Children love learning about animals that come out at night! This theme helps them understand animal behaviour and how different creatures see, move and hunt in the dark.
Here are some simple ideas for exploring nighttime creatures at home or school through creative art, stories, pretend play, songs, sensory activities and simple science.
There is also a handy printable of all these ideas, as well as a printable word wall and sorting activity.
🎨 Process Art and Crafts
Build fine motor skills and creativity with the following ideas:
1. Paper Plate Owls
There are many ways to make cute paper plate owls. Start by painting two plates brown, then providing cutouts for eyes, legs, nose and ears. Use the second paper plate cut in half as the wings on either side.
2. Night Sky Collage
Make a beautiful collage of the night sky by using black paper and pasting moon shapes and silver stars. Add some dark tree silhouettes.
3. Handprint Bats
Paint children’s hands with black paint and press them onto white paper with thumbs overlapping — the palms form the bat’s body and the fingers become the wings. Once the paint is dry, glue on googly eyes (or white paper eyes) and draw or stick on a little mouth with fangs. This is a fun way to explore symmetry.
4. Spiky Hedgehogs
For some fine motor practice, children can form the body with playdough or clay, making one end rounded and the other end pointed for the face. Then let them poke toothpicks into the back to make the hedgehog’s prickles.
To finish off, add googly eyes or press in two small beads for eyes, and a tiny black bead or pompom for the nose.
5. Moth Wing Pattern Art
Show children pictures of real moths and discuss how their wings feature beautiful, symmetrical patterns that help them blend in with their natural surroundings.
Fold a sheet of paper in half, then open it and have children paint shapes and colours on one side only. While the paint is still wet, fold the paper again and press gently — when they open it, they’ll see a matching pattern on both sides, just like moth wings!
Once dry, cut out the wing shape and add a small paper body in the middle.
🎵 Music and Movement
Here are some ideas for adding music and movement to your theme:
1. Owl Song
Play this fun song and have children follow the actions that the owls make.
The actions are:
- Flap your wings and fly around
- Open your eyes big and wide
- Land on the ground and hop along
- Turn your head and say “hoot! hoot!”
2. Move Like a Moth
Play some calm, classical music and move like moths fluttering around. Children can use scarves and flap them like moth wings.
3. Nighttime Firefly and Shadow Dancing
Turn down the lights and do a magical firefly dance using glow sticks, ribbons or small torches. Let the children twirl, flutter, and move around the room like glowing fireflies in the night sky.
Then switch to shadow dancing by shining a light or torch on a blank wall and encouraging children to move, stretch, and wave their arms to watch their shadows grow and change.
4. Five Little Bats
Practise counting backwards with this song, based on the original Five Little Ducks:
5. There’s a Wide Eyed Owl
Teach your kids this simple action rhyme and watch the actions in the video below:
There’s a wide-eyed owl
With a pointed nose,
Two pointed ears, and claws for toes.
He sits in a tree, and he looks at you,
He flaps his wings, and says ‘Whoo Whoo Whoo’.
📚 Literacy and Stories
Here are some literacy ideas and lovely stories about nocturnal animals to read to your children (or watch the read-alouds with them below).
1. Nocturnal Animals Word Wall
Print and display this ready-made Nocturnal Word Wall featuring words like bat, owl, moon, night, stars, and fox. Cut out and laminate the cards if you wish, then arrange them on a wall or board at children’s eye level. Encourage children to read, match, and use the words during play and discussions.
2. Nocturnal and Diurnal Animal Sort
Teach children about animals that are active during the day and those that come out at night with this fun sorting activity. Use the printable picture cards below to talk about when each animal sleeps and wakes, then sort them into two groups — daytime animals like bees and squirrels, and nocturnal animals like bats and owls.
3. The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark
Many children can relate to feeling afraid of the dark. In this story by Jill Tomlinson, Plop the baby barn owl discovers that the dark isn’t so scary after all — with a little help from his friends, he learns that nighttime can be wonderful too.
4. Stellaluna
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon is a heartwarming story about a bat who is raised by a bird after she is separated from her mother. Stellaluna knows that she is different to her bird siblings, but realises that being different is okay.
5. Night Animals
Night Animals by Gianna Marino is a funny story about a group of animals who are afraid of night animals until they realise they are also night animals.
This is a fun, animated version with lots of cool animal sounds. It’s also a good story to introduce the theme of nocturnal animals.
6. Odd One Out Game
Play a game of Nocturnal Odd One Out by saying three or four words and asking children to identify which one does not belong in the group.
Here are some examples to use:
- Bat – Owl – Fox – Dog
(Dog is the odd one out — it’s not nocturnal.) - Raccoon – Hedgehog – Butterfly – Badger
(Butterfly is the odd one out — it’s active in the daytime.) - Owl – Bat – Sun – Moth
(Sun is the odd one out — it’s not an animal and it comes out during the day.) - Fox – Cat – Mouse – Tree
(Tree is the odd one out — it’s not an animal.) - Cricket – Frog – Moth – Bee
(Bee is the odd one out — bees are daytime insects.) - Bat – Owl – Firefly – Elephant
(Elephant is the odd one out — it’s not nocturnal and doesn’t live in the same habitat.)
🪵 Science, Sensory and Nature Play
1. Forest Sensory Bin
Set up a forest sensory bin with natural materials, such as twigs, leaves, and pinecones, along with small woodland toys and animals.
Here are more ideas for setting up sensory stations.
2. Owl Nest Building
Provide children with shredded paper, straw, or dried grass and let them build their own cosy owl nests.
This hands-on activity encourages creativity, fine motor skills, and an understanding of how animals create safe places to rest at night.
3. Night Sky Sensory Bottle
Create the effect of a night sky by adding water to a jar or bottle and making it a dark colour with blue or black food colouring. Add glitter, sequins, and tiny star shapes, then seal the lid tightly.
When children shake the bottle, they can watch the “stars” swirl and sparkle like the night sky.
Discuss how the food colouring dissolves in the water, but the glitter and other materials separate from the water when it settles.
💬 Dramatic Play and Social-Emotional Learning
This theme lends itself well to pretend play! Here are a few ideas:
1. Pretend Forest Campout
Set up a pretend campsite with torches, sleeping bags or blankets, and soft toy animals. Make the room as dark as possible, then tell stories about the night and listen to recordings of animal sounds to try to identify the animals.
2. Bat Cave Den
Create a dark cave with blankets and chairs or tables and let children enjoy some quiet time, pretending to be bats living in the cave.
3. Feelings Discussion
Talk about feeling scared of the dark and being brave. This is a good discussion to have before reading the story The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark, above.
4. Animal Rescue Centre
Set up a vet or animal rescue station and invite children to pretend to be vets, caring for nocturnal animals that have been hurt or are unwell.
Here are more role-play ideas for kids.
I hope you’ll enjoy trying some of these ideas. Here is a full list of Preschool Themes and Activities for year-round ideas.
For more seasonal fun, check out these Fall Theme Ideas or Pumpkin Theme Activities.
📄 Want a quick reference sheet of these activities? Download the free printable below and keep it in your planning binder.
24 Nocturnal Animals Activities for Preschool and Kindergarten
Notes
Children love learning about animals that come out at night! This theme helps them understand animal behaviour and how different creatures see, move and hunt in the dark.
Here are some simple ideas for exploring nighttime creatures at home or school through creative art, stories, pretend play, songs, sensory activities and simple science.
There is also a handy printable of all these ideas, as well as a printable word wall and sorting activity.
🎨 Process Art and Crafts
Build fine motor skills and creativity with the following ideas:
1. Paper Plate Owls
There are many ways to make cute paper plate owls. Start by painting two plates brown, then providing cutouts for eyes, legs, nose and ears. Use the second paper plate cut in half as the wings on either side.
2. Night Sky Collage
Make a beautiful collage of the night sky by using black paper and pasting moon shapes and silver stars. Add some dark tree silhouettes.
3. Handprint Bats
Paint children’s hands with black paint and press them onto white paper with thumbs overlapping — the palms form the bat’s body and the fingers become the wings. Once the paint is dry, glue on googly eyes (or white paper eyes) and draw or stick on a little mouth with fangs. This is a fun way to explore symmetry.
4. Spiky Hedgehogs
For some fine motor practice, children can form the body with playdough or clay, making one end rounded and the other end pointed for the face. Then let them poke toothpicks into the back to make the hedgehog’s prickles.
To finish off, add googly eyes or press in two small beads for eyes, and a tiny black bead or pompom for the nose.
5. Moth Wing Pattern Art
Show children pictures of real moths and discuss how their wings feature beautiful, symmetrical patterns that help them blend in with their natural surroundings.
Fold a sheet of paper in half, then open it and have children paint shapes and colours on one side only. While the paint is still wet, fold the paper again and press gently — when they open it, they’ll see a matching pattern on both sides, just like moth wings!
Once dry, cut out the wing shape and add a small paper body in the middle.
🎵 Music and Movement
Here are some ideas for adding music and movement to your theme:
1. Owl Song
Play this fun song and have children follow the actions that the owls make.
The actions are:
- Flap your wings and fly around
- Open your eyes big and wide
- Land on the ground and hop along
- Turn your head and say “hoot! hoot!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kEjZHKXLDg
2. Move Like a Moth
Play some calm, classical music and move like moths fluttering around. Children can use scarves and flap them like moth wings.
3. Nighttime Firefly and Shadow Dancing
Turn down the lights and do a magical firefly dance using glow sticks, ribbons or small torches. Let the children twirl, flutter, and move around the room like glowing fireflies in the night sky.
Then switch to shadow dancing by shining a light or torch on a blank wall and encouraging children to move, stretch, and wave their arms to watch their shadows grow and change.
4. Five Little Bats
Practise counting backwards with this song, based on the original Five Little Ducks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPWKnbC6SA8
5. There’s a Wide Eyed Owl
Teach your kids this simple action rhyme and watch the actions in the video below:
There's a wide-eyed owlWith a pointed nose, Two pointed ears, and claws for toes.He sits in a tree, and he looks at you,He flaps his wings, and says 'Whoo Whoo Whoo'.
https://youtu.be/OGv9ViF9bso
📚 Literacy and Stories
Here are some literacy ideas and lovely stories about nocturnal animals to read to your children (or watch the read-alouds with them below).
1. Nocturnal Animals Word Wall
Print and display this ready-made Nocturnal Word Wall featuring words like bat, owl, moon, night, stars, and fox. Cut out and laminate the cards if you wish, then arrange them on a wall or board at children’s eye level. Encourage children to read, match, and use the words during play and discussions
2. Nocturnal and Diurnal Animal Sort
Teach children about animals that are active during the day and those that come out at night with this fun sorting activity. Use the printable picture cards below to talk about when each animal sleeps and wakes, then sort them into two groups — daytime animals like bees and squirrels, and nocturnal animals like bats and owls.
3. The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark
Many children can relate to feeling afraid of the dark. In this story by Jill Tomlinson, Plop the baby barn owl discovers that the dark isn’t so scary after all — with a little help from his friends, he learns that nighttime can be wonderful too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxQHs_o72BM
4. Stellaluna
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon is a heartwarming story about a bat who is raised by a bird after she is separated from her mother. Stellaluna knows that she is different to her bird siblings, but realises that being different is okay.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcvW5rQcu4g
5. Night Animals
Night Animals by Gianna Marino is a funny story about a group of animals who are afraid of night animals until they realise they are also night animals.
This is a fun, animated version with lots of cool animal sounds. It's also a good story to introduce the theme of nocturnal animals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-Onf83lfH4
6. Odd One Out Game
Play a game of Nocturnal Odd One Out by saying three or four words and asking children to identify which one does not belong in the group.
Here are some examples to use:
- Bat – Owl – Fox – Dog (Dog is the odd one out — it’s not nocturnal.)
- Raccoon – Hedgehog – Butterfly – Badger (Butterfly is the odd one out — it’s active in the daytime.)
- Owl – Bat – Sun – Moth (Sun is the odd one out — it’s not an animal and it comes out during the day.)
- Fox – Cat – Mouse – Tree (Tree is the odd one out — it’s not an animal.)
- Cricket – Frog – Moth – Bee (Bee is the odd one out — bees are daytime insects.)
- Bat – Owl – Firefly – Elephant (Elephant is the odd one out — it’s not nocturnal and doesn’t live in the same habitat.)
🪵 Science, Sensory and Nature Play
1. Forest Sensory Bin
Set up a forest sensory bin with natural materials, such as twigs, leaves, and pinecones, along with small woodland toys and animals.
2. Owl Nest Building
Provide children with shredded paper, straw, or dried grass and let them build their own cosy owl nests.
This hands-on activity encourages creativity, fine motor skills, and an understanding of how animals create safe places to rest at night.
3. Night Sky Sensory Bottle
Create the effect of a night sky by adding water to a jar or bottle and making it a dark colour with blue or black food colouring. Add glitter, sequins, and tiny star shapes, then seal the lid tightly.
When children shake the bottle, they can watch the “stars” swirl and sparkle like the night sky.
Discuss how the food colouring dissolves in the water, but the glitter and other materials separate from the water when it settles.
💬 Dramatic Play and Social-Emotional Learning
This theme lends itself well to pretend play! Here are a few ideas:
1. Pretend Forest Campout
Set up a pretend campsite with torches, sleeping bags or blankets, and soft toy animals. Make the room as dark as possible, then tell stories about the night and listen to recordings of animal sounds to try to identify the animals.
2. Bat Cave Den
Create a dark cave with blankets and chairs or tables and let children enjoy some quiet time, pretending to be bats living in the cave.
3. Feelings Discussion
Talk about feeling scared of the dark and being brave. This is a good discussion to have before reading the story The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark, above.
4. Animal Rescue Centre
Set up a vet or animal rescue station and invite children to pretend to be vets, caring for nocturnal animals that have been hurt or are unwell.