All-Time Favorite January Preschool Themes

Ring in the new year with these exciting January preschool themes! From this expansive list, you can help your little learners stay focused and engaged after the holiday rush. Consider these preschool themes for your January lesson plans for preschoolers and toddlers.

Themes to Teach in January

As the calendar turns over to a new year, our hopes for a brighter year in your preschool classroom come with it. It is a time of fresh starts and new beginnings.

January is a wonderful time to discover new experiences and unleash creative ideas during preschool. Explore the vast possibilities as you kickoff the year with exciting themes for preschool! From exploring wintery landscapes to connecting with arctic animals in their habitats – stimulate little minds these winter preschool activities.

FAQ About Teaching Preschool Themes for January

Winter Preschool Themes by Month

• December Preschool Themes
• January Preschool Theme Ideas

Themes to Teach in Your January Preschool Lesson Plans

January preschool themes don’t have to be limited to winter activities or arctic animals and penguins. (Although those themes are awesome!) This is the ultimate list of January themes for preschool, but they are great for toddlers and kindergarteners, too.

Getting your lesson plans in order is the key to keeping both you and your preschoolers focused, organized, and motivated. This will create a more peaceful atmosphere for learning as well. Try out these preschool themes for your January lesson plans for preschoolers and toddlers.

All About Me Preschool Theme

An All About Me preschool theme is a great January theme! We have included literacy ideas, math and science fun, arts and crafts, and even social-emotional support.

Our children are all amazing in their own way, and teaching them to appreciate the differences between each other is key for creating strong relationships. By opening up conversations about likes, dislikes, talents and struggles, we give preschoolers a chance to build connections with one another – helping create an inclusive learning environment.

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Animals Preschool Theme

Immerse yourself in the vibrant and diverse world of animals! These animal preschool lesson plans are done for you. Your preschoolers can do gross motor activities like walking like a bear or crab, explore exotic habitats through sensory play, listen to unusual animal sounds in phonological awareness activities; the list goes on.

With so many options available little adventurers are never lacking for enriching ways to discover more about the amazing creatures around us.

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Arctic Animals Preschool Theme

Arctic animals are those that live in the Arctic region, which is the northernmost part of the world. It consists of the Arctic ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Alaska, and a few Nordic countries. If you want to include penguins, then you can do a polar animals theme or polar habitat.

The animals that live in this chilly environment are known as arctic animals, and they are specially adapted to life in this unique region of the world. That’s part of what makes this theme so fun for preschoolers!

Community Helpers Preschool Theme

Preschoolers are always eager to explore the people in their community who help make it a special place! From doctors and construction workers, to scientists and engineers, our community helpers preschool activities provide inspiring ways for young children to learn about all the amazing helpers around them.

Budding minds can discover science/STEM concepts through hands-on activities, explore new ideas with art projects or sensory play items – plus pick up important literacy skills at the same time!

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Dinosaurs Preschool Theme

Little ones are captivated by pre-historic creatures, giving teachers the perfect opportunity to explore a fun dinosaur preschool theme! Unearth some dinosaur discoveries with an exciting dino dig in sandboxes or dinosaur sensory bin. Then enjoy reading books and singing circle time songs about these giant reptilians that roamed incredible ages ago. Let the prehistoric adventure begin!

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Gingerbread Preschool Theme

Since gingerbread (or some form of it) is fairly universal throughout the world, it makes a great preschool theme in January when preschoolers are coming down from all the excitement and emotions from the holiday season.

Gingerbread man activities are some of my favorites, and both toddlers and preschoolers will love these activities for gingerbread man theme that are part of my Learn at Home Preschool Lesson Plans.  

Fairy Tale Preschool Theme

Preschoolers love listening and learning through fairy tales! My four year old is absolutely enamored with Jack and the Beanstalk, so much so, that we built a beanstalk from a wrapping paper tube and made pipe cleaner leaves to re-enact the story.

These magical tales include so much wonder and interest that preschoolers can’t help but be completely mesmerized. Our preschool fairy tale lesson ideas are going to help make planning this theme such a breeze!

Hibernation Preschool Theme

Learning about hibernation and how animals survive the cold winter months is such a fascinating topic for preschoolers! You can teach about hibernating animals with these creative (and free) hibernation activities for preschoolers. 

They fit in well with a winter animals preschool theme and also a snow theme.

Penguin Preschool Theme

Waddle you do with all these penguin ideas? Get ready for a preschool penguin theme, of course! Our site is packed with penguin activities for preschoolers, which includes book ideas, art and sensory exploration, and math and science fun. You’ll find the whole bundle of ideas right here!

Pets & Family Preschool Theme

Take your little one on an adventure exploring all the wonders that make their family unique! From beloved pets to treasured heirlooms, there’s so much to discover about what makes each and every household special. Spark a love for discovering what makes their own families so extraordinary!

Space Preschool Theme

From the dazzling night sky to the incredible wonders of space, preschoolers can explore and learn with this galactic-themed space activities! Whether they’re crafting a rocket ship out of cardboard or creating their own constellations in a starry universe, nothing beats going on an intergalactic space adventure. Get your little one immersed in a universe of possibilities – it’s sure to be an exciting experience that will have them reaching for more stellar fun!

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Snow and Winter Preschool Theme

A winter wonderland awaits with these snow and snowman activities for preschoolers! Imagine snowman sensory play, singing winter circle time songs while snuggling up in blankets, and learning math and the alphabet along the way.

But that’s not all! It can also become an opportunity for kids of any age to explore the science behind this magical phenomenon, from tracking precipitation levels in real-time to learning how glaciers form over time.

Get Snow and Winter lesson Plans for Toddlers

Sarah Punkoney, MAT

I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.

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