The gift of an extra day is coming your way! Yep, that's right – every four years, we get a bonus day on February 29th. Why let this special day pass by without some classroom fun and learning? In this blog post, we've got the whole day planned, from morning work to dismissal! We'll take you on an adventure filled with exciting activities so you and your students celebrate Leap Year in style!

Sample Schedule

Let's take a peek at a sample schedule for a leap-year-themed day in the classroom. There are more ideas than you can probably fit in one day, so pick and choose what works best for your schedule and class.

Jump to Activities

Morning Work

Literacy Block

Brain Breaks

Math Activities

Art, Science and Social Studies

Writing

Just for Fun

Activities for Morning Work

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Introduce the Concept of Leap Day

We'll kick off the day by using our teaching slides to introduce the fascinating concept of the extra day every four years. The slides include why we have leap years, what leap day is, and the history of leap day!

Read Alouds

Follow that up with a Leap Day read aloud and discussion questions. No need to buy new books.. There are some great options on YouTube.

LeapDay by Kathryn Samuel

Leopold's Long Awaited Leap Year Birthday by Dawn Desjardins

Leap by Campbell Manning

Pair your read aloud with a comprehension worksheet to deepen the discussion.

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Literacy Block

Continue with your regular literacy block, but add a themed twist.

Phonics

Engage your students in three themed activities to practice long ‘e' spelling patterns.

Grammar and Language

Can't forget about grammar! Here are two Leap Day-themed ideas to practice shades of meaning and synonyms.

Shades of Meaning Leapfrog Craft

Synonyms: Leaping into Sports

Reading on Leap Day

You know we have Leap Day reading passages!

Here are some activities you can easily do with reading passages:

1. Close Reading: Engage students in close reading by having them read the passage multiple times, focusing on different aspects with each reading. This promotes a deep understanding of the text.
2. Discussion Circles: Divide the class into small groups, assign each group a section of the passage, and encourage them to discuss and share their interpretations, fostering collaborative learning.
3. Question and Answer: Provide comprehension questions related to the passage to assess understanding and encourage critical thinking. BONUS: Our comprehension questions are included and provide color coding to find text evidence!
4. Artistic Interpretation: Allow students to create artwork or illustrations inspired by the passage, showcasing their understanding of the themes or content.

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Brain Breaks for Leap Day

Here are some special Leap Day-themed Brain Break ideas:

LeapFrog Blippi Video

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Math Activities

Set up themed math stations to practice essential skills like math facts, place value, telling time and more! Our Leap Day Pack includes 10 activities to select from.

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Activities for Art, Science and Social Studies

Art projects and time capsules – the perfect way to celebrate!

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Writing

Since this special extra day only comes around once every four years, so why not make the most of it with some fun and creative writing activities?

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More Leap Year Fun

Explore additional resources to enhance your full school day. Set up a special behavior reward system for the day (and beyond!) Plus, we've got community building, decoration, and snack ideas to make your celebration extra special.

See these Ideas Up Close

Join Katie from Team Lucky Little Learners for a more detailed breakdown of how to make Leap Day am exciting and memorable day in your classroom.

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Leap Year offers a unique opportunity for both fun and education in the classroom. So, don't miss the chance to make the most of February 29 – a once-every-four-years special day!