Gruffalo Activities Early Years: 5 Fun EYFS Ideas for Nursery & Preschool
The Gruffalo is a staple of early years education because it perfectly blends rhyming language with a touch of “scary” excitement. Children love the repetition of the story and the iconic characters, making it an ideal hook for building literacy, physical development, and creative expression.
These Gruffalo activities for early years are designed for nursery and preschool settings. They are low-cost, sensory-rich, and easy to adapt for different age groups. Each activity is mapped to the EYFS framework to help you track learning through play.
From sensory bins to den building and forest scavenger hunts, these ideas bring the deep dark wood to life in your setting — no real Gruffalo required!
Our Top 5 Gruffalo Activities
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🌲 Gruffalo Trail Game
Follow the Mouse through the deep dark wood! Read each question aloud and help find the right answer. Collect acorns for every correct answer!
Follow the Mouse through the deep dark wood! Answer 5 questions about the Gruffalo and collect acorns along the way!
Gruffalo Crumble Sensory Bin
Best for: Sensory exploration, descriptive language, fine motor skills
What you need
- Large tray or tuff tray
- Dry oats or wood chippings (the “crumble”)
- Natural materials: pinecones, sticks, leaves, bark
- Small world figures (Gruffalo, Mouse, Fox, Owl, Snake)
- Scoops, bowls, and spoons
How to set it up
- Fill a deep tray with oats or wood chippings as your base.
- Create “forest zones” using logs, moss, and leaves.
- Hide the character figures within the “crumble.”
- Provide containers for children to scoop, pour, and “cook” their own Gruffalo Crumble.
💬 Adult prompts
- “How does the crumble feel in your hands?”
- “Can you find the animal with the knobbly knees?”
- “What should we add to our crumble to make it delicious?”
📚 EYFS links
- Communication and Language (Descriptive vocabulary)
- Physical Development (Fine motor manipulation)
- Understanding the World (Exploring textures and materials)
Wood chippings from a garden centre work brilliantly and smell wonderful — a real sensory bonus for the children!
Build a Gruffalo Den
Best for: Physical development, teamwork, imaginative play
What you need
- Large blankets or camouflage netting
- Clothes airer, table, or large sticks for the frame
- Cushions, logs, and “forest” props
- Torches for inside the den
How to set it up
- Use a sturdy base (like a table or branches) to drape blankets over.
- Encourage children to help peg the blankets or move “logs” (cushions) to make it cosy.
- Create a “dark forest” feel inside with torches and Gruffalo books.
- Use this as a dedicated space for re-reading the story.
💬 Adult prompts
- “Is the den big enough for the Gruffalo to fit?”
- “How can we make it darker inside?”
- “What sounds might we hear in the deep dark wood?”
📚 EYFS links
- PSED (Working together to build)
- Physical Development (Gross motor skills and spatial awareness)
- Expressive Arts and Design (Role play)
Camouflage netting from an army surplus store creates an amazing “deep dark wood” atmosphere and is very durable for repeated use.
Owl’s Feathery Story Stones
Best for: Story sequencing, literacy, mark making
What you need
- Smooth flat stones or pebbles
- Acrylic paint pens or character stickers
- A small basket or “nest” (filled with feathers)
- Clear varnish (optional)
How to set it up
- Paint or stick the main characters from the book onto separate stones.
- Place the stones in a feathery “nest” or basket.
- Use the stones to “act out” the story as you read it together.
- Leave the stones out for children to create their own “sequel” stories.
💬 Adult prompts
- “Who does the Mouse meet first?”
- “Can you find the stone with the orange eyes?”
- “What happens next in the story?”
📚 EYFS links
- Literacy (Retelling stories in the correct order)
- Communication and Language (Narrative skills)
- Expressive Arts and Design (Using props to represent characters)
A coat of clear varnish makes the stones last for years and keeps the paint from chipping during enthusiastic play!
Gruffalo Mask Making
Best for: Creativity, fine motor skills, self-expression
What you need
- Paper plates
- Brown paint, glue, and brushes
- White card (for tusks and teeth)
- Purple tissue paper (for prickles)
- Lollipop sticks or elastic
How to set it up
- Pre-cut eye holes in paper plates.
- Let children paint the plates brown and add “terrible teeth” and “horns.”
- Provide purple “prickles” (tissue paper) for the back of the mask.
- Attach a stick or elastic so children can use them for role play.
💬 Adult prompts
- “Where should the poisonous wart go?”
- “Can you make a scary Gruffalo face?”
- “What colour are the Gruffalo’s eyes?”
📚 EYFS links
- Physical Development (Using tools like brushes and glue sticks)
- Expressive Arts and Design (Creating with a purpose)
- Maths (Shape and position of features)
Once the masks are dry, set up a Gruffalo parade! Children can take turns being the Gruffalo and the Mouse for a brilliant retelling activity.
Forest Scavenger Hunt
Best for: Observational skills, outdoor learning, early maths
What you need
- A checklist with pictures of footprints, acorns, pinecones, and leaves
- Magnifying glasses
- Clipboards and pencils
- Outdoor space (or a “forest” created indoors with props)
How to set it up
- Hide “footprints” (cutouts or mud stamps) around the play area.
- Give each child a checklist of items to find.
- Encourage them to use magnifying glasses to “track” the animals from the book.
- Use the scavenger hunt image as a visual guide for the children.
💬 Adult prompts
- “Whose footprint is that? Is it big or small?”
- “How many acorns have you found on your list?”
- “Can you find something soft? Something crunchy?”
📚 EYFS links
- Understanding the World (The natural environment)
- Maths (Counting and matching)
- Physical Development (Moving with confidence in outdoor spaces)
Print footprints for each character — Fox, Owl, Snake, and the Gruffalo — in different sizes so children can match them to the animals as they hunt!
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Gruffalo activities for early years