Pancake Day classroom activities for EYFS and KS1
Pancake Day – also known as Shrove Tuesday – is always a favourite with the children and it’s a brilliant opportunity to bring themed learning into the classroom. From maths activities and writing tasks to crafts and cooking ideas, there are lots of ways to link Pancake Day to meaningful learning.
If you are looking for Pancake Day activities for kids, this page shares a range of classroom ideas and resources suitable for EYFS and KS1. You’ll find engaging activities that support early maths, fine motor development, writing and creative learning while exploring the traditions behind Pancake Day.
You can also explore our full collection of Pancake Day classroom resources here.
Pancake Day activity book for EYFS
Our Pancake Day activity book is packed with engaging activities for younger pupils. The booklet includes puzzles, games and themed tasks that help the children develop early skills while enjoying the excitement of Pancake Day.
- Fine motor activities
- Pancake Day colour by number
- Simple puzzles and games
- Early learning challenges suitable for ages 3–6
This makes a great themed activity pack for the days leading up to Shrove Tuesday.
Pancake Day playdough activities
If you enjoy themed playdough activities in the classroom, our Pancake Day playdough mats are a great way to develop fine motor skills while keeping the activity linked to the Pancake Day theme.
The children can create their own pancakes and toppings using different coloured playdough, helping to strengthen finger muscles and prepare their hands for writing.
These types of activities are particularly useful in Early Years where developing fine motor control is an important step towards confident writing.
Pancake Day mindfulness colouring sheets
If the children are unfamiliar with Pancake Day traditions, colouring activities can be a great starting point. These Pancake Day mindfulness colouring sheets help the children explore the theme while encouraging calm, focused activity.
Colouring also helps develop fine motor control and concentration, making it a useful activity in both EYFS and KS1 classrooms.
You can also explore our Pancake Day colouring sheet for a simple themed activity that works well as a starter task or a quiet activity during the day.
Pancake Day maths activities
Pancake Day is a great opportunity to link maths learning to a familiar theme. Our Pancake Day maths worksheets are designed to support the KS1 maths curriculum while keeping the activity engaging.
- Pancake themed addition and subtraction
- Counting in multiples
- One more and one less activities
- Reading and writing numerals to 20
Using a familiar theme such as Pancake Day can help the children see how maths links to everyday life.
Pancake Day cutting skills activity
Fine motor development is an important part of Early Years learning. Our Pancake Day cutting skills activity gives the children the opportunity to practise using scissors while enjoying a themed task.
Activities like this help develop the hand control needed for writing and other classroom tasks, making them particularly useful in EYFS settings.
Design your perfect pancake writing activity
Creative writing activities work brilliantly alongside themed learning. Using our design your perfect pancake activity, the children can draw and label their ideal pancake.
This activity encourages pupils to use descriptive language while practising key reading and writing skills.
What is Pancake Day?
Many pupils enjoy celebrating Pancake Day but may not know why it is traditionally observed. Our Pancake Day information PowerPoint helps explain the history and traditions of Shrove Tuesday in a way that is suitable for primary classrooms.
This can be a great starting point for discussion, helping the children understand why Pancake Day is celebrated before taking part in themed activities.
Explore more Pancake Day classroom resources
If you are planning lessons for Shrove Tuesday, you can explore our full collection of themed resources designed for EYFS and KS1.
Browse the full collection of Pancake Day classroom resources here to find maths activities, colouring sheets, creative tasks and more ideas to use in the classroom.
