Step right up and join the fun because the circus has come to town!
Putting together a circus preschool theme has never been easier and a theme unit like this is so much fun, you’ll enjoy it just as much as your students!
Whether your favorite part is seeing the clowns, the circus performers, or even the various circus animals, there’s an exciting adventure waiting for you under the big top no matter how old you are!
Like the rest of our preschool themes, this preschool circus theme is packed full of fun ideas like circus crafts, activities working on math and literacy skills, fine motor activities, printables, science experiments, and even some fun circus games that are absolutely perfect for learning under the big top!
Whether you’re teaching your own kids at home or you have a classroom full of students, you’ll find plenty of fun themed activities on this page to plan an amazing circus theme!
Planning Out Your Circus Preschool Theme
Looking for an easier way to plan out your circus preschool theme? Grab our free printable preschool lesson planning templates and scroll down through the circus themed ideas below!
Circus Preschool Theme Activities
Build a circus preschool theme for your students? Fill your lesson plans with books, crafts, printables, and even science experiments all about the things you’ll find under the big top!
Books to Kick Off Your Circus Preschool Theme
Kick your circus preschool theme off with a good story!
From tightrope walkers to lion tamers, you’ll find plenty of fun under the big top with this list of circus books for preschoolers!
Circus Literacy Activities for Preschoolers
Working on letter recognition and formation?
You can add that to your circus theme!
Just grab these printable popcorn letter cards, throw some popcorn kernels into a tray and you’re ready to go!
Circus Math Activities for Preschoolers
Sorting is an excellent way to practice those early math skills and with all of the performers, both animal and human, involved in the circus, there are more than enough to get you started!
From funny clowns to juggling monkeys, this simple printable activity makes an excellent addition to your list of circus activities.
Whether your preschoolers are just starting to learn their numbers or you’re working on reviewing them, this number sequencing banner is so much fun to clip and even makes a great decoration for your dramatic play area!
Paper plates are such a versatile craft supply that can be used for any number of things, including making balloons!
Matching the different colors is such a simple idea, but one that your preschoolers are going to love!
Need a quiet time activity or something for early finishers?
This popcorn number sense file folder game is super easy to throw together and can be used over and over again even after your circus theme is long over.
Circus Science Activities for Preschoolers
Balloons are just one of the fun things that you’ll find at the circus and blowing them up is a great way to introduce your preschoolers to chemical reactions.
Young children especially will get a kick out of seeing the balloon expand using just a few simple household materials.
If the baking soda and vinegar reaction was a hit with your little learners, then you are definitely going to want to give making elephant toothpaste a try!
While it doesn’t really have anything to do with an elephant’s dental habits, it is a whole lot of fun and you can even use this experiment to start learning about primary and secondary colors!
Circus Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers
It just wouldn’t be a trip to the circus if it didn’t involve a big bucket of popcorn!
Younger children love making this easy circus craft and it is a fantastic way to incorporate fine motor skills, colors, and even counting into a circus week!
If your preschoolers are anything like mine, dot markers are one of their favorite school supplies of all time.
And that’s good news!
These Do-A-Dot pages are filled with bright colors and fun circus themed pictures and your students will have the opportunity to not only work on their fine motor skills with this printable set, but their hand-eye coordination as well!
Step right up and join the fun! Work on those fine motor skills while building all of the fun things you’ll find at the circus!
From clowns and peanuts to fire rings and the big top tent, your toddlers or preschoolers are going to love this fun sensory activity!
Circus Gross Motor Activities for Preschoolers
Create your own carnival game for your circus theme with a few recycled materials.
This is an excellent way to work on those gross motor skills and is perfect for a rainy day.
Circus Crafts for Preschoolers
With just a few sheets of construction paper, your preschoolers instantly get to pretend to be lion tamers.
They’ll also get to work on their fine motor skills and scissor skills while crafting this textured lion!