Flip into fun with these exciting Pancake Day activities for EYFS! Pancake Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday, is the perfect opportunity to combine hands-on learning with a delicious theme.
From pancake flipping games to creative crafts, these activities will help children develop skills across all EYFS Areas of Development while having a flippin’ good time!
Blossom’s Recommended Pancake Day Activities for Early Years:
Activity 1: Pancake Tossing Game
Set up a pancake tossing station using play frying pans and felt or paper pancakes. Children can practise flipping their pancakes into the air and catching them in the pan.
Add targets like hoops or buckets for an extra challenge!
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Physical Development
- Gross Motor Skills:
- Tossing and catching the pancakes develops coordination and control.
- Fine Motor Skills:
- Handling the frying pan helps strengthen hand and wrist movements.
- Gross Motor Skills:
- Mathematics
- Number:
- Count how many flips or successful catches each child achieves.
- Numerical Patterns:
- Compare scores to spot patterns or sequences.
- Number:
Activity 2: Pancake Decorating Station
Provide paper cut-outs of pancakes and let children decorate them with crayons, stickers, and “toppings” like cotton balls (whipped cream) or coloured paper (fruits).
If you’d rather use real pancakes, grab some fruit, sprinkles and squirty cream for some messy delicious fun!
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Expressive Arts and Design
- Creating with Materials:
- Decorating pancakes encourages creativity and fine motor skills.
- Being Imaginative and Expressive:
- Children choose their favourite “toppings” and personalise their designs.
- Creating with Materials:
- Communication and Language
- Speaking:
- Talking about their toppings builds vocabulary and confidence.
- Speaking:
Activity 3: Pancake Ingredient Sorting
Set up a sensory tray with pretend ingredients like flour, eggs, milk bottles, and sugar packets.
Encourage children to sort the ingredients by type, size, or weight and discuss what each one is used for in making pancakes.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Understanding the World
- The Natural World:
- Exploring ingredients teaches children about food preparation.
- The Natural World:
- Mathematics
- Number:
- Counting ingredients reinforces number recognition.
- Numerical Patterns:
- Sorting by size or type introduces pattern recognition.
- Number:
- Communication and Language
- Listening, Attention and Understanding:
- Discussing the ingredients enhances comprehension.
- Listening, Attention and Understanding:
Activity 4: Pancake Races
Organise a pancake race where children run while holding a frying pan with a “pancake” (beanbag, paper pancake or scotch pancake).
They can practise balancing the pancake while walking or running to the finish line.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Physical Development
- Gross Motor Skills:
- Running and balancing improve coordination and physical strength.
- Fine Motor Skills:
- Holding and balancing the frying pan develops hand control.
- Gross Motor Skills:
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Managing Self:
- Competing in a fun, friendly race builds confidence and perseverance.
- Managing Self:
Activity 6: Make Pancakes Together
Involve the children in making real pancakes (with supervision). Let them help measure ingredients, mix the batter, and watch as the pancakes cook.
Afterwards, they can enjoy eating their delicious creations. If making pancakes might be a bit too messy for you, scotch pancakes from the shops with a handful of fruit goes a long way!
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Mathematics
- Number:
- Measuring ingredients introduces counting and basic maths concepts.
- Numerical Patterns:
- Comparing quantities develops early understanding of patterns.
- Number:
- Understanding the World
- The Natural World:
- Observing the changes during cooking teaches children about transformations.
- The Natural World:
- Physical Development
- Fine Motor Skills:
- Mixing and pouring batter strengthens precision and control.
- Fine Motor Skills:
Activity 7: Storytime with Pancake-Themed Books
Read a fun book like Mama Panya’s Pancakes by Mary and Rich Chamberlin or Pancakes, Pancakes! by Eric Carle.
Encourage the children to join in by mimicking pancake-making actions or answering questions about the story.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Communication and Language
- Listening, Attention and Understanding:
- Following the story develops focus and comprehension.
- Speaking:
- Discussing the story builds vocabulary and conversational skills.
- Listening, Attention and Understanding:
- Literacy
- Comprehension:
- Talking about the events in the book reinforces understanding of sequencing.
- Comprehension:
Activity 8: Pancake Counting Game
Provide felt pancakes or paper cut-outs with numbers written on them.
Set up a pretend café where children take turns “ordering” and “serving” a specific number of pancakes.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Mathematics
- Number:
- Counting pancakes supports early number recognition.
- Numerical Patterns:
- Matching orders with the correct number of pancakes introduces patterns.
- Number:
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Building Relationships:
- Role play in the café encourages collaboration and teamwork.
- Building Relationships:
Activity 9: Pancake Art Challenge
Give children paints, crayons, or chalk to draw and decorate their dream paper pancakes.
They can add imaginative toppings like ‘rainbow syrup’ or ‘chocolate’ sprinkles!
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development and Early Learning Goals:
- Expressive Arts and Design
- Creating with Materials:
- Drawing pancakes encourages creativity and artistic exploration.
- Being Imaginative and Expressive:
- Imaginary toppings inspire storytelling and self-expression.
- Creating with Materials:
These Pancake Day activities for EYFS are a perfect mix of fun and learning! From flipping games and sensory play to pancake races and making real pancakes, children will develop essential skills while exploring this delicious theme.
For UK nurseries and early years providers, these activities are ideal for engaging young learners in hands-on fun while covering EYFS Areas of Development and Early Learning Goals. Let the flipping fun begin!
