As September approaches, many preschool teachers begin to plan their curriculum for the upcoming year.
One key component of any successful preschool program is the use of engaging and exciting themes to capture the attention of young learners.
To help simplify the planning process, we have compiled a list of the best preschool themes for September.
From apples to fall leaves, these themes are sure to engage your students and provide a strong foundation for learning throughout the year.
Apple Exploration
September is the perfect time to explore all things apples! Start by reading a story about apples, then take your students on a field trip to an apple orchard to see how they grow. Next, set up a taste test of different apple varieties, and have your students vote on their favorite. Finally, invite your students to make homemade applesauce or apple prints using real apples.
Fall Leaf Collages
As the leaves begin to change color, engage your students in creating fall leaf collages. Have your students collect leaves of different colors and shapes, then provide them with paper, glue, and scissors to create their own unique collages. Encourage them to use their imaginations and incorporate other materials, such as glitter or paint, to make their collages even more creative.
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Community Helpers
September is a great time to teach your students about community helpers. Invite local firefighters, police officers, or paramedics to visit your classroom and share about their jobs. Then, encourage your students to dress up as their favorite community helpers and act out different scenarios. This activity will help your students develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the important work that these helpers do in our community.
Related: 25 Playful Butterfly Activities for Preschoolers
Shapes and Colors
For young learners, exploring shapes and colors is a foundational skill that sets the stage for future learning. Create a variety of hands-on activities, such as sorting and matching games, puzzles, and color-themed crafts. Consider incorporating sensory materials, such as colored rice or playdough, to make the activities even more engaging.
Transportation
September is a great time to explore different modes of transportation, from cars and buses to airplanes and boats. Start by reading books about transportation and discussing the different ways people get from place to place. Then, invite your students to create their own vehicles using a variety of materials, such as cardboard boxes, paper, and craft supplies. Finish the theme by taking a field trip to a transportation museum or watching a video about transportation.
All About Me
September is a great time to get to know your students better and help them get to know each other. Start by having your students create self-portraits using a variety of materials, such as paint, markers, and collage materials. Then, encourage your students to share their interests, hobbies, and favorite things with the class. Finally, create a class book that showcases each student’s unique qualities and personality.
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Farm Animals
Teach your students about different farm animals by incorporating hands-on activities, such as creating a farm animal sensory bin, reading stories about farm animals, and visiting a local farm. Encourage your students to make animal sounds and act out different farm animal movements, such as waddling like a duck or hopping like a bunny.
Weather
September is a great time to explore different types of weather, such as rain, wind, and sunshine. Create a weather chart and have your students track the daily weather. Then, invite your students to create weather-themed crafts, such as making rain sticks or creating wind chimes. Finish the theme by discussing different types of weather-related safety, such as how to stay safe in a thunderstorm.
Dinosaurs
Invite your students to travel back in time to the land of dinosaurs! Start by reading stories about dinosaurs and watching videos about their lives. Then, create a dinosaur dig using sand and plastic dinosaur skeletons. Encourage your students to use their imaginations and act out different dinosaur scenarios, such as pretending to be a T-Rex or a Stegosaurus.
Community Garden
Create a classroom garden that teaches your students about different types of plants and how they grow. Start by planting seeds and discussing the different stages of plant growth. Then, have your students water and care for the plants and watch as they grow. Encourage your students to draw pictures or take photos of the plants at different stages and create a class garden journal to document their progress.
Ocean Life
Take your students on a deep-sea adventure to explore ocean life. Start by reading books about different sea creatures, such as fish, sharks, and whales. Create a sensory bin with ocean-themed materials, such as blue water beads or ocean animal figures. Encourage your students to create their own sea creatures crafts, such as making paper plate jellyfish or handprint crabs.
Camping
Bring the great outdoors into your classroom with a camping-themed unit. Set up a tent or create a pretend campfire using construction paper and tissue paper flames. Have your students create their own s’mores using play dough and chocolate chips. Read books about camping and teach your students about camping safety.
Five Senses
Teach your students about the five senses by creating hands-on activities that engage all their senses. For example, have your students taste-test different foods, such as sweet and sour candies, or smell different scents, such as flowers or herbs. Encourage your students to explore different textures by creating a sensory bin filled with materials like sand, rice, or feathers.
Community Buildings
Teach your students about the different buildings and places in their community. Take a walk around the neighborhood to see different buildings such as the library, fire station, and post office. Have your students create their own community building using art materials such as cardboard, paint, or clay. Encourage your students to act out different roles, such as being a librarian or a firefighter.
Insects
Learn all about the creepy crawlies that inhabit our world with an insect-themed unit. Read books about different insects, such as ladybugs, butterflies, and bees. Create an insect sensory bin filled with materials such as grass, leaves, and plastic insects. Encourage your students to make their own insect crafts using materials such as paper, glue, and googly eyes.
Apples
Celebrate the start of the fall season by learning all about apples. Set up an apple-tasting station with different varieties of apples for your students to try. Read books about apples and apple orchards. Have your students create apple crafts, such as making apple prints with cut-up apples and paint, or making apple collages using construction paper and tissue paper.
Space
Explore the galaxy and teach your students about space with a space-themed unit. Create a pretend rocket ship using a large cardboard box and have your students act out being astronauts. Read books about space and watch videos about the solar system. Have your students create space-themed crafts, such as making paper plate planets or creating their own constellations with stickers and markers.
Leaves
As the leaves start to change colors, use this opportunity to teach your students about leaves. Go on a nature walk and collect different leaves of different colors and shapes. Have your students create leaf rubbings using crayons and paper or create a fall wreath using leaves and paper plates. Read books about fall and the changing of the seasons.
Feelings
Encourage your students to explore and understand their emotions with a feelings-themed unit. Read books about different feelings and emotions, such as happy, sad, and angry. Set up a feelings chart where your students can express how they are feeling each day. Have your students create feelings-related crafts, such as making a feelings wheel or creating their own emotion puppets with paper bags and markers.
Alphabet
Teach your students about the alphabet with an alphabet-themed unit. Start by introducing one letter of the alphabet each day and having your students identify objects that start with that letter. Read books about the alphabet and have your students create alphabet-related crafts, such as making letter collages with magazine cutouts or creating their own alphabet books with construction paper and markers.
