

Challenge children to move and walk like forest animals. Put on your favorite music, call out an animal name. Children act like that animal until the music stops, then you call out a new animal. View Member Instructions

Create Woodland Animals with Play Dough

Woodland cookie cutters would be a great accessory for play dough during this theme, or use to make a yummy snack! Either activity is great for fine motor development. View Member Instructions

Fine Motor: Tracks in the Snow*

Darlene S. created an animal track invitation by using white model magic to make forest animal footprints (you can also use this white play dough recipe) This is a great activity to spark a discussion about animal tracks, and a great fine motor workout. View Member Instructions

Photo Credit: Darlene S.

Forest Color, Cut, & Paste a Scene

In this individual activity, preschoolers will color a forest scene, cut out various objects, and then glue them onto the scene. This activity helps develop fine motor skills and encourages creativity. Materials needed include scissors, glue, and coloring utensils. Buy Now

Buy this activity pack!

Sawdust Play Dough

Discover a creative and sensory experience for your preschoolers with this easy-to-make DIY Sawdust Play Dough. Engage their senses and spark their imagination with this hands-on activity perfect for preschool classrooms.
View the Blog Post or View Member Instructions

Try this!

Woodland Forest Loose Parts Play Invitation

Immerse children in the wonders of the forest with this engaging preschool activity. They will collect natural materials, use them to create forest scenes, and engage in imaginative play. This activity promotes creativity, observation skills, and a love for nature. Don't forget to emphasize the importance of caring for the environment!
View Member Instructions

Walking in the Forest Movement Song

Practice walking, stomping, jumping, and skipping through the forest with this fun song.  See what animals the children come across as they go through the forest together.  Listen to it on YouTube here!
View Member Instructions

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Match-Up Animal Scat

Use clay or play dough to make replica animal scat. Provide a chart or book for children to study to match up the "scat" to the animal it comes from. View Member Instructions

Nocturnal and Diurnal Animal Sorting
Story Time Activity

Teach your little ones about diurnal and nocturnal animals with this printable preschool activity! Kids will have fun sorting and categorizing different animals based on their daily habits. Perfect for early learning and science lessons!
Buy Now

Get this free activity!

We're Going on a Bear Hunt Sensory Activity

​Community Member Kathy M. of Just Like Home Childcare & Playschool, Inc. drew some inspiration from the book "We're going on a bear hunt" to create this adorable sensory and literacy (Story Re-telling) experience.
View Member Instructions

Build a Forest on the Light Table

Community Member Cheryl V. of Cherie's Learning Tree provided the children with  these fabulous materials to create a light table display.  I just love how the water shines through the pond. View Member Instructions

Photo Credit: Cherie's Learning Tree

Explore Animal Shadows

Cheryl V. of Cherie's Learning Tree provided the children with a
projector to explore shadows of the animals at night!
View Member Instructions

Photo Credit: Cherie's Learning Tree

Invite the children to build with loose parts

Alina D. of Growing Up Montessori & Waldorf Inspired Hybrid provided the materials for the children in her care to create this beautiful forest light table invitation. View Member Instructions

Photo Credit Alina of Growing up Montessori

Create a Forest Sensory Bin

​This forest themed sensory bin was created by Community Member Cheryl V. of
Cherie's Learning Tree
View Member Instructions

Photo Credit: Cheryl V. of Cherie's Learning Tree

*Explore Forest Animal Tracks

This Forest Animal Tracks Photo Match printable activity is perfect for teaching little ones about the different footprints left by woodland animals. Engage their curiosity and observation skills as they match the tracks to the corresponding animal. A fun and educational way to explore the wonders of nature! Buy Now

Buy this activity pack!

Forest Xylophone Instruments

Gather empty jars and fill them with different items found in nature (grass, rocks, dirt, water, acorns, etc.) and two sticks to play the xylophone.  Place items in their own jars and lay them on their side in the grass.  Use the sticks to play the xylophone and see how each jar makes a different sound with the different items in them.

More Ideas from Around the Web:

Sound Effects activity for "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" from Reading Confetti

A Forest in the Sandbox from Exploring the Outdoor Classroom

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Find Animal Tracks in Your Community

Take a walk around your community and follow some tracks. 
Take a look at tracks on different terrain. See if you can follow the tracks and look for clues about what kind of creature left them. If they are human tracks try and guess the age of the person based on the size of the footprint. 
Taking the time to stop and study the environment around you is a great skill for young children to learn and supports engagement in the community we live in. View Member Instructions

What Animal Do You Feel Like Today?*

Start or end (or both!) each day through this theme with this question. 
Ask your preschooler to choose a forest animal that reflects how they are feeling that morning. Allow time for them to explain why they chose that animal. Asking them how they are feeling in this way encourages imaginative thinking and supports engagement. Asking again at the end of the day encourages reflection.  View Member Instructions

Sharing Bear Routine*

Introduce a sharing bear into your program. At the end of the day, have your students sit in a circle and pass the bear around. The person holding the bear can share something special about their day.
View Member Instructions

What homes do animals live in?

Research and discuss different homes animals live in, including where they sleep in the winter! Buy Now

Wildlife Community Helpers

Learn about community helpers that help wildlife in your area! The US Forest Service website is a great resource to get you started.
View Member Instructions

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Celebrate your Theme

Changing up your environment to reflect your theme supports engagement with young children. 
During this theme change up your Focus Wall if you have one. My Fall Pocket Chart Calendar Cards include Number Cards with racoons on them that are perfect for your calendar display and activities during this theme.  Display photos of forest animals throughout your space, add pine cones and branches to your science space for children to explore. 
​Consider a theme long project that children can come back to through the week. 

My Favorite Animal Friend

Many preschoolers have a stuffed animal they love and often it's an animal of some kind. 
​Invite your preschoolers to bring in their favorite stuffed friend to share with the class. 
Allow enough time for each child to share about their stuffed animal (if you have a large class size consider splitting this up through the week), after children have shared about their friend ask them where that animal would live in the world. Would they live in a forest? why or why not?

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Club Members can download all of our printable resources and activity guides for our hands-on activities
for free inside our Activity Library! Not a member? Learn More Here

Woodland Forest Preschool Activity Pack

$7.00

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Campground Dramatic Play Pack

$5.00

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Animal Winter Homes

$3.00

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Animals Sorting and Classifying Mats

$4.00

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Goldilocks and the Three Bears Puppet Theater

$5.00

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Free Forest Bright, Forest Night Pre-K Book Companion

$0.00

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Free Bear Snores On Book Companion and Den Building STEM Activity

$0.00

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Winter Circle Time Rhymes

$4.00

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Fall Calendar Display and Calendar Games

$4.00

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Nocturnal Animals Day and Night Preschool Activities

$7.00

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Nocturnal Animals Preschool Science Set

$4.00

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Flashlight Pre-K Book Companion

$3.00

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