National Day Themes in September - Week 1: Speech and Language Fun with Books, Birds, Pizza, and Excuses
- shannon | speech hamster
- Aug 21, 2025
- 19 min read
Updated: Sep 19, 2025
September 1 - 7
September kicks off with a wide-open mix of themes ... from fearless flights to cheesy slices and towering wordplay. Whether your students love animals, stories, or silly excuses, these national days bring playful opportunities to target articulation, language, and listening goals.
Welcome to National Days in September Week 1! From offering second chances on National Forgiveness Day (September 1), to building bravery on National Live Fearless Day (September 2), and stretching creativity with National Skyscraper Day (September 3), this week delivers quick, quirky ways to target speech and language goals through movement, conversation, and curiosity.
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Use the table below to explore some of the national days celebrated the first week in September. To avoid scrolling fatigue, use the quick links to view activity ideas and book suggestions for each theme.
View other weeks in September:
September National Days Week 2 (September 8 - 14)
September National Days Week 3 (September 15 - 21)
September National Days Week 4+ (September 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.
September National Days Week 1
Date | National Day Quick Links |
September 1 | |
September 2 | |
September 3 | |
September 4 | |
September 5 | |
September 6 | |
September 7 |
September 1:
🕊️ National Forgiveness Day (September 1)
About: National Forgiveness Day encourages people to let go of grudges, offer second chances, and restore relationships. The day serves as a gentle reminder that everyone makes mistakes—and that forgiveness can be a healing part of growth.
Forgiveness Facts:
Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting—it means choosing peace over payback.
Studies show that people who practice forgiveness often feel happier and healthier.
The word “forgive” comes from Old English and originally meant “to give up.”
Even animals, like elephants and chimpanzees, have been observed showing signs of forgiveness.
Forgiving someone doesn’t require an apology first—it’s something you can do for yourself.
Vocabulary: Teach the words apology, forgive, regret, peace, kindness with kid-friendly definitions and examples.
Describing: Use a visual feelings chart to describe emotions before and after forgiveness.
Following Directions: Use a simple movement activity for following directions (e.g., “If you’ve ever forgiven someone for ______, touch your nose.", "If you’ve ever said sorry, hop once.”)
Sequencing: List the steps of making an apology (e.g., Admit mistake, Say sorry, Make it right).
Narrative:
Use story dice with characters, problems, and feelings to create short forgiveness-themed stories.
Provide prompt (e.g., “Tell me about a time you made a mistake and what happened next.”)
Open Ended Activity: Create a “Forgiveness Jar”: Students pick a card with a situation and decide whether they would forgive and why. Examples could include:
Simple Mistakes
Your friend knocked over your block tower by accident.
Someone forgot to share crayons with you during art.
A classmate spilled water on your picture.
Your friend sat in your usual lunch seat without asking.
A sibling ate the last cookie you were saving.
Hurt Feelings
Someone laughed when you tripped.
A friend said they didn’t want to play with you today.
A classmate told others a secret you shared.
Your friend told you your drawing wasn’t good.
Someone made a joke that hurt your feelings.
Everyday Bumps
A friend didn’t wave back at you during recess.
Your partner in a game didn’t take turns.
Someone forgot to invite you to a group activity.
Your classmate lost a book you let them borrow.
Someone shouted during quiet time and made you jump.
Crafts:
Forgiveness Flower: Each petal contains a kind action or a word someone might say to forgive.
Heart Bandage Craft: Give students paper hearts and small “bandage” strips to write a kind word or apology on, then “heal” the heart.
Popular Children's Books:
I’m Sorry – Written by Michael Ian Black, illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi: Part of a series exploring emotions, this book shows a character who makes a big mistake and struggles with how to apologize. It models how hard it can be to say sorry and how doing so can help fix broken feelings. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud]
The Recess Queen – Written by Alexis O’Neill, illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith: Mean Jean rules the playground until a new girl named Katie Sue teaches her about friendship and kindness instead of fear. The book shows how standing up with kindness can change everything. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud] 🛒 [Free Resources on TpT]
September 2:
💪 National Live Fearless Day (September 2)
About: National Live Fearless Day was established to encourage people of all ages to face their fears, speak up with confidence, and embrace challenges with courage. The day reminds us that being brave doesn’t mean we’re never afraid. It means we choose to act even when we are.
Fearless Facts:
The word courage comes from the Latin word cor, meaning “heart.”
Everyone is afraid of something ... even superheroes and storybook characters.
Fear is a normal feeling that helps us stay safe, but sometimes we have to face it to grow.
Taking small risks (like trying something new) helps build real confidence.
Speaking up in class, joining a new group, or asking for help are all brave actions.
Articulation Tones of Voice: Have students say articulation words using a variety of "tones" (e.g., loud, silly, shy, brave) to practice speaking up confidently.
Phonological Awareness:
Identify rhymes for brave, fear, jump, strong.
Sound blending with bravery-themed words: f-e-a-r, h-e-r-o, r-i-s-k.
Count syllables in bravery-related words: courageous, fearless, nervous, action.
Vocabulary:
Introduce words like brave, risk, bold, courage, confidence, nervous, calm.
Match each word to a picture or act it out.
Sequencing:
Sequence steps for doing something brave: make observations, notice the fear, take a breath, try anyway.
Order story events where a character overcomes a fear.
Use story cards with situations like “meeting a new person,” “trying a new food,” or “saying sorry.”
Open Ended / Crafts:
Fearless Shield: Make a paper shield and have students write some things they're afraid of and some ways they can be fearless. Grab Proof Positive's free Superhero Strengths Shield Coloring Sheet on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Create a “Fearless Jar”: Pick a card with a brave situation to discuss. Examples of cards:
Speaking Up & Confidence
Say something kind to someone who looks sad.
Raise your hand to answer a question ... even if you're not sure it's right.
Ask someone new to play with you at recess.
Tell the class about your favorite food.
Say "no thank you" when someone wants you to do something you don’t like.
Trying Something New
Try a food you’ve never tasted before.
Join a game you’ve never played.
Draw a picture and show it to someone.
Try a new seat in the lunchroom.
Learn something that seems tricky ... like tying your shoes or riding a bike.
Facing Fears & Solving Problems
Sleep without a nightlight for one night.
Go down the big slide on the playground.
Walk into class without a grown-up.
Try again after making a mistake.
Apologize when you’ve hurt someone’s feelings.
Popular Children's Books:
Jabari Jumps – Written by Gaia Cornwall, illustrated by Gaia Cornwall: Jabari wants to jump off the diving board, but it takes time and a deep breath before he’s ready. This gentle story about overcoming fear shows how small steps lead to big courage. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud] 🛒 [Free Resources on TpT]
I Am Courage: A Book of Resilience – Written by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds: This book uses simple language and illustrations to show what courage looks like in everyday situations. It reinforces the message that bravery means trying ... even when it’s hard. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud]
Brave As Can Be: A Book of Courage – Written by Jo Witek, illustrated by Christine Roussey: A young girl explains all the things she used to be afraid of ... and how she became braver over time. The book balances honesty with empowerment in a child-friendly way. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud]
September 3:
🏙️ National Skyscraper Day (September 3)
About: National Skyscraper Day honors the towering buildings that define city skylines and the architecture behind them. The date was chosen in honor of architect Louis H. Sullivan’s birthday ... he’s often called the “father of skyscrapers.”
Fun Facts:
The first skyscraper was built in Chicago in 1885 ... it had just 10 stories.
The Empire State Building was the world’s tallest building for nearly 40 years.
Some skyscrapers have their own zip codes.
The word skyscraper was once used to describe tall hats and sailboat masts.
Engineers build skyscrapers to sway slightly in the wind ... on purpose!
Articulation Skyscraper: Use an assortment of blocks to build a skyscraper while practicing target words. One block per word or roll a die and practice the same number of words for each block placed. This can be a single or multi-player activity.
Phonological Awareness
Clap and count syllables in words like skyscraper, building, elevator, engineer, construction.
Segment compound words (e.g., sky + scraper, side + walk, blue + print, hard + hat, nail + gun, screw + driver, sand + paper, work + shop, stair + case, roof + top, high +rise).
Rhyme time: Find rhyming words for high, tall, floor, view, sky, build.
Vocabulary
Introduce words like structure, foundation, height, elevator, blueprint. See compound words above.
Match vocabulary to visuals or real-life photos of buildings.
Following Directions
Use positional terms with building blocks: “Put the red block under the blue one.”
Create a “blueprint” by listening to a series of instructions and following them to build.
Open Ended / Crafts:
Build a skyscraper with paper cups, cardboard boxes, or Jenga blocks.
Skyscraper Silhouette Art: Use black paper to cut building shapes and glue onto a watercolor or crayon background sky.
Speech Tower Challenge: For each correct answer, students stack one more block ... see how tall the tower gets.
Free Resources: Check out these free Skyscaper resources on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Popular Children's Books:
Iggy Peck, Architect – Written by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts:
Iggy loves building things out of anything he can find ... but not everyone appreciates his passion. When a field trip goes awry, his architectural skills help save the day. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud] 🛒 [Free Resources on TpT]
If I Built a House – Written by Chris Van Dusen, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen: In this imaginative story, a young inventor dreams up a house like no other, complete with twisty slides and robot chefs. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud] 🛒 [Free Resource on TpT]
Sky Boys: How They Built the Empire State Building – Written by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by James Ransome: Told through the eyes of a young boy in 1930s New York, this book follows the daring construction of the Empire State Building.📖 [Amazon Link]
September 4:
🦁 National Wildlife Day (September 4)
About: National Wildlife Day is a time to learn about wild animals, their habitats, and the importance of conservation. The day honors animal advocate Steve Irwin and encourages people to protect and appreciate wildlife around the world.
Fun Facts:
Wildlife includes all animals that live in nature... not just exotic or faraway creatures.
Some animals, like the peregrine falcon and mountain lion, live closer to cities than you might think.
A group of flamingos is called a “flamboyance.”
Elephants use their ears to help cool themselves off.
There are over 1,400 species of bats... and none of them want to fly in your hair.
Articulation:
Practice animal-themed, phoneme specific target words. For example:
s: seal, snake, spider, skunk, snail
z: zebra, lizard, gazelle, grizzly
f: fox, frog, flamingo, finch
v: vulture, beaver, wolverine
k: cougar, koala, cat, camel
g: goat, goose, gorilla, gecko
sh: shark, sheep, shrimp, shrew
ch: cheetah, chimpanzee, chipmunk, chinchilla
l: lion, lizard, leopard, antelope, owl
r: raccoon, rabbit, gorilla, armadillo, bear
Use animal cards or mini figures... say your word before placing it in the “wild.”
Play “I Spy” with target sounds while looking at a wildlife photo or book.
Phonological Awareness
Clap out syllables for animals like elephant, tiger, cheetah, crocodile.
Sort animals by their beginning sound or ending sound.
Create rhyming pairs for animal-related words (bear - chair, fox - box).
Vocabulary
Teach words like habitat, predator, camouflage, wild, protect, endangered.
Match animals to their environments (e.g., desert/camel, jungle/monkey). Check out these free habitat resources on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Listening
Give clues: “I am furry, I live in the forest, and I eat honey...” (answer: bear).
Read a short animal riddle or fact and ask comprehension questions.
Describing
Choose an animal and describe it using size, color, movement, and sounds.
Use sentence frames like: “It has __., It lives in the __., It eats __.”
Following Directions
Use animal actions: “Jump like a kangaroo, then roar like a lion.”
Give multi-step directions with animal pictures: “Put the monkey under the tree and the snake beside it.”
Sequencing
Sequence steps of an animal’s daily routine: wake up, hunt, eat, sleep.
Use picture cards to order a baby animal’s growth or life cycle.
Narratives
Prompt: “Tell a story about getting lost in the wild.”
Use story dice with animals, places, and actions to create silly wildlife adventures.
Open Ended Activities
Draw a new animal and name it... describe what it eats and where it lives.
Play a pretend animal rescue game and explain how to help each animal. This is a great activity to use with a Veterinarian Playset.
Crafts
Paper Plate Animal Masks: Choose a wild animal, decorate a paper plate, and act it out. Browse these free animal mask resources on TpT.
Popular Children's Books:
Wild About Us! – Written by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by Janet Stevens:
At Zoo School, a cast of animals celebrates their unique looks, from lopsided ears to wrinkly skin. This rhyming story encourages self-acceptance while introducing a variety of wild animals. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud]
Over in the Jungle: A Rainforest Rhyme – Written by Marianne Berkes, illustrated by Jeanette Canyon: This beautifully illustrated book introduces rainforest animals through rhyme, repetition, and counting. It pairs well with movement, music, and animal sound activities. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud]
National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Animals – Written by Catherine D. Hughes, illustrated by Franco Tempesta: This nonfiction book offers fascinating facts and vivid photos of animals from around the world. It’s a great resource for building background knowledge and vocabulary about wildlife. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [View on YouTube]
September 5:
⏰ Be Late for Something Day (September 5)
About: Be Late for Something Day is a lighthearted reminder to slow down and take the pressure off being perfectly on time. Originally created by the Procrastinators’ Club of America, this day encourages people to pause, reflect, and enjoy the moment ... even if it means showing up a little late.
Fun Facts:
The Procrastinators’ Club of America started in 1956 and they're still around today!
In some countries, showing up “fashionably late” is a cultural norm.
Sloths are known as one of the slowest animals ... but they’re great swimmers.
The word “procrastinate” comes from Latin and means “to put off until tomorrow.”
Even the world’s fastest land animal, the cheetah, spends most of its day resting.
Procrastination Articulation: Download these free "delay cards" to add to any game board for speech therapy. Each card includes a speech or language task. Image below is link to PDF.
Printable cards to use with any board game for speech therapy. Phonological Awareness
Clap syllables in words like late, delay, forgetful, procrastination.
List rhyming pairs for words such as "late", "slow", "rush", "stop"
Vocabulary
Introduce words like punctual, schedule, delay, rush, snooze.
Create vocabulary cards and match one or more words to silly situations.
Situation Examples (with vocabulary word examples):
You fell asleep in your cereal.→ snooze, tired, late
You missed the bus. → schedule, forget, slow
You were brushing your hair and got stuck in your sweater.→ delay, rush, stuck
Your dog ran away with your backpack.→ excuse, delay, chase
You tried to put your shoes on your hands.→ distracted, confused, silly
You got caught in a traffic jam made of ducks.→ traffic, delay, excuse
You stopped to count all the ants on the sidewalk.→ distracted, delay, curious
You set your alarm for 7 p.m. instead of 7 a.m.→ snooze, mistake, late
You thought it was Sunday... but it was Tuesday.→ forget, schedule, mix-up
You got so excited about breakfast that you forgot to put on pants.→ rush, distracted, whoops
Listening / Following Directions
Play “What made them late?” ... listen to a short story and answer comprehension questions or use the situations listed above.
Use "before" and "after" concept words to follow temporal directions: “Draw a circle after you draw a triangle.”
Describing
Describe common situations people may be "late" for and reasons why.
Describe what being late might feel like ... fast heartbeat, messy hair, forgotten items.
Sequencing
Sequence a morning routine: wake up, brush teeth, eat breakfast, miss the bus.
Use visual cards to order events that made someone late.
Open Ended Activities / Crafts
Late Excuse Generator: Roll 2 dice to create a silly excuse by combining a Reason and a Detail. Then they can say the full excuse using a sentence frame like:“Sorry I’m late... [Reason] + [Detail].”
"Too Late" Clock Craft: Have students make and decorate a paper plate clock with moveable hands and silly “late” times. Draw what caused the delay at that time.
Popular Children's Books:
Wait – Written and illustrated by Antoinette Portis: This nearly wordless picture book contrasts a rushing parent and a curious child who wants to stop and explore. It opens up conversations about time, noticing details, and why sometimes being "late" isn’t bad. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud]
Late for School – Written by Mike Reiss, illustrated by Michael Austin: When young Michael is late for school, he imagines all the outrageous reasons why ... each more far-fetched than the last, making this a fun read-aloud. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud]
🍕 Cheese Pizza Day (September 5)
About: Cheese Pizza Day is a celebration of one of the most popular and universally loved foods ... classic cheese pizza. Whether it’s thick crust, thin crust, or somewhere in between, this gooey, golden favorite gets its own special day each year.
Fun Facts:
Americans eat about 3 billion pizzas each year ... that’s around 350 slices per second.
The word “pizza” was first documented in Italy in the year 997 AD.
The world’s largest pizza was over 13,000 square feet ... and gluten-free.
A typical cheese pizza has mozzarella ... but other cheeses like provolone and parmesan are common too.
Articulation: Grab Speecha Pizza, a free articulation game for /k/ created by SpeechTacular on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Roll and Practice: Peachie Speechie has made a Pizza Party Roll & Race worksheet that would work well for articulation practice.
Play Dough Pepperoni: Have each student draw a whole pizza shape image and cover with playdough shaped pepperoni pieces. Students will then work to change their pepperoni pizza back to a cheese pizza. Roll dice, Practice the same number of target words then remove the same number of pepperoni pieces. The first to remove all the pepperoni pieces wins.
WH Questions: Play this free WH-Questions Pizza Party Game created by Miss V's Speech World on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Pronoun Pizza: Teach Two Reach has made this Pronoun Pizza activity (TpT).
Following Directions: Use this Build A Pizza counting activity created by Chaney Homeschool (TpT) for following directions.
Free Mini Units on Teachers Pay Teachers:
Pizza Mini Unit (Made for Me Literacy)
Pizza Preschool Unit by Itty Bitty Speech (includes Boom Cards)
Free Boom Cards: Browse these free Pizza Themed Boom Cards on Boom Learning.
Popular Children's Books:
Secret Pizza Party – Written by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri: Raccoon loves pizza but can’t seem to get any—so he plans a secret pizza party with hilarious results. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud] 🛒 [Free Resources on TpT]
Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party – Written by Kimberly and James Dean, illustrated by James Dean: Pete wants to throw the perfect party, but his friends each bring unusual toppings. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud]
Pete’s a Pizza – Written and Illustrated by William Steig: Pete is having a bad day, so his parents cheer him up by pretending to turn him into a pizza using silly ingredients and lots of imagination. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud]
September 6:
🥚 Great Egg Toss Day (September 6)
About: Great Egg Toss Day is a quirky celebration of one of the messiest outdoor games ever invented ... the egg toss. Whether played with real eggs or safer substitutes, this day is all about coordination, timing, and teamwork.
Fun Facts:
The world record for the longest successful egg toss is over 250 feet.
Some festivals use water balloons instead of eggs ... fewer clean-up complaints.
Egg tossing has been part of county fairs and church picnics since the early 1900s.
Raw eggs break at about 4 to 7 pounds of pressure ... so gentle hands win.
Birds don’t actually “toss” their eggs, but some do roll them to keep them warm.
Articulation:
Use plastic eggs with articulation cards inside ... students “crack” the egg to reveal their words.
Practice target words while tossing a plastic egg back and forth, increasing the space between players with each successful toss.
Practice target words while tossing a plastic eggs into a basket (or similar).
WH Question Egg Hunt: Hide plastic eggs around the room with who, what, where, when, or why questions written inside. Students find and answer them aloud for expressive language practice before engaging in an egg toss.
Following Directions: Play an egg relay game with steps like: “Pick up the red egg, walk to the chair, and place it in the basket.”
Egg Opposites: Use plastic eggs to hide opposite word pairs (e.g., on/off, hot/cold). Place one word in each egg. Students then open an egg and name the opposite, then try to find it's opposite match.
Egg Carton Games: Check out Power Speech and Language's free Egg Carton Artic / speech therapy activities on TpT for inspiration on how to use egg cartons in your speech therapy sessions.
Free Egg Themed Resources: Browse these free egg themed resources for speech therapy on Teachers Pay Teachers or browse free egg themed Boom Cards on Boom Learning.
Popular Children's Books:
Egg – Written and Illustrated by Kevin Henkes : A story about friendship and patience follows four little eggs, three of which hatch—but one stays still until a surprise moment brings them all together.📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud]
The Good Egg – Written by Jory John, illustrated by Pete Oswald: An egg who always tries to be good eventually learns that it's okay to crack under pressure. It opens up great conversations around feelings, expectations, and self-care. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud] 🛒 [Free Resources on TpT]
📚 Read a Book Day (September 6)
About: Read a Book Day is a quiet celebration of one of the best habits around ... reading. Whether it’s a favorite picture book, a silly graphic novel, or a story being read aloud, this day reminds us to slow down and enjoy the power of a good book.
Fun Facts:
The longest novel ever written is over 1.2 million words long.
Reading can lower stress levels ... even more than taking a walk or drinking tea.
Reading just 20 minutes a day exposes students to nearly 2 million words per year
Storytime strengthens vocabulary, memory, and listening skills in young children.
The smell of books comes from chemical compounds ... older books often smell like vanilla.
Articulation:
Have students choose a favorite book and find words that start with their sound(s).
Use SpeechTeachPro's free articulation bookmarks on TpT for students to write out words that contain their target speech sounds while reading their favorite books.
Grab Speech Sprout's Sound Loaded Book List for Articulation on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Vocabulary
Pick five new words from a story and define them using pictures or actions.
Sort vocabulary by category (e.g., characters, settings, actions).
Use descriptive words to describe a character or place.
Describing
Describe your favorite book character using five features.
Use a “mystery bag” with book-themed items and describe before revealing.
Following Directions
Complete a book-themed obstacle course with directions like: “Pick up a book, turn to page 3, and jump once.”
Follow steps to make a simple book-themed snack or craft.
Listening
Listen to a read-aloud and answer WH questions.
Pause mid-book and ask: “What just happened?” or “What might happen next?”
Just Read: Read a book or tell a story to someone. That's it. Easy Peasy.
Create a Story: Help students create a simple story and have them read it to another student in their class or in a lower grade.
Use Picture Books: Review a wordless picture book then have students create or tell a story that goes along with the pictures. Make note of each story and share all of the ideas the next time you work with them.
Bookmark Worthy Online Resource: Bookmark booksharetime.com. It hosts an insane amount of children's book titles with amazing filters for finding the perfect books to support any of your speech and language targets.
Popular Children's Books:
We Are in a Book! – Written and illustrated by Mo Willems: Elephant and Piggie realize they are characters in a book ... and then start talking to the reader. With simple text, repetition, and lots of humor, this story is perfect for perspective-taking and expressive language. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud]
September 7:
🕊 Hummingbird Day (September 7)
About: Hummingbird Day is a fluttery celebration of one of the tiniest and most fascinating birds in the world. Known for their shimmering feathers and lightning-fast wings, hummingbirds are a favorite subject for nature lovers, artists, and curious kids alike.
Fun Facts: Hummingbirds can flap their wings up to 80 times per second.
They’re the only birds that can fly backwards.
A hummingbird’s heart can beat more than 1,200 times per minute.
These birds drink nectar by lapping it up with their tongues ... not sucking like a straw.
Some hummingbirds migrate over 1,000 miles, despite being just a few inches long.
Articulation - Open Ended:
Place paper flowers around your work space and have students "fly" from flower to flower with speech tasks at each one.
The Cool Kookaburra has created a free Hummingbird Art Activity that can be used as an open ended coloring activity.
Hummingbird Unit: Browse through Speech Hive's free Hummingbird Unit found on Teachers Pay Teachers for information about habitat, report writing and non-fiction reading for K-2nd grade.
Hummingbird Facts: Visit Fun Facts 4 Kids blog post about hummingbirds.
Vocabulary
Introduce words like hover, migrate, nectar, tiny, flutter.
Sort items by “can fly” vs. “can’t fly.”
Listening/Following Directions: play a “Hummingbird Hunt” style game where students listen to clues in order to find a hidden hummingbird or hidden items (e.g., fly to the red flower, flap 3 times then flip the flower over).
Directed Drawing: EcoArts Kids offers a free, fun Draw a Hummingbird with Storytelling, complete with instruction guide.
Hummingbird Feeder Crafts: Follow Ranger Rick's craft blog post about using recycled items to create hummingbird feeders. Students can write down the recipe for the nectar to make at home. See nectar recipe* below:
*Sugar water spoils quickly in summer heat. Every few days, be sure to scrub your feeder clean, rinse it thoroughly, and refill it. You can keep extra sugar water in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Popular Children's Books:
Little Green – Written and illustrated by Keith Baker: A young boy watches a hummingbird zip and zoom through the garden, tracing its path with words and color. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud]
The Hummingbird – Written by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Jane Ray:
This beautifully illustrated nonfiction book follows the migration journey of a tiny hummingbird from Central America to North America. A great pick for upper elementary students working on sequencing, comparing, or narrative retell. 📖 [Amazon Link]
Hector and Hummingbird – Written and illustrated by Nicholas John Frith: Hector the bear just wants some peace and quiet, but his chatty friend Hummingbird won’t stop talking. A playful story of opposites and friendship, perfect for discussing social language and conversation dynamics. 📖 [Amazon Link] 🎥 [YouTube Read Aloud] 🛒 [Free Resource on TpT]
Soar, Splash and Slice Through Week 1: Birds, Wildlife & Pizza Fun
September Week 1 brings a bold lineup of themes that naturally spark conversation, description, and movement. From building bird-themed narratives on National Hummingbird Day (September 7), to roaring through animal facts on National Wildlife Day (September 4), and serving up silly speech tasks on National Cheese Pizza Day (September 5), this week keeps therapy fresh, flexible, and goal-focused.
See More National Day Themes for September:
September National Days Week 2 (September 8 - 14)
September National Days Week 3 (September 15 - 21)
September National Days Week 4+ (September 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!