National Day Themes in April - Week 3: Inspire Creativity in Speech Language Therapy
- shannon | speech hamster
- Apr 9
- 15 min read
Updated: 7 hours ago
Creativity takes center stage in speech therapy this week! National Days in April Week 3 is packed with unique and inspiring themes to spark imagination, encourage storytelling, and provide new ways to support communication growth.
Welcome to National Days in April Week #3 Whether you're erasing mistakes for National Rubber Eraser Day on April 15, getting cozy for National Pajama Day on April 16, or steeping in conversation for National Tea Day on April 21, this week’s themes are sure to bring fresh energy to your speech therapy activities.
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Use the table below to explore some of the national days celebrated during the third week in April. To avoid scrolling fatigue, use the quick links to view activity ideas and book suggestions for each theme.
When you're done browsing, use these links to view additional weeks:
April National Days Week 1 (April 1 - 7)
April National Days Week 2 (April 8 - 14)
April National Days Week 4+ (April 22 - 30)
To view themes for all 12 months head over to 10 Reasons to Use National Day Themes for Easy Speech Therapy Planning.
*Free resource links listed here may change over time. Please check the original source for current availability and terms.
April National Days Week 3
(Month-long Observances: Autism Awareness, Apraxia Awareness)
Date | National Day Quick Links |
April 15 | |
April 16 | |
April 17 | |
April 18 | |
April 19 | |
April 20 | |
April 21 | |
April 15:
🧽 National Rubber Eraser Day (April 15)
About: Honoring the invention of the rubber eraser, which replaced bread crumbs as the go-to method for removing pencil marks.
Fun Facts:
Before rubber erasers, people used pieces of bread to rub out mistakes.
The largest rubber eraser ever made weighed over 8,000 pounds.
Articulation:
Token Trials: Use mini erasers as tokens—download these free I Can Do 25 Token Boards and use with 25 mini erasers (not included). Store the 4x6 versions in photo boxes for a grab and go activity.
Draw & Erase: Draw target words or pictures, then say and erase them one by one.
Roll & Erase: Roll a die and erase that number of articulation words from a list after saying them.
Stack Eraser Caps: Collect eraser caps while practicing target words. How many can your students stack?
Phonological Awareness:
Phonemic Awareness: Erase letters to isolate beginning, middle, or ending sounds in simple words.
Rhyming: Write rhyming word pairs on a whiteboard—have students take turns erasing a word or words that rhyme(s) with another (e.g., "Erase a word that rhyme with "she").
Language:
Following Directions: Have students follow multi-step directions to draw and erase simple pictures. Or use a variety of mini eraser shapes for following directions.
Erase and Replace: Give students silly, grammatically incorrect, or incomplete sentences that they erase and then replace with corrected or improved versions.
Popular Children's Books:
Eraser – Written by Anna Kang and illustrated by Christopher Weyant: A confident eraser believes it’s the most important tool in the pencil box—until it realizes everyone has a role to play. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud]
When Pencil Met Eraser – Written by Karen Kilpatrick, Louis O. Ramos Jr and Illustrated by German Blanco: This book tells the true story of how Pencil and Eraser became the best of friends. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud]
The Most Magnificent Thing – Written and Illustrated by Ashley Spires: A determined girl sets out to build the most magnificent thing, but her many mistakes lead to frustration—until she learns how to try again. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud]
April 16:
🛌 National Pajama Day (April 16)
About: A fun celebration that encourages people to stay comfy and cozy in their favorite PJs. It’s often celebrated in schools with pajama-themed activities, bedtime stories, and relaxation time.
Fun Facts:
The word “pajama” comes from the Persian word "payjama," meaning "leg clothing."
Some workplaces have started hosting "Pajama Day" to encourage relaxation and reduce stress.
The world record for the largest pajama party involved 1,600 people wearing pajamas at an event in China.
Articulation:
Pillow Pass: Sit in a circle and pass a (real or paper) pillow around while music plays. When the music stops, the student holding the pillow must say a target word 3–5 times, then use it in a sentence. Repeat until all students have a turn.
Tuck 'Em In: Place small stuffed animals on top of target words. Students practice the word "so many" times before tucking the animal into "bed (e.g., under a washcloth, inside a Critter Clinic, into a box, etc.).
Sleepy Time Spinner: Use a paper spinner or digital wheel with sections labeled: “Say It 5 Times,” “Whisper the Word,” “Say in a Silly Voice,” “Use in a Sentence,” “Say It 10 Times,” etc.
Bedtime Story Builders: Students draw 2–3 articulation word cards and use them to build a silly bedtime story. This targets both speech and expressive language. Use themes like: monsters under the bed, midnight snacks, dreamland adventures, etc.
Phonological Awareness:
Rhyming Words: Find rhyming words for nap (e.g., cap, clap, map), sleep (e.g., keep, peep, cheap), bed (e.g., red, fled, thread), dream (e.g., seem, team, beam).
Syllable Counting: Clap out syllables in bedtime-related words (pa-ja-mas, stor-y-time, pil-low, sleep, tooth-brush).
Language:
Bedtime Routines: Grab Sunny Helps Printables' Visual Evening Routine Chart & Cards from Teachers Pay Teachers to work on sequencing skills.
Describing Words: Have students describe their pajamas using 5 different adjectives or use this free Pajama Day Writing Craft created by First Grade Garden on Teachers Pay Teachers to practice sentence formulation.
Following Directions: Use the coloring page from Mighty Merin's Pajama and Movie Day Activities as a following directions activity. This resource also includes a thought bubble activity for students to draw a picture about a dream.
Design Pajamas: Check out these Design Your Own Pajamas pages on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Popular Children's Books:
Llama Llama Red Pajama – Written and illustrated by Anna Dewdney: Llama Llama struggles with bedtime worries while waiting for Mama to come tuck him in, showing the importance of patience and comfort. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud] 🛒 [Free Resources on TpT]
The Pajama Zoo Parade – Written by Agnes Green, illustrated by Viktoriya Kuzmina: A fun rhyming story about animals getting ready for bedtime in their pajamas, making nighttime routines exciting for kids. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud]
April 17:
🦇 National Bat Appreciation Day (April 17)
About: National Bat Appreciation Day is recognized annually on April 17 to highlight the important role bats play in our ecosystem. Sponsored by Bat Conservation International, the day encourages learning about and protecting these misunderstood mammals.
Fun Fact: Bats are the only mammals capable of true flight. Some species can eat up to 1,200 mosquitoes in an hour, making them nature’s natural pest control.
Articulation:
Feed the Bat: Grab ACFromAZ's Feed Silly Bat Freebie and use as an articulation token reinforcement dice game.
50 Trials: Download my free 50 Bat Trials worksheet with bonus bat cards to use for open-ended articulation activities.
Directed Drawing: If you have any of my Articulation Art paid resources, there is a directed drawing articulation activity for a bat listed on page 5.
Phonological Awareness:
Bat Rhyme Hunt: Give students a list of rhyming pairs or play a matching game (bat–hat, cave–brave, fly–sky). You can even make it active—hide the rhyming words around the room and have students go on a rhyme hunt.
Syllables: Clap syllables in bat-related words: echo, vampire, mammal, insect, echolocation, cave, wing.
Language:
Vocabulary: Use GreatMinds123's free Bat Diagram (TpT) for receptive/ expressive vocabulary practice (e.g., thumb, ear, tail, foot, ear, body).
Contractions: Check out Lindsay Rychert's free Bat Themed Contractions activity (TpT).
Mini Unit: Another resource packed with activity options (to include crafts) is Crystal McGinnis' Bat Freebies Mini Unit (TpT).
Fact vs Fiction: Sort fact and fiction statements. Have students explain their decision. Here are a few to get started:
FACT:
Bats sleep upside down.
Some bats eat fruit.
Bats are mammals.
Bats use echolocation to find food.
Baby bats are called pups.
Some bats eat insects like mosquitoes.
FICTION:
Bats are birds.
Bats can see in the dark better than owls.
All bats drink blood.
Bats build nests in trees like birds do.
Bats have feathers.
Bats talk to people at night.
Popular Children's Books:
Stellaluna – Written by Janell Cannon and illustrated by XX: A young fruit bat, separated from her mother, ends up in a bird's nest and tries to fit in. This gentle story explores identity, differences, and belonging. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud] 🛒 [Free Resources on TpT]
Bats at the Library – Written by Brian Lies and illustrated by XX: A group of bats sneak into a library for a night of reading and imaginative fun. The rhyming text and detailed illustrations make it a great choice for vocabulary building and story retell. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud] 🛒 [Free Resource on TpT]
April 18:
🦁 National Animal Cracker Day (April 18)
About: National Animal Cracker Day celebrates the classic snack that has been a childhood favorite for over a century. Originally imported from England, animal crackers became an American staple in 1902 when the first Barnum’s Animals box was sold with a string handle so it could hang on a Christmas tree.
Fun Fact: There have been more than 50 different animal shapes over the years—including koalas, tigers, and even camels. Despite their name, animal crackers are actually a type of slightly sweet cookie.
Articulation:
Snack-tivity: First, buy a box of animal crackers and enjoy the yummy treat! That would be my first option 😋 but you could use the crackers in an open-ended activity. Then stuff articulation cards inside the animal cracker box—students pull out a card and say the word before "feeding" it to a puppet or stuffed animal.
Hide & Find: Hide an animal cracker under one of an assortment of cups, boxes, plates, etc. and top with articulation target words. Practice words to reveal what is hidden under them until the cracker is found.
Phonological Awareness:
Syllables: Clap syllables for animal names: monkey, elephant, tiger, giraffe.
Rhyming: Play a rhyming game with animal cracker words: bear/pear, cat/hat, horse/course.
Sound Sort: Sort animal names by beginning sound or ending sound using a simple visual chart.
Language:
Category Sort: Sort animals by category: jungle, farm, zoo, sea. Discuss where they live and what they eat.
Following Directions: Give each student their own crackers then have them complete following directions tasks. Be sure to include "take a bite out of the ___" for some snacking fun!
Describing: Describe animal cracker shapes using size, color, and body parts (e.g., “It has four legs and a long tail”).
Narrative: Create a short story using 3–5 animal cracker shapes as characters—students draw or act it out after planning.
Popular Children's Books:
If Anything Ever Goes Wrong at the Zoo – Written by Mary Jean Hendrick and illustrated by Jane Dyer: A girl tells the zookeeper to bring the animals to her house if anything ever goes wrong at the zoo—and one day, that actually happens. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud]
Dear Zoo – Written by Rod Campbell: A child writes to the zoo asking for a pet, and the zoo sends a series of animals—each returned for being too big, too tall, or too grumpy—until they send the perfect one. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud] 🛒 [Free Resources on TpT]
April 19:
👕 National Hanging Out (the laundry) Day (April 19)
About: National Hanging Out Day was created by Project Laundry List to promote energy conservation by encouraging people to hang their clothes outside to dry instead of using a dryer. It raises awareness about saving electricity and protecting the environment in a simple, everyday way.
Fun Fact: Using a clothes dryer is one of the biggest energy users in most homes. Hanging clothes outside can save money, reduce your carbon footprint, and even make clothes last longer!
Articulation:
Clothesline Articulation: Create a mini clothesline with string and mini clothespins—Clip pictures with target words onto the line or paperclip articulation cards to the back of clothing cards (see "vocabulary" below) and place in a small "laundry" basket for students to choose, practice and hang up.
Clothesline Number Line: Grab Mathful Learners (TpT) Ordering Numbers clothesline activity and use for articulation practice. Either assign words for each number or have students practice the same number of words as the number drawn.
Phonological Awareness:
Syllables: Clap out the syllables in clothing words: jacket, laundry, sweater, pants, socks. Sort words by number of syllables.
Sound Switching: Using the ABC Clothesline images (created by Blue Circle Creations on TpT) have students change the initial sounds of clothing words based on the letter (sound) they select (e.g., r = socks > rocks, jacket > racket).
Rhyming: Generate rhymes for themed words (e.g., dry/why, hang/bang, line/fine, jeans/beans, etc.).
Language:
Following Directions: Using pictures of clothing, have students follow directions to "hang" them in a specific order (e.g., “First hang the red shirt, then the blue pants”).
Vocabulary: Grab this free Seasonal Clothing Sorting Activity created by Supporting Special Learnings (TpT) for a receptive/expressive vocabulary and sorting activity.
Sequencing: Review the steps for doing laundry and explain each step with sentence starters like “First we…” then see if students can sequence the steps themselves.
Popular Children's Books:
Clothesline Clue to Jobs People Do – Written by Kathryn Heling, Deborah Hembrook and illustrated by Andy Robert Davies: Who wears what to work? The clues in each kid-friendly rhyme can be spotted hanging from the clothesline—from a mail carrier’s uniform to a firefighter’s pants and heavy coat. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud] 🛒 [Free Resource on TpT]
Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash – Written by Sarah Weeks and illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott: Mrs. McNosh starts hanging up her laundry… and then things get a little wild—she even hangs up the dog and the mailman! This rhyming story is full of humor and great for predicting, describing, and identifying action verbs. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud] 🛒 [Free Resources on TpT]
April 20:
🥸🥸 National Look Alike Day (April 20)
About: National Look-Alike Day was created to celebrate people who look alike—whether they’re twins, siblings, friends dressed the same, or celebrity doppelgängers. It’s also a fun excuse to dress up like someone else and notice similarities and differences between people.
Fun Facts: Even identical twins don’t have 100% identical fingerprints! While they may look the same on the outside, small differences—like freckles or voice patterns—still make each person unique.
Articulation:
Memory Match: Find matching pairs using articulation cards.
Go Fish: Collect matching pairs while playing this familiar card game.
Spot the Match: Find the matching item using one or more of these free Spot It activities (TpT).
Spot the Difference:Alternatively, browse these free spot the difference articulation activities on TpT.
Phonological Awareness:
Rhyming Games: Find rhyming pairs that "sound alike" playing games like Speech Rock's I Have Who Has Rhyming Game on TpT.
Initial Sounds: Gather 3-4 articulation cards for each initial phoneme. Shuffle them together and have students sort the words by matching initial sounds (e.g., hand-horse-house, fish-fork-fox, etc.).
Language:
Sorting: Sort images of people, animals, or objects by how they are alike or different—discuss using comparative language.
Follow Directions: Give and receive directions for making two things look alike (e.g., “Give both characters red hats and blue shirts”).
Spatial Concepts: Grab Ortho Nomad's free Spot the Differences targeting prepositional concepts on TpT.
Barrier Games: Give and receive directions for building a craft, drawing a picture or making a picture scene using 2 sets of matching objects. How close can your students get to creating "look alike" items?
Popular Children's Books:
Same, Same But Different – Written by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw: Elliot and Kailash are pen pals from different countries who realize their lives are both very different and very similar. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud]
What If We Were All the Same – Written by C M Harris and illustrated by Ashlynn Feather: This story imagines a world where everyone is identical, using playful rhymes and colorful illustrations to celebrate diversity and show that differences make the world interesting and beautiful. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud]
April 21:
🏫 National Kindergarten Day (April 21)
About: National Kindergarten Day honors the birthday of Friedrich Froebel, the German educator who founded the first kindergarten in 1837. The word “kindergarten” means “children’s garden,” and the day celebrates the importance of early childhood education in helping young learners grow and thrive.
Fun Fact: The first public kindergarten in the United States opened in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1873. It wasn’t until the 1970s that kindergarten became widely available in public schools across the country.
Articulation:
Sight Words: Provide a list of the first 25 sight words learned in kindergarten along with target articulation words for students to create sentences. Lolaco Learners offers this free First 25 Sight Words on Teachers Pay Teachers
Backpack Articulation: Place target words inside a backpack and have students draw a card and practice the word. Use a carrier phrase "When I was in kindergarten, I saw ...". Want to make a 3D Backpack? Wander Clip Art offers this free PopArt 3D Backpack Paper Craft (TpT).
Phonological Awareness:
Syllables: Clap syllables in school-related words: backpack, cubby, marker, recess.
Sound Sorting: Sort classroom items by beginning sound or rhyme (e.g., book/bell/ball).
I Spy: Play “I Spy” with sound clues: “I spy something that starts with /s/” (e.g., scissors, snack, swing).
Language:
Vocabulary: Have students (of any grade) name as many objects they can think of that belong in a kindergarten classroom. Afterward, identify any of these objects that are not found in other grades. Discuss the foundational concepts that kindergarten introduces for future grades.
Narratives: Ask students to share a memory from kindergarten. Use the memory to create a story that includes setting, character, event, problem, plan, consequence, emotion, etc.
Sequencing: Have students sequence a "typical" kindergarten day.
Kindergarten Kindness: Ask students to brainstorm ways to show kindness to kindergarteners or kindergarten teachers. Choose an activity to complete.
Word Lists: Have students to write out as many words they can create using the letters in "kindergarten" (e.g., kind, art, grate, ten, etc.).
Popular Children's Books:
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten – Written by Joseph Slate and illustrated by Ashley Wolff: Miss Bindergarten, a cheerful dog teacher, prepares her classroom while her 26 new students (one for each letter of the alphabet) get ready for their big day. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud] 🛒 [Free Resources on TpT]
The King of Kindergarten – Written by Derrick Barnes and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton: A confident young boy starts kindergarten with excitement, kindness, and courage. The book models positive behavior and helps ease first-day jitters while celebrating identity and classroom pride. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud] 🛒 [Free Resources on TpT]
🫖 National Tea Day (April 21)
About: National Tea Day is celebrated in the United Kingdom every April 21 to honor one of the world's most beloved beverages. Whether sipped from fancy teacups or served with stuffed animals at pretend tea parties, tea is a drink enjoyed by many cultures around the globe.
Fun Fact: Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world—second only to water!
Articulation:
Memory/Matching: Download this free Teapot - Teacup Match Up activity. Match the teacups to teapots while practicing /s/ in the initial word position. This activity also includes matching for compound word creations.
Hide & Find: Hide a "biscuit" or other tea party treat under one of an assortment of teacups. Practice target words while searching for the treat.
Phonological Awareness:
Rhyming: create a list of words that rhyme with "tea", "cup" and "pot".
Letter/Sound Correspondence: Grab Party In Pre-K's free Tea Time Alphabet Game (TpT) to practice letter-sound correspondence.
Phoneme Substitution: replace the first sound in "tea", "cup" and/or "pot" to create new words.
Compound Words: Download the free Teapot - Teacup Match Up listed above. Match the teacup and teapot to formulate compound words.
Language:
Vocabulary: Play Tenth Line Games free Tea Party Bingo to reach/review tea party themed vocabulary.
Tea Party: Structured Fun Teaching created a free Dramatic Play Tea Party Kit for preschooler-aged learners.
Sequencing: Teach and review the steps for setting a table for a tea party using temporal concept words (e.g., first, then, next, before, after, etc.).
Origami Cup Craft: Watch How to Make an Origami Cup on You Tube and then see if students can follow your directions to make their own.
Popular Children's Books:
Tea Rex – Written by Molly Idle: A proper tea party takes a wild turn when a dinosaur comes to visit! This humorous and beautifully illustrated story is great for teaching manners, sequencing, and describing silly events. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud]
A Tea Party in the Woods – Written and Illustrated by Akiko : When a girl sets out to deliver food to her grandmother, she stumbles upon a magical woodland tea party hosted by animals. With gentle, dreamlike illustrations, this story supports narrative language, description, and inferencing. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud]
A Week Full of Relatable, Easy Peasy Themes
April Week 3 is the perfect mix of quirky and nostalgic. Whether you’re spotting similarities on Look Alike Day, chatting about bats, or reminiscing about kindergarten, these national days offer easy ways to inspire meaningful speech and language work.
See More National Day Themes for April:
April National Days Week 1 (April 1 - 7)
April National Days Week 2 (April 8 - 14)
April National Days Week 4+ (April 22 - 30)
Quick Link to View All 12 Months: 10 Reasons to Use National Day Themes for Easy Speech Therapy Planning (each month's themes are noted at the end).
Hi! I'm Shannon, creator of Speech Hamster. If you have found the information in this blog post useful, there's more where that came from! Subscribe to the Speech Hamster Newsletter to gain access to the Free Resource Library; a hub containing a host of National Days downloadable resources and so much more!
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