Ideas for the Toddler and Preschool May Themes

Inside: Plan your toddler and preschool May themes with ideas from this collection of hands-on ideas!

Planning for May?

I’ve put together this toddler and preschool May themes resource that includes not only what we will be doing, but ideas from other teachers, too.

Teachers can use these in the classroom and parents can add them to their children’s home activities.

We’ve added activities for your centers, for circle time, activities that build specific skills, music … and much more.

Happy planning!

An example of what we’ve done:

Weeks 1 and 2: Dinosaurs

Weeks 2 and 3: Ocean and Beach

This year (2024) we are doing:

Weeks 1 and 2: Pets and Vets/Mother’s Day

Weeks 3 and 4: Ocean and Beach

I will be sharing the details of this year in my free newsletters. Click here to sign up!

Centers

Art

• D is for Dinosaur Craft (Fun with Mama)
• Dinosaur Name Craft (Toddler Approved)
• Paper Plate Dinosaurs (Toddler Approved)

• Spool-Stamped Fish Art
• Toddler Fish Craft (Free Printable)
• Watercolor Jellyfish
• 30+ Outdoor Art Activities

• Colorful Candle Holders for Mom
• Flower Magnet Photo Gift for Mom
• Scented Bath Salts for Mom
• Colorful Mother’s Day Gift Wrap
• Mother’s Day Card
• 25+ of the Best Mother’s Day Gifts

Sensory Bin

• Color Recognition Fish Sensory Bin
• Toddler Ocean Sensory Bin
• Preschool Ocean Sensory Bin

Blocks

• Balancing Dinosaurs on Blocks (Moments Enriched)

Music & Movement

• Dinosaur Songs Playlist
• Beach and Ocean Songs Playlist

Science and Discovery

• Ocean Discovery Bottle
• Exploring Shells (Gift of Curiosity)
• Hatching Frozen Dinosaur Eggs (Little Bins for Little Hands)
• Fizzy Dinosaur Eggs (Play Inspired Mum)

Dramatic Play

• Beach Dramatic Play
• Dinosaur Dig Site Dramatic Play (Play to Learn Preschool)
• 25 Dramatic Play Ideas

Outdoors

• Nature Scavenger Hunt (Free Printable)
• 15 Nature Activities
• Outdoor Activities for Small Spaces
• 44 Preschool Outdoor Learning Ideas

Playdough

• Playdough Ocean Animals (No Time for Flash Cards)
• Ocean Play Dough Activity (My Bored Toddler)
• Dinosaur Fossil Playdough Activity (Sunshine Whispers)
• Dino Playdough Match Activity (Toddler At Play)
• 15+ Playdough Learning Activities

Cooking

• Jellyfish Lunch (JDaniel4’s Mom)
• Footprint Dinosaur Cookies (Frogs, Snails and Puppy Dog Tails)
• Dinosaur Egg Rice Krispie Treats (Mess for Less)

Light Table

• Ultimate Collection of Light Table Activities

Skills

Fine Motor

• Fish Pre-Writing Activity
• Beach Left-to-Right Activity
• Activities That Get The Hands Ready For Writing
• 25+ Easy Toddler Fine Motor Activities

Large Motor

• The Dinosaur Stomp (Let’s Play Music)
• 20 Fun Outdoor Games

Math

• Ocean Counting Activity
• Ten Little Fish Counting Activity
• Dinosaur Spike Counting (Glue to My Crafts)
• Dinosaur Math Activities (Living Montessori Now)

Literacy

• Fish Alphabet Printable Activity
• Dinosaur Letter Hunt (Happy Toddler Playtime)

Colors

• Rainbow Fish and Bowls Color Matching
• 20+ Fun Toddler Color Activities

Shapes

• A Week’s Worth of Shape Recognition Activities
• Learning Shapes with 25+ Fun Activities

Favorite Collections

• Hands-On Toddler and Preschool Ocean Activities
• Ocean Theme Activities
• 20 Dinosaur Activities

• My First book of House Pets
• Biscuit Visits the Doctor
• Hello, World! Pets
• Pet
• Let’s Meet a Veterinarian
• A Day in the Life of a Veterinarian

Ocean/Beach:

• I’m the Biggest Thing In The Ocean
• Baby Beluga
• Freddie Goes to the Beach
• Sea, Sand, Me!
• Biscuit’s First Beach Day

Montessori

• Montessori Inspired Dinosaur Activity Trays  (The Pinay Homeschooler)
• Montessori Theme Ocean Preschool Activities (Natural Beach Living)

More Theme Ideas for May

Here are what other teachers from our  Facebook Group are doing in May:

Transportation

Construction

Picnic

Space

Zoo

Ice Cream

Sports

Bubbles

Bees

Looking for more theme ideas? Click here!