What is a Unicorn?

What are unicorns?

Unicorns are mythical creatures that typically resemble a horse with a long, straight horn on it's head. In western culture they're traditionally completely white, but in recent years they're often embellished with a rainbow-coloured mane and tail, as well as a variety of other colours.

References to unicorns can be found in all sorts of ancient texts and artwork from around the world. This ranges from mentions in the bible to depictions of them in Mesopotamian art that's around 6000 years old. Because of this, unicorns, along with dragons, are among the oldest and most well-known mythical creatures in the whole world.

Today unicorns are incredibly popular with children and are often used as an emblem of diversity, uniqueness, and inclusivity. This makes them an excellent mythical creature to include in your teaching. If you're looking for inspiration, you'll love our unicorn facts and craft ideas below.

Facts about unicorns for kids:

Here are just a few fascinating unicorn facts that you can teach children about to help keep them engaged and excited by their leaning:

• The unicorn is the national animal of Scotland, which is why you can find two of them on the Scottish coat of arms. You can also find a unicorn alongside a lion in the British coat of arms. This represents the union between Scotland and England.
• Unicorns crop up in mythology and legends from countries and cultures all over the world. Often they vary a little bit on the exact characteristics of a unicorn, but one thing they all seem to agree on is that unicorns are very strong and very difficult to catch.
• The name "unicorn" originates from the Latin words "uni-", meaning "one", and "cornu", meaning "horn". This means that the term literally means "one horn".
• In ancient Chinese mythology there is a mythical creature very similar to a unicorn known as a Qilin, or sometimes Kirin. These amazing looking beasts seem to be part unicorn, part dragon, and part lion!

• Hundreds of years ago it was widely believed that if you drank from a real unicorn horn you'd be protected from poison. Because of this, it was common for members of the royal family to pay large sums of money for what they thought were unicorn corns. It turns out that they were actually sold rhino or evennarwhal horns.
• Unicorns are also mentioned in some translations of the bible. For example, in Numbers 23:22 God's strength is linked to that of the unicorn: "He hath as it were the strength ofa unicorn".
• Many legends and stories say that unicorns can fly, even though they don't have wings. A Pegasus is another mythical animal which looks very similar to a unicorn, but with wings.
• April 9th is National Unicorn Day in the UK! It's a great chance to decorate and dress up in rainbows and glitter!

What is a pack of unicorns called?

Have you ever wondered what a group of unicorns is called? A pack of unicorns is called a blessing! ‘Blessing’ is the collective noun for a group of unicorns, which is a word that has come from literature and fables. The name ‘blessing’ comes from the fact that unicorns are thought to be impossible to catch and can only be seen by those who are virtuous. Therefore, seeing a unicorn would be a blessing!

Some people think that creatures that looked a bit like unicorns once roamed the earth. They were big, hairy animals called ‘Siberian unicorns’ that looked like rhinoceroses but with longer legs. These creatures were thought to have roamed the earth in the Pavlodar region of Kazakhstan.

If there is a genetic link between unicorns and rhinoceroses, then a group of unicorns could be called a ‘crash’, which is the name for a group of rhinos. A ‘crash’ doesn’t sound so fitting for the magical creatures we know as unicorns, does it? This is why the term ‘blessing’ is generally accepted as the name for a pack of unicorns. ‘Blessing’ is a much more relevant name for unicorns with their rainbow hair, sparkling hooves and magical horn!

Unicorn drawings and art ideas:

If all of these unicorn facts for kids have helped you build up an appetite for some unicorn-themed art, you're in luck. Because of their magical beauty and associations with uniqueness, unicorns make fantastic subjects for an exciting arts and crafts activity. We've got plenty of amazing resources to help you organise one. Here are just a few we think you'll love:

• Glitter Unicorn Footprint Art Activity - This simple but exciting activity is ideal for younger children. The head of the unicorn is created using a footprint, meaning that everybody's finished artwork will be unique, just like a unicorn.
• Design a Unicorn Craft Instructions - An ideal activity for children who love learning some unicorn facts while flexing their creative muscles. It gives children the opportunity to dream up their very own unicorn which they can then write a short piece of descriptive writing about. Perfect for helping children to develop their writing skills while having fun.

• Unicorn Horn Craft Activity - Children can make their very own unicorn horns in minutes with this exciting craft activity. These could be perfect for an adventurous role-play activity.
• Unicorn Mindfulness Colouring Sheets - These beautiful unicorn craft sheets incorporate an intricate pattern that makes them ideal for use in mindfulness activities. Children can let their imaginations run wild while taking a bit of time to relax and be in the moment.
• Unicorns and Dragons Craft Activity Pack - This exciting craft resource pack is full of plenty of instructions, templates, and ideas you can use to whip up an exciting unicorn-themed lesson in no time at all. It also includes some dragon-themed resources so that you can cater to a variety of interests.

If you'd like to teach children how they can draw a unicorn from scratch themselves, check out the video below. It's full of handy hints, tips, and instructions that make drawing an impressive unicorn a breeze.