PIrates - EYFS/Early Years activities, displays and ideas
Ahoy mateys! Set sail for adventure and discover a swashbuckling world of pirates! On this page, young learners will embark on an exciting journey across the high seas, exploring pirate life, treasure hunts, and daring voyages. Get your learning shipshape with our planning ideas, and let imaginations run wild with pirate character colouring mask templates and our immersive pirate ship role-play pack. Boost literacy with our fun letters and sounds game and snap cards, then craft your own look with pirate hat templates. Enjoy engaging activities like the pirate ship names game, creating 'Pirate Wanted' posters with our templates, and mastering numbers with counting mats/posters and our walk the plank numberline. Spark imaginative play with pirate role-play activity challenge cards, decipher clues on a treasure map, guess what's inside the treasure chest, and get creative with our design a pirate flag activity. Arrr you ready for an unforgettable adventure? Yo-ho-ho! 🏴☠️💰
SECTIONS ON THIS PAGE:
Free Sample Resources
Featured resources
Core ‘Pirates’ resources - Use the drop-down to filter by keywords or SCROLL DOWN to browse
Related resources in ‘Sand’ and ‘Water’ Play
‘Pirates’ themed resources available in our ‘Get Organised’ sections
‘Pirates’ related Theme Title & Activity Ideas by age (🥚0-3/🐣3-5/🐤5-7 years)
Related topics you may be interested in
Related special dates - International Talk Like a Pirate Day (Scroll down to find out more)
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FREE SAMPLE RESOURCES!
(Click on the images below to find out more)
Please note that both Editable (docx file) and non-editable (pdf file) versions are available for all ‘Pirates’ topic resources. (Editable files require Microsoft Word to work at optimum level and Non-Editable files require a pdf viewer.)
Click on the thumbnail images below for further details…
FEATURED RESOURCES
- ‘Pirates’ Clip Art Pack on our NEW Clip Art page!
Core ‘Pirates’ Resources
Area of Learning/Resource Title
- Area - Communication and Language
- Area - Expressive Arts and Design
- Area - Literacy
- Area - Mathematics
- Area - Personal Social and Emotional
- Area - Physical Development
- Area - Understanding the World
- CVC WORD BUILDER GAME
- DESIGN A PIRATE FLAG
- PHASE 2 AND 3 PHONICS - PIRATE TREASURE GAME
- PHASE 3 WORDS PIRATE GAME
- PIRATE CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
- PIRATE COLOURING SHEETS
- PIRATE DRAWING STIMULUS
- PIRATE HAT TEMPLATE
- PIRATE MISSION CARDS
- PIRATE NAMES GAME
- PIRATE NUMBER LINE ACTIVITY
- PIRATE NUMBER MULTIMATS
- PIRATE NUMBER SLICE PUZZLES
- PIRATE NUMBER SLICE PUZZLES - COLOUR CUT STICK
- PIRATE PICTURE SNAP
- PIRATE PORTHOLE DRAWING
- PIRATE REPEATING PATTERNS
- PIRATE REWARD CHART - A4
- PIRATE REWARD CHARTS - SMALL
- PIRATE SHIP NAMES GAME
- PIRATE SHIP PORT HOLES
- PIRATE SHIP ROLE PLAY
- PIRATE SHIP SIGNS
- PIRATE SPEECH
- PIRATE TALK AND COUNT GAME
- PIRATE TREASURE HUNT
- PIRATE TREASURE MAPS
- PIRATE WORD CARDS
- PIRATES - Role-Play Masks - Colouring
- PIRATES ACTIVITY CHALLENGE
- PIRATES DISPLAY BANNER
- PIRATES NUMBER FORMATION MAT
- PIRATES WORD MAT
- PORTHOLE ALPHABET
- SELF REGISTRATION DISPLAY
- THE PIRATE SONG WORDS
- TREASURE CHEST ALPHABET
- TREASURE CHEST GUESS
- TREASURE CHEST NUMBERS 0-100
- TREASURE CHEST SPECIAL THINGS
- WANTED POSTER TEMPLATE
- WELL DONE! CERTIFICATES
Keywords
- Activity 22
- Alphabet 2
- Art and Craft 7
- Cards/Flash Cards 2
- Colouring 3
- Counting 5
- Design Your Own 1
- Developing Imagination 6
- Discussion Prompts 4
- Drawing 6
- Encouraging Independence 1
- Expressive Movement 1
- Fine Motor 17
- Follow Instructions 3
- Games 8
- Gross Motor/Movement 1
- Group Activity 9
- Letters and Sounds - Phase 2 1
- Letters and Sounds - Phase 3 2
- Mark Making/Drawing/Writing 13
- Matching Activities 1
- Music 1
- Name Learning 1
- Number Formation 2
- Number Recognition & Ordering 8
- Numbers 9
- Observation 9
- Parrot 11
- Pencil Control 15
- Personal Opinion/Feelings 1
- Phonics 2
- Playdough/Loose Part Mats 2
- Positional Language 1
- Posters/Displays 13
- Prepositions 1
- Print Carries Meaning 7
- Problem Solving 8
- Puzzles 3
- Reading 2
- Repeating Patterns 1
- Reward Charts 2
- Role Play 18
- Scissor Skills 2
- Snap Cards 2
- Take Home 14
- Turn Taking 5
- Word Cards 1
- Word Mats 1
Related resources in ‘Sand’ and ‘Water’ Play…
‘PIRATES’ THEMED RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN OUR ‘GET ORGANISED’ SECTIONS!…
‘Pirates’ related Theme & Activity Ideas by age (🥚0-3/🐣3-5/🐤5-7 years)
(Note: Ideas by age and stage below are merely a guideline. Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity and safety concerning any materials given.)
Possible Theme/Topic Titles
🥚Ages 0–3 Years (Simple, sensory-friendly, and familiar language)
- Ahoy, Little Pirates! - Pirate Playtime - Treasure Time - Row, Row, Pirate Boat - Parrots and Pirates - Sing with the Pirates - Pirate Pals
🐣Ages 3–5 Years (Imaginative, exploratory, and story-based)
- Aboard a Pirate Ship - Pirates Ahoy! - X Marks the Spot - Sail the Seven Seas - Treasure Island Adventure - Pirate Tales and Songs - Captain [Class Name]’s Crew - Under the Pirate Flag - Let's Hunt for Treasure!
🐤Ages 5–7 Years (More detailed, adventure-driven, and enriched with early literacy/science)
- Secrets of the Pirate Map - Life as a Pirate - The Great Pirate Quest - Legends of the High Seas - Design Your Pirate Ship - Cursed Treasure and Ocean Mysteries - Pirate Code and Compass - Stormy Seas and Buried Gold - Build a Pirate World
Imaginative & Role Play
Dress Like a Pirate – Try on hats, eye patches, and bandanas from a costume box. (🐣3–5 years, 🐤5–7 years)
Pirate Ship Role Play – Turn cardboard boxes into a ship; pretend to sail the seas! (🐣3–5 years, 🐤5–7 years)
Treasure Hunt Adventure – Simple scavenger hunt with “X marks the spot” clues. (🐣3–5 years, 🐤5–7 years)
Pirate Puppet Play – Use pirate puppets for storytelling or singing. (🥚0–3 years, 🐣3–5 years)
Arts & Crafts
Make a Pirate Hat – Fold paper into hats and decorate with stickers or skulls. (🐣3–5 years, 🐤5–7 years)
Create a Treasure Map – Draw or tea-stain a paper map with islands and treasure spots. (🐤5–7 years)
Fingerpaint a Pirate Ship – Use brown and blue paint to create ship and sea scenes. (🥚0–3 years, 🐣3–5 years)
Craft a Parrot on a Stick – Cut out and colour parrot shapes, then attach to craft sticks. (🐣3–5 years, 🐤5–7 years)
Sensory & Discovery
Treasure Sensory Bin – Fill a bin with sand or rice, and hide coins, gems, and trinkets. (🥚0–3 years, 🐣3–5 years)
Floating Pirate Ships – Test what floats using foil boats and toy pirates in water play. (🐣3–5 years, 🐤5–7 years)
Smelly Spices for Treasure – Explore spice jars (like cinnamon, cloves) as pirate "cargo." (🥚0–3 years)
Music & Movement
Pirate Song & Dance – Sing “A Pirate Went to Sea” and add actions or marching. (🥚0–3 years, 🐣3–5 years)
Walk the Plank! – Balance on a line or low beam in a playful pirate challenge. (🐣3–5 years, 🐤5–7 years)
Parrot Says (Simon Says) – A pirate-themed version of the classic game. (🐣3–5 years, 🐤5–7 years)
Story & Language
Pirate-Themed Story Time – Books like “Pirates Love Underpants” or “Ten Little Pirates.” (🥚0–3 years, 🐣3–5 years)
Story Sequencing: Pirate Adventure – Put simple picture cards in order to retell a pirate tale. (🐤5–7 years)
Pirate Name Game – Make silly pirate names and practice letter sounds. (🐣3–5 years, 🐤5–7 years)
Cognitive & Problem Solving
Treasure Map Puzzle – Piece together a torn or cut “map” to reveal hidden treasure. (🐤5–7 years)
Code Cracking for Treasure – Match letters or numbers to unlock a pretend treasure chest. (🐤5–7 years)
Shape Hunt on the Pirate Ship – Find shapes (circles, squares) hidden in a pirate scene. (🐣3–5 years)
Related topics you may be interested in…
Related Special Dates
International Talk Like a Pirate Day
International Talk Like a Pirate Day is a humorous holiday celebrated annually on September 19th, where people are encouraged to speak in pirate slang and embrace a playful pirate persona for the day. It started in 1995 as an inside joke between two friends, who thought it would be funny to have a day dedicated to talking like pirates.
Key Aspects of International Talk Like a Pirate Day:
Purpose:
The day is meant to be fun and lighthearted, with people adopting pirate lingo such as "Arrr!", "Ahoy, matey!", and "Shiver me timbers!" It's an opportunity to embrace creativity, humour, and a bit of silliness.
Global Participation:
What began as a small event has grown into a global celebration, with individuals, businesses and schools participating. Some people host pirate-themed parties, dress up as pirates, and post on social media using pirate talk.
Pirate Slang:
On this day, people try to speak like stereotypical pirates from popular culture, often inspired by pirate movies, books, and folklore. Phrases like "Avast ye!" and "Walk the plank!" are commonly used.
Charitable Aspect:
In recent years, International Talk Like a Pirate Day has also been linked to charitable causes, with some participants using the day to raise funds for various charities, including organisations that support literacy and education.
It’s a playful day that brings a little adventure and fantasy into everyday life while spreading joy and laughter.