Fur is short, thick hair on animal skin, which protects and provides warmth. Children may be interested in fur if they have a pet at home or their childcare centre. A furry pet can be delightful to touch!
Children may ask why fur is used in clothing or home furnishings, provoking discussions about fashion and ethics.
The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) aligns with fur as a natural material (4.4). Children can learn social responsibility and respect for the environment (2.4). Fur can inspire curiosity, imagination, (4.1) inquiry, researching and investigating (4.2).
Learning experiences
Touch furry animals
Visit a wildlife park, arrange a wildlife incursion, or invite a furry pet to visit your childcare service.
Use pieces of fur in:
- a collage
- a weaving activity
- small-world play
- sensory experiences involving texture
- in the home corner as a decoration
- wrapping up a doll
- your dress-up basket.
Inspect fur
Use a magnifying glass to get up close to the texture of fur. Can you draw what fur looks like? Can you describe what it feels like?
Sort toy animals
Place a variety of toy animals on a table with three different tubs. Invite the children to sort the animals into tubs according to their skin covering - fur, feathers or scales.
Discussions
- What does fur feel like?
- Which animals have fur? What do some animals have instead of fur?
- Why do you think animals have fur? Do you think fur can keep an animal warm in the winter? Can fur protect animals?
- What do you think fur is made of? Can you think of other materials that are similar to fur?
Resources
Picture books
Fur Is Only Fur Deep by Julia Schettler