Summer - EYFS/Early Years activities, displays and ideas
Sunshine, laughter, and endless fun! On this page, you'll discover a vibrant collection of resources designed to embrace the joys of summer. Get ready for exciting events with our Summer Fair and Sports Day packs, and make planning a breeze with our summer planning tools. Dive into engaging learning with summer themed science/STEM activities, and spark imaginative adventures with our diverse summer themed role-play packs, including the Ice Cream Shop, Aquarium, Holiday Hotel, and Pirate Ship. You'll also find fantastic printables and activity ideas for water play, sand play, gardening, and wildlife investigation. Explore the season through our summer senses activities, get creative with summer themed playdough and pompom mats, sharpen observation skills with I Spy Count and Choose activities, and encourage literacy with our recount writing prompts. Let's make this summer a season of discovery and delight! ☀️🍦🌊
SECTIONS ON THIS PAGE:
Free Sample Resources (including ‘Sun Safety’)
Featured (NEW) resources - SUMMER FAIR - SPORTS DAY - PLANNING
Core ‘Summer’ resources (scroll down page to browse)
Summer themed ‘Science/STEM’ activities
Summer themed ‘Role-Play’ Packs
Sports Day/Kid Olympics Resources
Summer themed resources available in our ‘Get Organised’ sections
Summer related topics:
‘Summer’ related Theme Title & Activity Ideas by age (🥚0-3/🐣3-5/🐤5-7 years)
More pages you may find helpful during the Summer months:
Relevant Special Dates Calendars
Related special dates - Summer Solstice (Northern Hemisphere) (Scroll down to find out more)
FREE Sample RESOURCES!
(Click on the images below to find out more)
If you are not a member already, become a ‘Free Access’ member here. This will give you access to resources within the ‘Free Sample Resources’ sections at the top of most pages and ‘Special Dates Calendars’. Some whole topics are even free! Find out more about all of our membership options here. If you are already a member… thank-you! x
Please note that both Editable (docx file) and non-editable (pdf file) versions are available for all Summer 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
- SUMMER FAIR - SPORTS DAY - PLANNING
Core ‘Summer’ resources
Summer themed ‘STEM/Science’ packs…
Summer themed ‘Role-play’ packs…
‘Outdoor Area’ resource pages…
Sports Day/Kid Olympics Resources…
‘SUMMER’ THEMED RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN OUR ‘GET ORGANISED’ SECTIONS!…
‘Summer’ related Themes/topics…
☀️ ‘Summer’ 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 (focus on sensory exploration and early language)
- Summer Senses - Splish Splash Fun - Sunshine Days - Cool Water Play - My First Summer
🐣 Ages 3–5 Years (support early learning, imagination, and interaction)
- Signs of Summer - Fun in the Sun - At the Seaside - Summer Picnic Time - Let's Go on Holiday! - Summer Colours
🐤 Ages 5–7 Years (encourage enquiry, creativity and basic project work)
- Summer Explorers - Seashells and Sandcastles - Sunny Science - Our Summer Adventures
🌼 Sensory & Exploration
Water play with cups and sponges (🥚0–3 years)
Nature walk to collect summer leaves/flowers (🐣3–5 years)
Go on a summer scavenger hunt with checklists (🐤5–7 years)
🎨 Creative & Craft
Handprint sunshine painting (🥚0–3 years)
Make ice-cream cone crafts with pom-poms and paper (🐣3–5 years)
Design your own sunglasses or summer postcard (🐤5–7 years)
📚 Language & Literacy
Sing summer-themed nursery rhymes (🥚0–3 years)
Read stories like "Maisy Goes on Holiday" or "Spot at the Beach" (🐣3–5 years)
Write a summer adventure story or journal entry (🐤5–7 years)
🔢 Maths & Problem solving
Sorting beach balls by colour or size (🥚0–3 years)
Counting shells or pretend ice creams (🐣3–5 years)
Set up a “summer shop” with prices and money practice (🐤5–7 years)
🏃 Physical Development
Crawling through sprinklers or playing in shaded sand pits (🥚0–3 years)
Obstacle course using summer items like towels and buckets (🐣3–5 years)
Relay races or water balloon target games (🐤5–7 years)
🌍 Understanding the World
Explore summer fruits – touch, taste, smell (🥚0–3 years)
Learn about sun safety and wearing hats/sunscreen (🐣3–5 years)
Create a weather chart and track temperature or sunshine (🐤5–7 years)
🎭 Imaginative Play
Play with soft toys on a picnic blanket (🥚0–3 years)
Role-play a beach or ice cream stand (🐣3–5 years)
Act out a holiday scenario (packing bags, going to the airport) (🐤5–7 years)
More pages you may find helpful during the Summer months:
RELEVANT SPECIAL DATE CALENDARS
Related Special Dates
Summer Solstice
The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year, when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky at noon. In the Northern Hemisphere, including the UK, this usually occurs on or around 21st June each year.
☀️ What Happens During the Summer Solstice?
The Earth’s tilt (about 23.5 degrees) causes one hemisphere to be tilted most directly toward the Sun.
On the Summer Solstice, the North Pole is tilted closest to the Sun.
This results in:
The longest period of daylight
The shortest night
The Sun appearing at its highest point in the sky at noon
📅 Summer Solstice 2025 (UK)
Date: Saturday, 21st June 2025
Daylight hours: Around 16.5 to 17.5 hours, depending on your UK location
🌄 How Is It Celebrated?
🔹 In the UK:
Stonehenge gatherings: Thousands visit Stonehenge to watch the sunrise align with the Heel Stone. It’s one of the most iconic solstice celebrations in the world.
Pagan and Druid traditions: Honour the Sun, nature, and the cycle of the seasons.
Festivals and community events: Sometimes linked with Midsummer celebrations (especially in Northern Europe).
🔹 Spiritually or culturally:
It symbolises life, fertility, and abundance
In ancient times, it marked a turning point in the agricultural calendar