Free Preschool Lesson Plans for September

Free Preschool Lesson Plans for September

September is the perfect time to kick off a fresh preschool year full of fun, learning, and routine-building. Whether you’re a teacher or a homeschool parent, these free preschool lesson plans for September are designed to make your September planning easier.

Each week features a theme your little learners will love—like Apples, Farm Animals, and Kindness—and includes daily activities across the key early learning areas: Circle Time, Literacy, Math, Fine Motor/Art, and Movement.

You can click on any linked activity below to explore it in our Activity Library, or browse any of 52+ our free Theme Planning Pages for even more inspiration and activity ideas for each theme! Pre-K Printables Club Members can download our printable resources and hands-on activity instruction pages for free inside our library. Not a member? Learn more about how we can save you time and money planning your thematic preschool activities this year.

Week 1: Back to School & All About Me

Starting the school year with connection and comfort is key! This week focuses on helping children feel welcome, learn classroom routines, and share about themselves.

Focus: Building community, learning routines, and self-expression.
Objectives:

• Children will learn classmates’ names and share about themselves.
• Children will follow classroom routines and rules.
• Children will express feelings through drawing and conversation.

Monday

• Circle Time: Introduce the All About Me theme. Invite children to share their names and something they like. Use the Free Bubble Fun Name Worksheet to practice recognizing and writing names.
• Literacy/Language: Read The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be and use the Free Book Companion Set for vocabulary and comprehension.
• Math: Practice counting and number recognition using Happy Face Counting Mats.
• Art/Fine Motor: Create self-portraits with the Handprint & Fingerprint Art Activity.
• Movement: Sing and move along with Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.

Tuesday

• Circle Time: Explore feelings and facial expressions with Feelings & Emotions Conversation Cards and Posters.
• Literacy/Language: Create an All About Me Book where children draw or dictate things about themselves.
• Math: Play the Simon Says Gross Motor Cube Game and count body parts or movements.
• Art/Fine Motor: Explore emotions creatively using Let's Build Emotions Play Dough & Coloring Mats.
• Movement: Enjoy musical expression with the Musical Emotions Activity.

Wednesday

• Circle Time: Discuss how to calm down when we feel big emotions. Introduce and model strategies using the Calm Down Binder.
• Literacy/Language: Practice name recognition with the Name Sensory Bin.
• Math: Measure and compare hands using the Measuring with My Hands activity.
• Art/Fine Motor: Use the Fingerprint Color Match activity to build fine motor skills.
• Movement: Play Simon Says to practice body part identification and following directions.

Thursday

• Circle Time: Talk about hygiene and staying healthy with the Germ Fighter Printable Set.
• Literacy/Language: Use the All About Me Word Wall Cards to build vocabulary.
• Math: Explore size and measurement with Ordering Feet by Size.
• Art/Fine Motor: Set up the Doctor's Office Dramatic Play Pack for role-play exploration.
• Movement: Try the Tissue Dance for music and movement.

Friday

• Circle Time: Celebrate each child with Editable Birthday Posters and share something special about everyone.
• Literacy/Language: Review the week’s learning with a class discussion or share The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be Book Companion.
• Math: Complete the All About Me Math Booklet.
• Art/Fine Motor: Make Foil Mirror Crafts to reflect on self-image.

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Week 2: Friendship and Kindness

Teaching friendship and kindness helps preschoolers develop empathy, social skills, and positive behaviors.

Focus: Practicing kindness, cooperation, and problem-solving
Objectives:

• Children will demonstrate kind words and actions.
• Children will share and cooperate during activities.
• Children will use simple steps to solve conflicts peacefully.
  
  

Monday

• Circle Time: Introduce the topic "What is a Friend?" with the Friendship & Kindness Mini Conversation Cards. Read Finding Kindness using the Finding Kindness Book Companion
• Literacy/Language: Learn to Say Friend in Many Languages
  
• Math: Counting Kids Clip Cards
• Art/Fine Motor: Friendship Bracelets
• Movement: Friendship Circle Ball Toss Game

Tuesday

• Circle Time: Discuss Kind Words & Kind Actions. Make a Kindness KWL Chart. Read Kindness is My Superpower and use Sorting My Kindness Superpowers
• Literacy/Language: Practice Saying Kind Words
• Math: Sharing Candy Counting Mat
• Art/Fine Motor: Kindness Rocks
• Movement: Cooperative Team Building Game

Wednesday: 

• Circle Time: Discuss Sharing & Cooperation. Read The Rainbow Fish and talk about sharing.Sing the Sharing Song by Raffi.
• Literacy/Language: Friendship Traits Sorting Activity.
• Math: Ten Frame Friend Puzzles.
• Art/Fine Motor: Group Collage.
• Movement: Friendship Partner Game.

Thursday: 

• Circle Time: Discuss Problem-Solving & Feelings. Read Enemy Pie and talk about solving problems.
• Story Extension: I Can Be a Friend Support Posters.
• Literacy/Language: I Have/Who Has Collaborative Game.
• Math: Friendship Math Task Cards & Recording Sheet.
• Art/Fine Motor: Friendship Tree Collage.
• Movement: Parachute Play.

Friday:  

• Circle Time: Reflect on the week. Read How Do Dinosaurs Stay Friends? with the Book Companion. Celebrate new friendships.
• Literacy/Language: Make a Card for a Friend.
• Math: Friendship Group Poll.
• Art/Fine Motor: Class Friendship Rainbow.
• Movement: Three-Legged Race.

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Week 3: Apples

Week: Apple Theme – 5-Day Lesson Plan
Apples are a fun and familiar way to welcome fall! This week, children will explore apples through taste, art, stories, and science—building early math and literacy skills while celebrating the changing season.
Focus: Exploring apples through science, sensory, math, literacy, art, and movement.
Objectives:

• Children will explore apple parts, colors, and flavors.
• Children will investigate how apples grow and what we can make with them.
• Children will express learning through play, discussion, art, and movement.

Monday:  

• Circle Time & Story: Explore Apples. Discuss Apple Parts, Colors, and Flavors. Read Apples Apples Apples, sing Five Little Apples Growing on the Tree
• Literacy/Language: Apple Tree Letter Matching Activities
• Math: Apple 2D Shape Clip Cards
• Fine Motor/Art: Apple Stamping and Parts of an Apple
• Movement: Indoor Apple Picking

Tuesday: 

• Circle Time & Story: Discuss Apple Orchards and How Apples Grow. Read The Apple Pie Tree and explore Seasonal Changes of an Apple Tree
• Literacy/Language: Apple Syllable Sorting
• Math: Apple Tree Counting Mats
• Fine Motor/Art: Apple Life Cycle Crown and Create an Apple Tree from Recycled Items
• Movement: Apple Orchard Gathering Game

Wednesday: 

• Circle Time & Story: Discuss what apples taste like. Compare and discuss how they are different from eachother. Review Apples Apples Apples and Eat an Apple Rhyme
• Literacy/Language: Seek and Find Letter Matching Sensory Bin
• Math: Roll and Color Apple Graphing Activity and My Favorite Apple Voting
• Fine Motor/Art: Apple Structures
• Movement: Weigh Apples on a Scale

Thursday: 

• Circle Time & Story: Discuss apple products/What can we make from apples? Read How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World, discuss using Book Companion Questions
• Literacy/Language: Group Discussion: Foods Made with Apples
• Math: Apples as Standard Units of Measurement
• Fine Motor/Art: Apple Pie Paper Plate Craft and Mini Apple Pie Recipe
• Movement: Pie Stand Dramatic Play Set

Friday:  

• Circle Time & Story: Apple Review/Celebration. Review what we learned about apples this week. Sing Here We Go Round the Apple Tree and review using Book Discussion Questions
• Literacy/Language: Editable Sight Word Apple Mats
• Math: Apple Barrel 10-Frame Counting Mats
• Fine Motor/Art: Apple Stained Glass Window Craft and Apple Pie Play Dough
• Movement: Apple Cake Walk
  

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Week 4: Farm

Farms are full of exciting animals, tools, and stories that preschoolers love! This week focuses on animal sounds, life cycles, and farm chores.

Focus Skills: Introduce farm animals, sounds, life cycles, and farm chores.
Objectives:

• Children will name common farm animals and their sounds.
• Children will create and recognize simple patterns.
• Children will imitate animal movements to build coordination.

Monday:  

• Circle Time & Story: Discuss the different kinds of animals found on a Farm. Read Barnyard Banter and enjoy the Group Discussion & Vocabulary Activities.
• Literacy/Language: Use Mother and Baby Farm Animal Matching Cards to connect animal names and their young.
• Math: Practice simple farm-themed patterns with the Farm Patterning Activity.
• Fine Motor/Art: Try the Paint with Hay activity for creative sensory fun.
• Movement: Explore animal actions with the Farm Animal Movement Cube—roll the cube and move like the animal shown.

Tuesday: 

• Circle Time & Story: Discuss the sounds different animals make.  Read Big Red Barn and engage with these Book Companion Animal Charade Cards & Book Report Activities.
  
• Literacy/Language: Play “identify the sound” using Practice Making Farm Animal Sounds.
• Math: Count animals using the Animals on the Farm Counting Mats (1–10).
• Fine Motor/Art: Make muddy fun with the Make Muddy Animal Tracks.
• Movement: Hop, stomp, and waddle with the Wheelbarrow Races game.

Wednesday:  
Circle Time & Discussion: Talk about the purpose of barns and the different types of equipment farmers use. Show real photos or posters like Farm Posters for Building Inspiration.

• Literacy/Language: Use Farm First Sound Clip Cards to practice identifying beginning sounds of tools and equipment (e.g., “T” for tractor, “H” for hay).
• Math: Play the Tractor Rolling Game to reinforce number recognition and turn-taking.
• Fine Motor/Art: Get creative with the Make Your Own Big Red Barn craft project.
• Movement: Set up the Farm Chores Obstacle Course—kids “drive” a pretend tractor, “muck” the stalls, or stack pretend hay bales.

Thursday:  

• Circle Time & Story: Discuss Farm Chores and Farmers. Set the stage with From Grass to Milk and its discussion prompts.
• Literacy/Language: Dramatic play using the Farmers Market Dramatic Play Pack—role-play farmer, shopper, and seller.
• Math: Explore measurement and comparison through Let’s Measure Farm Animals.
• Fine Motor/Art: Build a barn via the Popsicle Stick Barn STEM Challenge.
• Movement: Simulate chores with the Act Out Performing Farm Chores.

Friday:

• Circle Time & Story: Reflect on the week and ask: What did we learn about farms and animals?
• Literacy/Language: Engage in the Collaborative Down on the Farm Story
• Math: Play with number concepts using the Stacking Hay 1–20 Counting Mat.
• Fine Motor/Art: Explore fine motor skills with Sheep Fine Motor Sand Sweeping Mat.
• Movement: Sing along to a farm classic-like Old MacDonald Had a Fatm. Play the “Farm Animals Guess the Sound Interactive Video”

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BONUS Week: Scarecrows, Crows, and Corn

As fall deepens, scarecrows, crows, and corn bring the harvest to life! This week, children will observe nature, explore textures, sequence stories, and create festive crafts inspired by the season. 
Focus Skills: Fall harvest exploration, storytelling, nature discovery, and creative crafts.
Objectives:

• Children will observe signs of fall and describe harvest-related items.
• Children will identify rhyming words and sequence simple stories.
• Children will develop fine motor skills using natural materials like leaves and corn.

Monday: Welcome to the Harvest

• Circle Time & Story: Introduce the theme with lyrics, fall discussion, or read Rainbow Crow using the Free Rainbow Crow Book Companion.
• Literacy/Language: Use the Scarecrows, Crows & Corn Activity Pack for simple rhyming and sequencing fun.
• Math: Explore counting with themed cards like Scarecrow Counting Mats 1‑10.
• Fine Motor/Art: Begin with Corn Cob Painting for a colorful introduction to corn textures Corn Cob Painting – Hands‑On Activity  
• Movement: Playfully explore nature through Crow Walk—march like crows from one end of the room to the other Crow Walk – Hands‑On Activity

Tuesday: Sequencing & Story Building

• Circle Time & Story: Act out the scarecrow tale using the resources from I Can Build a Scarecrow Literacy Set & Rebus Story Printable Product
• Literacy/Language: Practice story order and language patterns through the accompanying rebus story.
• Math: Play with ordering and comparisons via Crow & Scarecrow Number Matching.
• Fine Motor/Art: Try Scarecrow Emotions Build-a-Face Activity to explore feelings and expressive creative work: The Scarecrow Book Companion & Build-a-Face Activity
• Movement: Engage in the Scarecrow Turn Around Action Rhyme for rhymes, movement, and body awareness Printable Activity

Wednesday: Corn Exploration & Sensory Science

• Circle Time & Story: Talk about corn—its life cycle, harvest, and uses. Read with Scarecrows, Crows & Corn Activity Pack as a micro-theme resource.
• Literacy/Language: Use Cornstalk Letter Matching Activity to reinforce letter recognition.
• Math: Play Counting Kernels Rolling Game to practice counting with a fun corn twist.
• Fine Motor/Art: Set out the Corn and Crow Sensory Bin—let little hands explore textures, scooping and sorting kernels-Hands‑On Activity
• Movement: Conduct a hands-on science session with the Dancing Kernels Experiment—watch kernels move and talk about observation-Printable Product

Thursday: Scarecrow Crafting & Nature Observation

• Circle Time & Story: Discuss how scarecrows protect fields and what they look like in the fall. Use the Activity Pack for visual prompts and vocabulary building.
• Literacy/Language: Use “I Can Label Corn” activity to label corn parts and learn new terms.
• Math: Play with shapes using Corn 2‑D Shape Clip Cards.
• Fine Motor/Art: Create a paper bag scarecrow, using leaves and recycled textile pieces to simulate straw—great for fine motor and creativity: Paper Bag Scarecrow Craft – Hands‑On Activity
• Movement: Pretend to be morning crows—flap, hop, and crow-Pretend to be Scarecrows and Crows – Hands‑On Activity

Friday: Harvest Reflection & Review

• Circle Time & Story: Revisit favorite parts of the week. Engage with sequencing fun using the Activity Pack, recalling corn life cycles or scarecrow stories.
• Literacy/Language: Play a fun “Feed the Crow” game, matching items to practice sorting and vocabulary: Feed the Crow – Printable Activity
• Math: Use Scarecrow Ten-Frame Mats to reinforce counting and number sense.
  
• Fine Motor/Art: Sort natural fall items (leaves, small corn ears, etc.) with the Fall Fine Motor Sorting activity Hands‑On Activity
  
• Movement: End the week with a cozy story connection or a final Corn Dough Mat tracing or build activity- Corn Dough Mat – Printable Activity

As you kick off your preschool year, we hope these fall theme ideas help you create meaningful, engaging experiences for your little learners! Be sure to check out our free All About Me, Apples, Friendship & Kindness, Farms, and Scarecrows, Crows & Corn theme planning pages for even more inspiration. Want to save time and money this school year? Join the Pre-K Printables Club for unlimited access to our full collection of printable resources and activity guides—everything you need to plan your year with confidence and ease!