As February marches on, there’s a special date that only graces our calendars once every four years—Leap Day! For kindergarteners, Leap Day isn’t just an extra day on the calendar; it’s a chance to engage in exciting activities that celebrate the concept of leap years while fostering curiosity and learning. But finding leap day classroom activities isn’t always easy. In this blog post, we’ll explore a delightful array of Leap Day activities tailored specifically for kindergarten classrooms.
From frog-themed read alouds to an adorable Leap Day crown template, these activities promise a leap-tastic adventure filled with laughter, learning, and boundless fun. So, let’s dive in and discover how you can celebrate Leap Day in your kindergarten classroom!
Move Like a Frog Videos for Leap Day
A little movement from brain break videos is something your students will definitely enjoy. Here are a few frog-themed videos that will get your students up and “leaping” about Leap Day!
- Frog Jumps by Coach Josh
- Jump Like a Frog by Go with Yoyo
- Little Green Frog by Cosmic Yoga
Leap Day Read Alouds
Finding read alouds about Leap Day for kindergarten isn’t the easiest task by any means, but there are a few choices out there. I’ll link some below, as well as some read alouds on Youtube in case you have trouble getting physical copies of the books!
- Leopold’s Long Awaited Leap Year Birthday by Dawn Desjardins (also available on Youtube here)
- Leap’s Day by Stephanie Bee Simmons
- Leap Day by Kathryn Samuel – available on Youtube here
Leap Day Informational Videos
Leap years are a tricky concept for kindergarteners to understand. I find it best to stick with some of the basic facts, such as:
- Leap Day is February 29th.
- We typically have a Leap Year every four years.
- February usually has 28 days, but this year, it has 29 days.
There are some videos that do a pretty good explaining leap years in a kindergarten-friendly way. I’ll link my recommendations below.
- What is Leap Day? By Kid Explorer
- Why Are There Leap Years? By Colossal Cranium
- Leap Year for Kids by Homeschool Pop
- Mystery Science: Why Do We Have Leap Years?
Leap Day Skill Activity Pages
Leap Day is, of course, just one day, but that doesn’t mean you can add a little themed skill practice! I made this free Leap Day No-Prep Pack to share some quick and easy activities for Leap Day.
There are some math skill printables, a Leap Day coloring page, and even a Leap Day memory book page that fits in perfectly with my Kindergarten Memory Book!
You can grab the free Leap Day pack in my TPT shop – just click the button below!
Try These Leap Day Crowns!
If you’ve known me for a while, you know I can’t resist kindergarteners in crowns! Something about those missing-tooth smiles with a big paper crown makes my heart melt. Leap Day is no exception, so I made this simple-but-cute crown template for you and your students!
There’s a crown piece for the front, and then two options for the side bands so you can choose which one you want to use. Just have your students color and cut out the pieces. Then carefully staple the bands on the sides and size to each students’ head.
You can download this free Leap Day crown activity now – just enter your information in the box below so I know where to send it!
These activities will not only make Leap Day memorable for the kindergarten students, but also help lay a foundation for the concept of a leap year. Let me know how you celebrate Leap Day in your classroom!