Inside: Looking for the best toddler and preschool themes you can do in your classroom or at home? This collection is filled with playful learning activities for year-round fun. Free printable list included!
Are you like I was, searching for themes that will work with toddlers and preschoolers? Do you have stacks of notes with ideas but not sure where to go next?
Take a deep breath. I am hoping to help you with this collection of preschool themes.
In this post I am sharing a year’s worth of themes that teachers can use in the classroom or at home.
I’ve organized these preschool themes by month, but the more general themes can be used any time of the year. These are just suggestions.
So get out your planners and pencil in some of these ideas!
Bonus! I’ve created a printable list of themes as a handy resource. Scroll down towards the bottom of this post to find it!
I am often asked how long each of my themes are. We used to do a theme a week but realized that usually didn’t allow enough time for thorough exploration.
Today, most of our themes are at least 2 weeks, sometimes longer.
As I get to know my students, I learn more about their interests. In addition to the planned themes, I will also add activities that connect to these interests.
The themes that are shown below are simply suggestions. Pick and choose which ones you feel would be a good fit for your classroom environment.
A Year’s Worth of the Best Preschool Themes
Under some of the theme titles I have included lesson plans you can purchase. Some I have helped create, and others were written by my early childhood educator friends.
Also included under some of the titles are links to more resources, such as classroom photos and video tours. Simply click on them to get a better idea of how we used these themes in our classroom.
Some of these themes I have not (yet) included in our classroom curriculum, but they were shared in our Teaching Toddlers and Preschoolers Facebook Group.
Please note that it’s important to keep the age and learning levels of your children in mind when selecting themes. Some of these themes are more appropriate for older preschoolers. For this reason, I’ve provided a variety of ideas for each season.
Table of Contents
SEPTEMBER
Related: Classroom Ideas for Back to School
All About Me
- Preschool All About Me Lesson Plans
- Toddler All About Me Lesson Plans
- 30+ All About Me Theme Activities
Shapes and Colors
Family and Friends
- Preschool Friends Lesson Plans
- Preschool Family Lesson Plans
- 20+ Preschool Friendship Activities
- Classroom Set Up
- Classroom Video Tour Year #1
- Classroom Video Tour Year #2
- Classroom Video Tour Year – Year #3,Week #1
- Classroom Video Tour Year – Year #3, Week #2
Fairy Tales
OCTOBER
Fall
Apples
Pumpkins
- Preschool Pumpkin Lesson Plans
- Classroom Set Up
- Classroom Video Tour Year #1
- Classroom Video Tour Year #2
- Classroom Video Tour Year #3 (combined with Apple Theme)
Spiders
Bats
Forest
Farm
- Preschool Farm Lesson Plans
- Toddler Farm Lesson Plans
- Classroom Set Up
- Classroom Video Tour Year #1
- Classroom Video Tour Year #2
- Classroom Video Tour Year #3, Week #1
Halloween
NOVEMBER
Leaves and Pinecones
- Preschool Leaves Lesson Plans
- Classroom Set Up
- Classroom Tour Video Year #1
- Classroom Tour Video Year #2
- Classroom Tour Video Year #3
- Classroom Tour Video Year #4
Five Senses
Thanksgiving
- Preschool Thanksgiving Lesson Plans
- Classroom Set Up
- Classroom Video Tour Year #1
- Classroom Video Tour Year #2
- Classroom Video Tour Year #3
Nutrition
DECEMBER
Related: Hands-On Ideas for Your December Themes
Jingle Bells
Gingerbread
- Preschool Gingerbread Lesson Plans
- Classroom Set Up
- Classroom Video Tour Year #1
- Classroom Video Tour Year #2
- Classroom Video Tour Year #3
- Classroom Video Tour Year #4
Christmas
- Preschool Christmas Lesson Plans
- Classroom Set Up
- Classroom Video Tour, Week #1, Year #2
- Classroom Video Tour, Week #2, Year #2
- Classroom Video Tour, Week #2, Year #3.
JANUARY
Related: Big Collection of January Themes Ideas
Winter
Snow and Ice
- Preschool Arctic Lesson Plans
- Preschool Snowflakes Lesson Plans
- Classroom Set Up
- Classroom Video Tour Year #1
- Classroom Video Tour Year #2
- Classroom Video Tour Year #3
Hibernation
- Classroom Set Up
- Classroom Video Tour Year #1
- Classroom Video Tour Year #2
- Classroom Video Tour Year #3
Arctic Animals
Penguins
- Preschool Penguin Lesson Plans
- Classroom Set Up
- Classroom Video Tour Year #1
- Classroom Video Tour Year #2
Opposites
Day and Night
Martin Luther King, Jr.
FEBRUARY
Related: Ideas for February Themes
Feelings/Emotions
- Preschool Emotions Lesson Plans
- Classroom Video Tour (Includes Valentine’s)
Valentines
- Preschool Hearts Lesson Plans
- Classroom Set Up
- Classroom Video Tour Year #1
- Classroom Video Tour Year #3
Presidents’ Day
Community Helpers
- Preschool Community Helpers Lesson Plans
- Toddler Community Helpers Lesson Plans
- Classroom Set Up
- Classroom Video Tour Year #1
- Classroom Video Tour Year #2
Around the World
MARCH
Related: Ideas for March Themes
Dr. Seuss
St. Patrick’s Day
- Preschool St. Patrick’s Day Lesson Plans
- Classroom Set Up
- Classroom Tour Year #1
- Classroom Tour Year #2
Rainbows
- Preschool Rainbow Lesson Plans
- Classroom Set Up
- Classroom Video Tour Year #1
- Classroom Video Tour Year #3
Dinosaurs
APRIL
Related: Big Collection of April Theme Ideas
Spring
Spring and Easter
Note: If Easter is in March, we move this unit to that month.
- Preschool Easter Lesson Plans
- Preschool Eggs Lesson Plans
- Classroom Set Up
- Classroom Video Tour Year #1
- Classroom Video Tour Year #2
Spring Animals
Bugs and Butterflies
- Toddler Bugs and Butterflies Lesson Plans
- Preschool Bugs and Butterflies Lesson Plans
- Classroom Set Up
- Classroom Video Tour (Bugs) Year#1
- Classroom Video Tour (Butterflies) Year #1
Gardening
- Preschool Flowers and Trees Lesson Plans
- Classroom Set Up
- Classroom Video Tour Year #1
- Classroom Video Tour Year #2 (includes Bugs)
Worms
Frogs
Birds
Weather
Recycling/Earth Day
Pets
- Preschool Pets Lesson Plans
- Classroom Set Up
- Classroom Video Tour Year #1
- Classroom Video Tour Year #2
MAY
Related: Big Collection of May Theme Ideas
Transportation
- Preschool Transportation Theme Lesson Plans
- Toddler Transportation Theme Lesson Plans
- Classroom Set Up
- Classroom Video Tour Year #1
- Classroom Video Tour Year #2
- Classroom Video Tour Year #3
Construction
Space
Deserts
Zoo
Bees
SUMMER
Summer
Beach
- Preschool Ocean Lesson Plans
- Toddler Under the Sea Lesson Plans
- Classroom Set Up
- Classroom Video Tour
Water
Sharks
Sun
Sand
4th of July
Bubbles
Camping
Pools
Watermelon
Ice Cream
👉 Download this free list of themes as a handy resource:
You can find more teacher posts in this collection.
Toddler and Preschool Activity Plans
Looking for an entire year’s worth of learning activities? We’ve done the work for you!
I have helped create each of these packets, along with a team of talented educators and homeschoolers.
Easy to follow activity plans include activity modifications and adaptations to meet the needs of all learners.
Every theme comes with recommended reading lists, songs, material lists, and more.
Click on the graphics below for more details.
Toddlers (18 – 36 months):
Preschool (3 – 5 Years):
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