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Preschool themes are an essential part of early childhood education. One effective teaching technique that preschool teachers can use is teaching using themes. There are a variety of themes that can be used in a preschool setting, including animals, transportation, and seasons. Each theme offers unique opportunities for learning and exploration, and provide a framework for teaching young children important skills and concepts.
Here at Pre-K Printable Fun, we love to help you save time planning your preschool themes! Below you can find everything you need to know about Preschool Themes, and information about the resources we've set up on our site to support you in planning your themed activities and lessons. |
Table of Contents
What is a Preschool Theme?
What are the Benefits of using Themes? Selecting Preschool Themes Thematic Activities Learning Objectives and Standards Selecting Materials Creating a Thematic Lesson Plan Organizing Thematic Materials End of Lesson Assessment |
What is a Preschool Theme?
A Preschool theme (also known as a Theme Unit), is a broad topic or subject that serves as the basis for a set of lesson plans and activities. Examples of preschool themes might include "transportation," "community helpers," or "weather." The theme can be selected by the Educator, in collaboration with their students, or based on students interests from observation. If you are new to thematic teaching you may want to start here!
What are the benefits of using themes to teach Preschoolers?
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.
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.
Selecting Preschool Themes
A good Preschool Theme allows for a wide range of activities and materials to be incorporated into lesson plans. For example, a "community helpers" theme could include lessons on police officers, firefighters, doctors, and more. This can help to keep children engaged and interested in learning, as they get to explore a variety of different topics within the broader theme that are most interesting to them. On our site we have 50+ free theme planning pages dedicated to popular preschool themes.
Learning Objectives and Standards
As an early childhood educator you may already be familiar with early learning standards. It's important to select activities that developmentally appropriate for early learners. After you have determined the skills your students are working on developing (through assessments) you can plan almost any activity to align with your featured theme.
Thematic Activities
Once you have picked out your theme, and have decided your standards and objectives, it's time to plan your activities.
Thanks to the technological advancements and information-age we live in, you'll be able to find an over-abundance of ideas and resources. Here are Pre-K Printable Fun, you'll find tons of thematic activity ideas all just a search and click away on our free theme planning pages.
You can plan activities across all domains including: Art & Creativity, Language and Literacy, Math, Science and Discovery, Physical Development, and Social Emotional Development.
Get more bang for your buck by planning activities that build skills in multiple domains. For example setting up a fine motor activity that engages children in color matching pom poms will not only build important physical development skills, but also important early math skills as well.
Thanks to the technological advancements and information-age we live in, you'll be able to find an over-abundance of ideas and resources. Here are Pre-K Printable Fun, you'll find tons of thematic activity ideas all just a search and click away on our free theme planning pages.
You can plan activities across all domains including: Art & Creativity, Language and Literacy, Math, Science and Discovery, Physical Development, and Social Emotional Development.
Get more bang for your buck by planning activities that build skills in multiple domains. For example setting up a fine motor activity that engages children in color matching pom poms will not only build important physical development skills, but also important early math skills as well.
Selecting Materials
Creating a Thematic Lesson Plan
Some teachers struggle with making sense of all of the resources and formulating day-to-day lesson plans.
Here at Pre-K Printable Fun we have developed a free set of thematic plans that you can use as a jumping off point, as sub plans, or when you need a break from planning. If you are homeschooling, we recommend you follow our "SIMPLE" approach to planning pre-k at home lessons.
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Before drafting your thematic plans, decide how long you want the thematic unit to last. Most teachers find that a week to two weeks is a good starting point. Some themes can be stretched over the course of an entire month. The choice is yours, but also pay attention to your student's cues. If they are really enjoying a particular theme, consider keeping it going. Create a theme calendar as pacing guide for your year or use ours for free!
Consider subjects and developmental domains. In other words, map out your lessons plans according to important subjects and milestones, such as: literacy, math, gross/fine motor skills, dramatic play, science and discovery, and so on. Use a lesson planning template similar to these, to take notes.
Align your Activities to Standards and Objectives
Include a variety of educational activities and learning materials. With your subject areas in mind, you can begin plugging in educational and developmental activities. These can be theme-related books for story time (and the literacy area), games, puzzles, art activities, field trips, and the like. Be sure to plan activities throughout the week that can be done independently, in small groups, and as a whole group. The idea is to give your students plenty of opportunity to engage, explore, and learn.
Here at Pre-K Printable Fun we have developed a free set of thematic plans that you can use as a jumping off point, as sub plans, or when you need a break from planning. If you are homeschooling, we recommend you follow our "SIMPLE" approach to planning pre-k at home lessons.
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Before drafting your thematic plans, decide how long you want the thematic unit to last. Most teachers find that a week to two weeks is a good starting point. Some themes can be stretched over the course of an entire month. The choice is yours, but also pay attention to your student's cues. If they are really enjoying a particular theme, consider keeping it going. Create a theme calendar as pacing guide for your year or use ours for free!
Consider subjects and developmental domains. In other words, map out your lessons plans according to important subjects and milestones, such as: literacy, math, gross/fine motor skills, dramatic play, science and discovery, and so on. Use a lesson planning template similar to these, to take notes.
Align your Activities to Standards and Objectives
Include a variety of educational activities and learning materials. With your subject areas in mind, you can begin plugging in educational and developmental activities. These can be theme-related books for story time (and the literacy area), games, puzzles, art activities, field trips, and the like. Be sure to plan activities throughout the week that can be done independently, in small groups, and as a whole group. The idea is to give your students plenty of opportunity to engage, explore, and learn.
Organizing Thematic Materials
The key to easily implementing your lesson plans is to be organized. Take some time to gather, order, download, print, and/or assemble the things you'll need for your chosen theme.
Consider decorating your classroom or learning spaces to coincide with the theme. Set aside some time to change out books, dramatic play items, puzzles, and games, etc. You can find suggested materials to add to your learning centers on our free theme planning pages.
To keep your curriculum, and printable resources organized, consider using some of the following storage solutions:
For Books
For Toys and Games
In addition to these, it's also a great idea to get labels and label EVERYTHING. Color-coded labels work great for keeping things visually appealing and easier to locate.
Consider decorating your classroom or learning spaces to coincide with the theme. Set aside some time to change out books, dramatic play items, puzzles, and games, etc. You can find suggested materials to add to your learning centers on our free theme planning pages.
To keep your curriculum, and printable resources organized, consider using some of the following storage solutions:
- file folders (to store daily/weekly lesson plans)
- accordion folder or file folder storage box (to keep all lesson plans in one place)
- bins (of all sizes)
- baskets (small to medium)
- bookshelf or filing cabinet (for keeping unused thematic resources together)
- A Binder for keeping your plans together
For Books
For Toys and Games
In addition to these, it's also a great idea to get labels and label EVERYTHING. Color-coded labels work great for keeping things visually appealing and easier to locate.
End of Lesson Assessments
After completing your thematic lesson it's important to reflect on your week, and assess your plan with an end of lesson assessment. Although the building blocks of each lesson can remain unchanged year after year, it's important to assess each lesson based on the needs of your current learners. How effective was it? What would you change? What do you need to adjust for your upcoming lesson.
Free Preschool Theme Planning Guide
Our Big List of Preschool Themes
Check out the theme we are featuring this week on our Free Theme Planning calendar!
Preschool Themes A-Z
Amphibians-See Pond Animals
Animals
Animal Habitats
Apples
Arbor Day-See Leaves and Trees
Australia
Authors
Arctic Animals
Around the World
Art
Babies
Back to School
Baseball-See Sports
Bats-See Nocturnal Animals
Beach-See Fun in the Sun
Bees
Bicycles-See Transportation
Birds
Boats-See Transportation
Bubbles
Bugs-See Insects
Bunnies-See Easter or Pets
Butterflies
Camping
Cards
Careers
Cars and Trucks
Castles-See Medieval Fantasy and Fairy Tales
Cats-See Pets
Chickens-See Farm
Chinese New Year
Christmas
Christmas Around the World
Cinco de Mayo
Circus
Clouds
Colors
Community Helpers
Construction
Cooking
Cookies
Corn
Costumes
Cowboys
Cows
Crickets
Day & Night
Dance
Dental Health Theme
Desert Theme
Dinosaurs Theme
Dirt
Diversity
Dogs
Dolphins
Dragons
Ducks
E-K
Earth
Earth Day
Earthquakes
Easter
Elections
Elephants
Emotions and Feelings
Emotions
Energy
Environment
Fairy Tales
Fall
Family
Farm
Father's Day
Fire Safety
Five Senses
Flowers
Food
Forest
Fourth of July
Friendship
Frogs
Fruit
Gardening
Gingerbread
Geography
Germs
Global Warming
Grandparents
Grass
Groundhog Day
Habitats
Halloween
Hands
Hats
Hanukkah
Harvest
Health & Fitness
Hermit Crabs
Hibernation
History
Holidays
Homes
Honey
Horses
Humpty Dumpty
Hurricanes
Ice
Ice Cream
Ice Skating
Insects
Inventions
Islands
Jobs
Johnny Appleseed
Jokes
Jumping
Jungle
Kangaroos
Kindness
Kites
Koalas
Kwanzaa
L-R
Ladybugs
Leaves
Letter Sounds
Life Cycles
Light & Shadows
Lions
Living Things
Magic
Magnets
Magnifying Glasses
Make Believe
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Mammals
Manners
Maps
Marine Life
Martin Luther King Jr.
Math
May Day
Medieval Fantasy
Memorial Day
Mice
Mittens
Money
Monkeys
Monsters
Mother's Day
Mother Goose
Movies
Mud
Music
My Body
My Community
My School
Native Americans
Nature
Neighborhood
New Years Eve
New Years Day
Night Sky
Nocturnal Animals
Numbers
Nursery Rhymes
Nutrition
Ocean
Olympics
Opposites
Outer Space Theme
Owls
Pajama Day
Pancakes
Penguins
Pets
Picnic
Pigs
Pirates
Pizza
Plants
Poetry
Polar Animals
Police
Pond Life
Popcorn
Post Office
Presidents Day
Puddles
Pumpkins
Quilts
Rain
Rainbows
Rain forest
Rocks Dirt & Mud
Recycling
Reptiles
Restaurants
Rivers
Robots
Robots
Rocks
S-Z
Safari
Safety
Santa and His Helpers
Scarecrows
Science
Sea Life
Seasons
Seeds
Sensory
Shapes
Sharks
Sheep
Shells
Shoes
Shopping
Siblings
Sink or Float
Snails
Snakes
Snow
Snowflakes
Snowmen
Spaceships
Spiders
Sports
Spring
Spring Cleaning
Squirrels
St. Patrick's Day
Strawberries
STEM
Summer
Sun
Sunflowers
Superheroes
Swimming
Teddy Bears
Teeth
Thanksgiving
Time
Tools and Machines
Toys
Trains
Transportation
Treasure
Trees
Turkeys
Turtles
Umbrellas
Under the Sea
Up Up and Away
Unicorns
Vacations
Valentine's Day
Vegetables
Veterans Day
Water
Watermelon
Weather
Whales
Wheels
Wind
Winter
Winter Animals-See Arctic Animals or Penguins
Winter Weather-See Snow and Snowmen, or Arctic Animals & Ice
