Preschool Around the World Activities and Lesson Planning Ideas
Below you can find tons of fun and engaging Around the World Activities! Pick and choose the activities for your lesson or download a free copy of our Around the World Lesson Plan to save you time!
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Around the World Theme Map
Use the suggested learning objectives and vocabulary ideas found our our theme map, along with our carefully selected educational activities below to help you plan your lessons! Purchase our coordinating easy to assemble printable activities and games to save even more time!
Free Around the World Preschool Plan
Sign up below to get a free copy of the sample plan we created using ideas found on this page.
Music from Around the World
Change up your listening center with some Multicultural CD's this week. World Playground and Putumayo Kids World Sing Along are great choices this week.
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Scour your local thrift stores for music instruments from a variety of cultures, or even make your own! Here are some suggestions:
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Get dancing and creating music with your newfound or newly made instruments.
Rattle DrumCommunity Member Sheena W. invited her preschoolers to make a Rattle Drum.
Give each child 2 paper plates (recommend strong paper plates), red paint, painting tools, two jingle bells, and two pieces of string. Invite children to paint freely with the red paint. Add a bit of gold (or yellow) for luck. Once the plates are dry, staple them together so the back of each plate is facing out. Punch a hole in each side, tie on a piece of string with a bell at the end. |
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Class Mural
Invite preschoolers to make a class mural with their hand prints. Provide a variety of paint colors, including skin tone colors for students to use.
**This activity would be great after reading The Colors of Us by Karen Katz
Display the mural in the classroom along with pictures of the children.
**This activity would be great after reading The Colors of Us by Karen Katz
Display the mural in the classroom along with pictures of the children.
Make Your Own MaracasGet crafty and musical by making your own set of Maracas with this easy to follow tutorial.
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Try this!
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Create Building from Around the World
Provide basic shapes cut out of construction paper along with glue and plain white paper. Invite preschoolers to create buildings from around the world. This activity can be led by the book Homes in Many Cultures by Heather Adamson.
Make a PinataMaking a pinata can be so much fun! Get hands on experience with paper mache with this easy to follow Pinata Tutorial.
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Try this!
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Around the World Dances
Have a discussion with preschoolers about their heritage, and where their families are from. Then with preschoolers find a few dances that you could learn together from YouTube.
Transform your Dramatic Play Space into a different country this week. Include dress-up clothes, food, Dolls. and books from other countries in your space this week. For something on a smaller scale consider an ethnic Restaurant complete with Themed Menu's, Music and Multicultural Food.
Explore Cuisine around the World Set up a Restaurant from Around the World
Italian Restaurant
Reader Cheryl V. transformed her space into a Pizza Parlor using our Pizza Parlor Dramatic Play Pack
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Reader Amy M. created this Italian Restaurant in her space, complete with a pizza oven.
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Amy M. of BuggaBee & Me Day Care and Preschool
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Chinese Restaurant
An around the world theme presents a fun opportunity to explore food from around the world. Create your own Chinese Restaurant using our easy to set up Chinese Restaurant Dramatic Play Pack.
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Mexican Restaurant
Debbie B. of Little Peeps Early Learning and Childcare created a Mexican Restaurant in her Dramatic Play Space!
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Airport Dramatic PlayJet set around the world with an Airport Dramatic Play Invitation.
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Construction, blocks and small world play
Encourage children to explore the world this week. Add Multicultural people, globes, Flags, Planes, Ships, animals and Buildings from around the World to your Construction Play Space this week.
Build Landmarks Around the World |
Get our Build Landmarks Around the World Set in our Shop!
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Community Member Cassandra put the Landmarks Around the World build mats in a binder for her preschoolers.
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Build with a variety of Materials
Homes around the world come in all shapes and sizes.
This is a perfect time to invite children to build using objects other than blocks.
Set up an invitation to build pyramids with Styrofoam cups or sand.
Set up an invitation to build using thick paper plates (or perhaps paper plates in a variety of thickness and diameter for making comparisons and testing strength) and paper towels tubes (cut some in half). Place posters of buildings around the world nearby for inspiration.
This is a perfect time to invite children to build using objects other than blocks.
Set up an invitation to build pyramids with Styrofoam cups or sand.
Set up an invitation to build using thick paper plates (or perhaps paper plates in a variety of thickness and diameter for making comparisons and testing strength) and paper towels tubes (cut some in half). Place posters of buildings around the world nearby for inspiration.
*Papel Picado uppercase and lowercase letter matching file folder activityInvite preschoolers to practice matching lowercase to uppercase letters with this file folder game included in the Around the World Activity Pack.
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Explore Names Around the World
Talk about names from around the world. Support students in looking to see where their name originated (involve parents by asking them to share with their children how they chose their name).
Follow up with a fun name recognition activity, possibly a collage with items that represent the meaning of their name (literal or familial).
Follow up with a fun name recognition activity, possibly a collage with items that represent the meaning of their name (literal or familial).
Spanish Word Color MatchLearn color names in Spanish with this color match-up game. This is a great game to play with your preschoolers one-on-one or in a small group. Find this activity in the Around the World Activity Pack.
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More Around the World Language & Literacy Ideas
- Explore stories in a variety of languages. Place dual language books in your reading center.
- Add audio books in a variety of languages to the listening center this week.
- In the writing center this week, add index cards with common words in other languages.
- Create passports, provide stickers for students to place in their passport when they engage in an activity from a related country.
Bilingual Nursery Rhymes
Listen to and learn Nursery Rhymes in other languages from fun YouTube videos
Hello From Around the World
Using the language cards from the Around the World Literacy Pack work with preschoolers to practice saying hello in different languages. Reinforce this concept with this educational song!
Every lesson plan needs a good book or two! Here are some great books to go along with this theme!
Whoever You Are
by Mem Fox
I see a Kookaburra!
by Steve Jenkins
Children Just Like Me
by DK Publishing
What we wear
by Maya Ajmera
We're Different, We're the Same
by Bobbi Kates
Global Babies
by The Global Fund for Children
by Mem Fox
I see a Kookaburra!
by Steve Jenkins
Children Just Like Me
by DK Publishing
What we wear
by Maya Ajmera
We're Different, We're the Same
by Bobbi Kates
Global Babies
by The Global Fund for Children
Currency Around the WorldIntroduce preschoolers to money around the world. Children may not be aware that there are all types of currency around the world. Introduce this concept by inviting children to count up coin currency on these clip cards. Determine the total, then clip, or mark, the correct number on the bottom.
This activity is included in the Around the World Activity Pack from PKPF. |
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Pizza Flip & FindWork on number recognition with a beloved pizza topping, pepperoni. Flip a pepperoni number card, read the number, then find the matching number on the pizza pie.
This activity is included in the Around the World Activity Pack from PKPF. |
Get our Around the World Preschool Activity Pack in our Shop!
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More Math Activity Ideas
Learn to count to ten in another language.
Flag Sensory Bin
Set up a sensory bin with dry material of your choice, torn pieces of fabric would be a nice touch for this activity. Hide printed flags or pictures of food inside of the bin. Invite students to find the items and then place on the table. Sort the items by country.
The Flag and Food printables included in the Around the World Activity Pack from PKPF would work well for this invitation.
The Flag and Food printables included in the Around the World Activity Pack from PKPF would work well for this invitation.
Inventors around the World
Explore contributions by inventors from around the world.
Be sure to make it meaningful to the children and have an idea for an extension.
Bring in a social aspect by exploring Braille which originated in France.
The book The Black Book of Colors by Menena Cottin is a great book for introducing this topic to preschoolers.
Other ideas might be inventors of different art supplies or everyday objects.
Be sure to make it meaningful to the children and have an idea for an extension.
Bring in a social aspect by exploring Braille which originated in France.
The book The Black Book of Colors by Menena Cottin is a great book for introducing this topic to preschoolers.
Other ideas might be inventors of different art supplies or everyday objects.
Chinese Steamed Buns Play Dough Invitation
Set up an invitation for children to make Chinese steamed buns from play dough. This activity would be a great follow-up to reading the book Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang.
The character in this book struggles to make the perfect bao, follow along as she perseveres to reach her goal.
Here is a read aloud from the author.
You might also consider making these tasty buns with your preschoolers, the author has included a recipe. While cooking reflect on the struggles that Amy encountered.
The character in this book struggles to make the perfect bao, follow along as she perseveres to reach her goal.
Here is a read aloud from the author.
You might also consider making these tasty buns with your preschoolers, the author has included a recipe. While cooking reflect on the struggles that Amy encountered.
Continent Cake WalkUse the printables included in the Around the World Activity Pack from PKPF to create a cake walk activity with your preschoolers.
Lay the continents around the room on the ground. Invite children to walk or dance around (play music from around the world!), when the music stops, children will look down and identify the continent they landed on. Alternative play: Provide animals and pretend food for children to use in a relay race with these printables. |
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Weaving Loom
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Provide preschoolers with a loom, follow directions for setting it up and let preschoolers pick out their yarn colors. Demonstrate the process of weaving and assist as needed.
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Practice using Chopsticks
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Using chopsticks requires great dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and finger strength, all things that are also required for learning to write.
Invite children to learn to use chopsticks. They can use them during a meal and/or for sorting activities. Provide pom poms in a variety of sizes for children to sort by color, picking up with the. Here is a set of chopsticks that we recommend. |
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International Marching Band
Create an international marching band using instruments from around the world (DIY or purchased).
March around the classroom or neighborhood playing the instruments. Use this opportunity to work on patterning and rhythm as well.
March around the classroom or neighborhood playing the instruments. Use this opportunity to work on patterning and rhythm as well.
More Physical Development Ideas
- Play Catch the Dragon's Tail.
- Play Stuck in the Mud
- Play musical chairs to tunes from different cultures.
- Set up a weaving board using a dish drainer from the dollar store (many times you can find one with squares cut out all over) or make/buy one. Set out with ribbon or scraps of fabric.
- Show photographs of people from some cultures carrying baskets or pots on their heads. Support a discussion as to why people practice head-carrying. Invite students to give it a try with folded blankets or soft baskets.
World Landmarks and Flags Match UpThese self-correcting puzzles for matching up Landmarks to Flags is a fun way to introduce children to items that represent different countries around the world. This printable activity is included in the Around the World Activity Pack from PKPF.
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Get our Around the World Preschool Activity Pack in our Shop!
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Greetings Around the WorldPlay a matching game to learn greetings from around the world. This printable game is included in the Around the World Activity Pack from PKPF.
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Get our Around the World Preschool Activity Pack in our Shop!
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Track it on a Map
Keep a list of all the different areas of the world you explore during the theme. Keep track of the number of different countries you study or discuss.
EDUCATOR RESOURCES : GROUP ACTIVITIES, CIRCLE TIME, & PARENT ENGAGEMENT
Support a Sense of Belonging
As children grow they will become more involved in their community. Give children a solid start at understanding what it means to belong to a community by supporting belonging in the classroom.
When children feel like they belong in the classroom they are also learning to recognize and respect others that belong to the classroom.
When children feel like they belong in the classroom they are also learning to recognize and respect others that belong to the classroom.
Mystery Instrument
This is a great activity to use with the Maracas Tutorial or with a variety of instruments from around the world.
When making the maracas try using unique materials in each one so they each create a different sound (flour, beans, rice, coffee grounds).
During small group or circle time, invite children to close their eyes, then shake one maraca at a time. Invite children to guess which maraca you played.
If you have instruments from around the world have them guess which instrument you played and then challenge them to recall which culture the instrument is from.
When making the maracas try using unique materials in each one so they each create a different sound (flour, beans, rice, coffee grounds).
During small group or circle time, invite children to close their eyes, then shake one maraca at a time. Invite children to guess which maraca you played.
If you have instruments from around the world have them guess which instrument you played and then challenge them to recall which culture the instrument is from.
- During circle time support discussion in which children celebrate their similarities and differences. They may be interested in talking about how they have the same/different color hair as one another, some children may live in a different town or live on the same street, there are all kinds of comparisons that can be made.
- Each day at circle time focus on a different country. Hang a photograph to represent that country and read a book about it. Follow the reading by a clapping game. For this game you will need a series of flash cards or photographs with different animals and/or plants from around the world. Hold up the photographs one at a time. Instruct children to clap when you hold up something from the country you are reading about that day. After each photograph have a discussion as needed. If the children disagree you can reference the book, offer prior knowledge or look up the information on the internet.
Family Involvement
- Inform parents that you will be studying cultures Around the World. Invite them to discuss where their family is from with their child. They may also want to discuss where their child's name came from with their child to prepare them for a class discussion.
- Invite parents into the classroom to share about their culture.
- Ask parents to send in items from their culture with their child for show-and-tell. Encourage parents to stay during this time to support their student in answering questions.
More Ideas
Special Morning greetings
Cooking projects in the classroom
Create a classroom book, each page can feature an All About Me page for each student, then include pictures of the children engaged in activity with each other.
Create a family photo wall where children can display photos of their family.
Cooking projects in the classroom
Create a classroom book, each page can feature an All About Me page for each student, then include pictures of the children engaged in activity with each other.
Create a family photo wall where children can display photos of their family.
Where did your family immigrate from?
Learn more about the history of your own family this week. Which country did they immigrate from? Explore these countries! Taste new food (or recipes that have been passed down), look at photographs, and listen to music from these countries.
Supporting Diversity in your Classroom
In a diverse classroom, both the students and the teacher are accepting of all people,
regardless of their race, culture, or religion.
regardless of their race, culture, or religion.
Some ways you can support diversity in your classroom.
- Find ways children can hear their first languages spoken or sung
- Encourage families to support their children’s development in their first language
- When displaying photos of the children and families, they reflect their cultural backgrounds
- Select toys, materials, and books that feature children from a variety of cultures
- Provide materials (crayons, paper, pens), that allow them to reflect themselves in their work.
- Create: Classroom labels, dictations, and signs that reflect the children’s first languages.
- Discuss cultural differences in a positive, respectful way.
- Give equal time to all holidays, from differing cultures.
