August Preschool Themes and Ideas

7/6/2023

August Preschool Themes and Ideas

We love to kick off the school year with a few preschool themes that will excite preschoolers as they head back to the classroom. We'll make it easier for you to start planning those start of school themes while you soak up that last bit of summer sun.

We’ve included a list of preschool themes and hands-on activities to help your little learners enjoy their summer and prepare for back to school. Whether you teach preschool, homeschool, or are just searching for some extra fun activities, these activities are perfect for summer learning fun. From circus fun to bulldozing their way through a construction theme, you will be sure to find something that all of your preschoolers will love.

Circus

Can you think of a better way to kick off the month than with a circus celebration? The circus is sure to get your preschoolers excited while learning about all the different sights, sounds, and smells. A circus theme provides endless opportunities with colors, clowns, yummy treats and extraordinary acts, which make for some awesome art projects and gross motor activities. So, step right up and join the fun!

Pasta Hair Clown Craft

A circus theme is a fun time to explore bright colors and new activities. This engaging Pasta Hair Clown Craft is a featured activity on our Circus Theme Page. Create colored pasta and pair with our free clown mat for a fun new sensory and creative experience.
The creative fun doesn't end there. Be sure to check out our pendulum painting, cotton candy puffy paint and more!

Construction and Building

Dump trucks, bulldozers, and excavators are three words that intrigue any preschooler. Preschoolers are fascinated by construction sites, from the noises to digging dirt. A construction theme is no exception; your preschooler will be more than ready to dig right in as long as some dirt is involved!

Sensory Digs

The best part of a construction theme is sand, dirt, and hands-on fun. Grab some rocks and use markers to write letters or numbers on them, then invite your preschooler to dig up the rocks. Add in construction materials like stop signs, cones, and a few trucks. A simple activity but loads of fun for your little learners.

Zoo Animals

Zoo animals are a shared interest among almost all preschoolers, most of them have a favorite animal they can't wait to tell you about. A zoo animal theme is a great theme to include within the first month of school because it's a great way to get nervous preschoolers excited to come to school. It's always a great theme to build connection and community as we are learning about our classmate's favorite animals.

Small World Zoo

Small world play is an excellent time to see how play emerges between your preschoolers. It's a great time to get a glimpse of their conversations while their imaginations are exploring. Simply just provide the materials and let them do the rest. A small world zoo is a great activity to include in your block center.

Medieval Fantasy & Fairy Tales

Preschoolers love pretend play, especially when dragons, princesses, and castles are involved. Why not extend on their interest and teach preschoolers a bit more about this topic with an entire medieval fantasy and fairy tale theme? This theme is perfect for truly sparking imaginations and letting preschoolers dream and explore. A fairy tale theme wouldn't be complete without some great books to read, be sure to check out our suggested books in the language & literacy section of our free Medieval Fantasy and Fairy Tales theme planning page.

Catapult Painting

Catapults were an important tool used during the medieval times and they're pretty cool! What's even cooler than a catapult is catapult painting. We love process art as a way for preschoolers to explore and engage with materials they typically don't use when it comes to art projects. This is so fun and can also be used to explore a color-mixing lesson.

Robots

In today's society we are surrounded by technology and growing advancements which makes STEM learning more important than ever. A robot theme allows preschoolers to explore new materials while creating their own or painting with parts of a robot like gears. The opportunities are endless with a robot and it's a great way to include or introduce tinkering into your Robots themed week!

Paint with Nuts & Bolts during your Robots Theme, find more ideas on our Robots Theme Page

Camping

A camping theme is the perfect final hoorah of the summer. As the summer winds down and school starts again, allow your preschoolers to have a camping trip right in their classrooms. Camping is also a time where we come together and sit by the fire, sing songs, and enjoy each others company. This sounds like a great theme to encourage community right inside the walls of your classroom. Believe it or not, bringing a camping theme indoors is pretty easy.

Camping Under a Night Sky

Exploring glow in the dark paint is such a fun experience for preschoolers, a camping theme is the perfect opportunity to use this fascinating medium!
Create a glow in the dark piece of art to enjoy day or night. Find more fun ideas for this theme on our free Camping Theme Planning Page.

National Back to School Month

August marks the end of summer as children, teachers, and parents prepare to head back to school. It's an exciting month full of changes and new experiences, making it a busy month for both students and teachers. The first weeks of school are about establishing a routine, settling in, and preparing for a new year. Here are some tips for planning your preschool themes for the upcoming school year.

Students aren't the only ones who feel a bit nervous about an upcoming school year, so teachers, check out this post on preparing for a new school year.

National Watermelon Day

Bite into a piece of watermelon because August 3rd is National Watermelon Day! And, if you're not quite ready to jump into back to school because you're still in summer mode check out these awesome summer themes!

National Play Outside Day

This first Saturday of every month is National Play Outside Day and it's the perfect opportunity to take your play outdoors! We love seeing and hearing all about the awesome spaces educators have created in their outdoor areas so if you're looking for some creative ideas check out this post.

National Friendship Day

The first Sunday in August is National Friendship Day and as we head back to school it's the perfect time to celebrate and talk about the importance of building friendships and recognizing how important kindness truly is. It's also a great way for preschoolers to get to know one another during the first few weeks of school. We have a collection of great activities that promote both kindness and friendship!

National Dog Month

Time to celebrate your furry friends because it's National Dog Month! Check out our pet theme as a way to incorporate this holiday into your lessons.

Looking for More Summer Ideas?
Download our Free Summer Inspiration List!

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