World Animal Day – 4th October 2025

Every year on 4th October, people around the globe celebrate World Animal Day – a day dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of animals in our lives, protecting their habitats, and encouraging kindness towards every living creature.

For homeschooling families, World Animal Day is a perfect opportunity to explore science, geography, literacy, and art, all while fostering empathy and respect for the natural world.

Why World Animal Day Matters

Animals play vital roles in our ecosystems. From bees pollinating plants, to birds spreading seeds, to larger mammals shaping landscapes, every creature contributes to the delicate balance of life on Earth. Celebrating this day helps children understand how connected we are to the animal kingdom – and how small actions, like recycling or planting wildflowers, can help protect it.

Homeschool Ideas for World Animal Day

🐾 Animal Fact Hunt – Choose an animal your child loves and research fun facts about it. Younger children can make a simple poster, while older ones could write a short report.

🌍 Geography Link – Explore animals from different continents. Where do lions live? What about penguins, pandas, or dolphins? Mark them on a world map.

🎨 Creative Art – Paint or draw your favourite animal. Try using natural materials like leaves or stones to make animal collages.

📖 Storytelling – Read or write a story from an animal’s perspective. What might a hedgehog say about autumn, or a whale about the ocean?

🔢 Maths with Animals – Count spots on ladybirds, stripes on zebras, or make simple word problems using animal groups (e.g., “If three rabbits each eat two carrots, how many carrots are eaten altogether?”).

🌿 Outdoor Exploration – Take a walk and look for signs of wildlife – feathers, tracks, spider webs, or birdsong.

Linking to Kindness and Care

World Animal Day also encourages us to think about how we can protect animals:

• Planting flowers for bees and butterflies

• Putting out water for birds and hedgehogs

• Supporting wildlife charities

• Reducing plastic waste to protect ocean life

A Story to Inspire

If your child enjoys stories that connect them to nature, my new book Benny the Bee and the Golden Dandelions is a wonderful choice.

Benny is a cheerful little bee whose world changes when the flowers in his meadow begin to disappear. Through courage, clever ideas, and teamwork with his hive, Benny discovers that even the smallest creature can make a big difference.

Perfect for KS1 children (ages 5–7), the book also includes cross-curricular learning opportunities in science, literacy, numeracy, art, and outdoor education – making it an ideal resource for homeschool families on World Animal Day.

Benny the Bee and the Golden Dandelions is available now https://amzn.eu/d/iiU2GdB

Celebrate Together

This World Animal Day, take time to celebrate the creatures we share our planet with. Whether you read a story, explore outdoors, or try an animal-inspired project, it’s a wonderful chance to nurture curiosity, kindness, and respect for the natural world.

Let’s celebrate the animals who make our world brighter, wilder, and endlessly fascinating!