Tips to help you plan your Preschool Themes for the whole year!

Plan Preschool Themes for the Whole Year

Planning your themes for a whole year can feel a bit overwhelming at first, but having a good roadmap for the whole year will help you stay focused, and save you time as you plan your monthly/weekly activities.

Below you can find simple, actionable steps you can take to help you plan your yearly theme calendar. To save you even more time, please be sure to download our free theme planning guide.

Why I love themed based learning

Themed lessons help young children to make deep learning connections. Learning is an integrated process and thematic units support how the brain works. Theme based units allow children to benefit from connections made across the lesson plans, in different learning domains.

Thematic units serve as a jumping off point to expose children to a variety of new topics, and concepts. Using a theme as a base for your curriculum also makes it easier for you to pick and choose a variety of activities that will work well for multiple age groups, or children at different learning stages.

Before you start scheduling

Before you start scheduling your themes, it's helpful to cross out the weeks on your calendar where you are on vacation or closed.

How many themes a year?

Next, you'll need to determine how many themes you'll plan for the year.

To determine this you'll need to decide how often you plan on rotating your themes. The most popular options are  monthly, every two weeks, or weekly.

Monthly rotation: A monthly rotation will allow you to plan for 12 theme units. You may want to consider a monthly rotation if you only want to "rotate" items every 30-days. Downfalls: It may be hard for you to find enough activities to support a month long theme. A month on one topic may be far too long and boring for both you and your students.

Two Week Rotation: This rotation offers the chance to introduce your students to 27 different topics. This gives you a chance to dive deeper into topics to extend the learning. As a downfall, you may find by week two, some students as less engaged.

One Week Rotation: This rotation allows you the chance to expose your student to 52 different learning opportunities. Each week there is something new to explore. Downfalls: you may end up spending more money up front to purchase materials.

Remember plans should be flexible, this is just a jumping off point. After you choose a rotation, you may find that it needs to be adjusted.

Tips on picking your Themes

Now that you know how many themes you'll need to plan for the year, let's talk about what to consider when choosing specific themes:

• Whenever possible, choose themes that are based on the interests of your students, or subjects they are familiar with. Think about the questions they've been asking you, or what has their interest.
• Let nature be your guide-Plan your themes around the seasons! Planning your themes around the seasons makes learning more concrete. Children will be able to experience falling leaves in fall, and build snowmen in the winter!
• According to Piaget, children don't start understanding abstract concepts until sometime after 11. Therefore, it's best to choose concrete themes that will allow young children to have tangible learning experiences.  Although it can be done, planning a snow based learning experience for your program in Los Angeles, will not be as effective of a learning experience as it would be for a program in Minneapolis where children could tangibly experience snow with their senses.
• Base your themes around the monthly rhythms in your own home, and in your community. If you participate in the cabbage festival in your town each year, plan a gardening or vegetable unit to align with the week of the festival. Then, when your student attends the festival, they will be able to more effectively connect the concepts they've been learning about in your program with their experience of attending the festival.
• If you celebrate Holidays, they are a great jumping off point! They will provide you with an instant "Theme" week.
• Choose broad themes, that allow you to choose enough books, and plan enough developmental appropriate activities (art, math, science, physical development,  dramatic play, etc.) for your rotation length. Avoid using "skills" as themes (Letters, numbers, shapes, colors etc), these should be integrated into each of your themes, and taught repeatedly throughout the year.
• Chose topics you enjoy teaching! The best topics to teach are one's you are most passionate about. Your passion will resonate with your students.

Meaningful learning allows young children to link their own experiences to new concepts, and ultimately allows them to begin to have a better sense of their world. If you get stuck, or just need some inspiration visit our free Theme Planning Pages for inspiration. 

A little bit about our annual Theme pacing calendar, and how it can save you time planning your lessons!

Each year, we release our own updated theme pacing calendar. Not only does it save our readers and members time planning their own year, it also guides all of the content we create here at Pre-K Printable fun. This calendar coordinates with our products, our free weekly newsletter, and our free theme planning pages.

On our coordinating theme planning pages, our readers can find a free sample lesson plan for each theme, as well as tons of supplemental activities that support the development of preschool aged students in a variety of key learning areas such as: cognitive, social, physical development, and creativity.

As a newsletter subscriber we'll send out done for you content ideas every Saturday.  These include a book suggestion, free printable, and easy low cost extension ideas related to the the featured theme of the week on our calendar!

Our Suggested Themes & Pacing Calendar

Each year, our Team produces a done for you thematic pacing calendar. We use this as a guide to publish new theme content, as well as weekly Saturday lesson planning newsletters. You can follow along with our weekly recommendations to save even more time, or use the editable calendar that we've included inside the  theme planning guide to create your own.

A Note about repeating Themes:

Please know it is OK (and even beneficial) to repeat themes each year. New learning has to be repeated and reinforced for it to be truly remembered and understood. Next year, through KWL exercises, you may find some students remember a piece of what was taught, and you can dive deeper by teaching new concepts that teach them more about the topic. 

If you are a childcare provider, repeating themes will allow you to save time, and improve your programming in the future. Once your themes are set, and your materials are purchased, you only have to focus on differentiating your activities to meet the developmental needs of your students, but your supplies and materials can be reused year after year. Take notes about the success of your lessons each year. What worked well, what do you need to improve.

Q & A

New to Preschool Themes? Here are some popular questions preschool teachers have about preschool themes

What is a preschool theme?
A preschool theme is a broad topic or subject that serves as the foundation for a series of lesson plans and activities. It allows educators to integrate various subjects and skills under one central idea, making learning more cohesive and engaging for children.

How do I select the right Preschool Themes?
Consider factors such as your students' interests, developmental goals, and relevant seasonal or cultural events. Observing what excites your children can help you select themes that resonate with them and spark curiosity.

What are some popular preschool themes?
Popular themes include animals, transportation, seasons, community helpers, space, and more. You can also consider themes tied to holidays or events, like Earth Day, Fathers Day or Mothers Day.

How do I create a thematic lesson plan?
Start by defining your theme and identifying learning objectives. Outline the activities you want to include, ensuring they cover various domains (art, literacy, math, etc.). Use a template to organize daily plans and incorporate assessment strategies.

What activities can I include in a themed unit?
Activities can range from art projects and storytelling to sensory play and science experiments. Ensure you include a mix of independent, small group, and whole class activities to cater to different learning styles.

How long should I stick to a theme?
A thematic unit typically lasts one to two weeks, but feel free to extend it if your students show strong interest. Flexibility is key—follow your students' cues and adjust accordingly.

How can I assess students’ learning during a theme?
Use observations, anecdotal notes, and simple assessments like checklists to gauge understanding. Encourage children to share what they’ve learned through discussions or creative presentations.

What materials do I need for themed activities?
Gather a mix of books, art supplies, manipulatives, and props that align with your theme. Visit our site store to find our coordinating collection of themed printable activities. Utilize resources from your classroom, local libraries, and thrift stores, and ask for parent contributions to create a rich learning environment.

How can I incorporate play into themed lessons? Incorporating play into themed lessons is essential for engaging preschoolers and enhancing their learning. Here are some effective strategies:

• Dramatic Play: Create themed preschool dramatic play centers that align with your lesson. For example, if you have a  "community helpers," theme you can set up a pretend play fire station or doctor’s office where children can role-play different professions.
  
• Sensory Play: Use sensory bins filled with theme-related materials (e.g., sand, water, or rice) to explore concepts. For a "beach" theme, include shells and beach toys; for a "farm" theme, use toy animals and hay.
• Themed Art Projects: Integrate process art activities by providing materials that relate to your theme. For instance, during a "fall" theme, children can create leaf rubbings or paint pumpkins.
• Storytelling and Puppet Shows: Encourage storytelling through puppets that relate to your theme. Kids can act out stories or create their own, fostering creativity and language skills.
• Movement Activities: Incorporate music and movement that tie into the theme. For a winter theme, you could have children "ice skate" across the floor or mimic snowflakes falling.
• Games and Challenges: Develop simple games that reinforce learning. For a "transportation" theme, set up an obstacle course where children pretend to be different vehicles navigating through traffic.
• Preschool Learning Centers: Set up interactive learning stations around the classroom that allow for hands-on exploration. For a "garden" theme, have a planting station where children can plant seeds in soil.

What are some ways to adapt themes for diverse learners?
Modify activities to meet varying skill levels by providing additional support or challenges. Use visuals, hands-on materials, and varied groupings to ensure all children can participate and learn effectively.

Can I collaborate with other preschool teachers on themes?
Absolutely! Collaborating with colleagues can enhance the thematic experience. Share  ideas, and plan lessons together to create integrated plans that reinforce the same theme across different classrooms.

How do I keep parents informed about our themes?
Some ideas for parent communication include using newsletters, emails, or bulletin boards to share information about upcoming themes and related activities. Encourage parent involvement through take-home projects or family days centered around the theme.

Download Your Free Theme Planning Guide

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