Preschool
Theme UnitsFallFeaturedResources for Educators
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.
The month of November may be a short on in the preschool classroom, with the Thanksgiving holiday break taking up the end of the month, but there’s still plenty of time to add some of these November preschool themes to your lesson plans!
Whether you’re exploring opposites with your kids or you’re looking for some fun activities and a few printables to help you teach your little learners about Thanksgiving, the November preschool activities found in these fun fall themes is the perfect place to start!
November Preschool Themes
Thematic units are one of our favorite ways to learn in preschool as it allows us to cover numerous subject areas under one common theme.
Whether you decide to use individual weekly themes or choose instead to try longer monthly preschool themes, this list of November preschool themes is sure to have something that your students will enjoy!
Thanksgiving
When it comes to November preschool themes, a Thanksgiving theme is sure to always make the list!
Whether you’re finding ways to work turkeys and pies into your core subjects like math and literacy (this Thanksgiving alphabet coloring book is a favorite of ours) or you’re having your preschoolers learn with placemats during a Thanksgiving theme meal, there is so much learning that can take place in a theme like this!
Native Americans
While Thanksgiving is definitely one of November’s most popular preschool themes, it’s important to make sure that you take the time to teach your toddlers and preschoolers about the history and culture of Native American people as well.
You can do this through stories, artwork, or if you have someone within your community that would be willing to come in and visit your group, you and your students may be able to learn about one of the many different cultures straight from the source.
Owls
Owls may seem like simple animals, but building a preschool theme around these incredible creatures can be so much fun!
Young children are usually fascinated by them as they can easily hear them but don’t often see them.
They make a fantastic introduction to nocturnal animals and birds in general so you can use them as a jumping point for things that catch your students attention.
Opposites
Opposites is such a fun theme to add to your preschool lesson plans and there are so many fun activity ideas out there that you can fill it with!
Work on your little learners’ math skills, for instance, by finding and matching opposites, practice pencil grasp and handwriting by making your own book of opposites, or try to make some opposite themed art projects!
Turkeys
Outside of your regular Thanksgiving activities, turkeys make a fantastic addition to your list of November preschool theme units!
Counting turkey feathers or sorting turkey mini erasers is an excellent way to work on those math and fine motor skills, combining colored feathers and pumpkin seeds would make for excellent sensory play, singing turkey themed songs is a great way to spend circle time, and you could even have your little learners help you make a turkey snack!
Just think of the fun ideas that you could fit into this theme!
Planning ahead? Make sure you check out these preschool theme ideas for December as well!
Veterans
In the United States, Veteran’s Day is observed annually on November 11th, making this a great time to teach your preschoolers about the many men and women that have served our country.
There are so many amazing books and stories to choose from and your students will love making these poppy themed Veteran’s Day crafts, many of which will provide an excellent fine motor workout!
Transportation
Planes, trains, automobiles, airplanes and more!
Most of the preschoolers that I know have at least one thing in common. They all seem to love things that go.
Whether it’s a boat out on the open water or a motorcycle zooming down the street, they’re fascinated by vehicles of all shapes and sizes.
Most of them will also be using various forms of transportation if their families are traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday.
This is the perfect opportunity build a theme unit around those cars and trucks and add it to your list of November preschool themes. There are all sorts of hands-on activities you could use to wok in a little color practice, introduce sequencing, sorting, and so much more!
Gratitude
Gratitude is a harder concept to cover in a preschool theme because it is more abstract, but it is still an important one for preschoolers to learn and November is the perfect time!
Have your students work on an age appropriate gratitude journal by having them draw pictures of things that they’re grateful for or hold a class Thanksgiving meal and talk about what each of you are thankful for.
The possibilities are endless and I think you’ll find that your preschoolers are really going to love talking about their homes, their families, and what they’re thankful for!
Scarecrows
There are certain things that are just synonymous with the fall season and scarecrows are definitely one of them, so it just makes sense to build them into your preschool curriculum!
Take a field trip to a pumpkin patch or a harvest festival and I’m sure that you’ll see a few. Build a few scarecrow themed sensory bins filled with fabric and straw for your students to enjoy or build a scarecrow of your own while working on rhyming words!
There are so many great ideas out there that it would take no time at all to pull together an epic preschool theme!
