One of the best things we can do for our preschoolers to connect with them is to teach them their names. Learning names in preschool is loads of fun with this set of free lesson plans for a name theme. These preschool name lesson plans are available in a FREE download at the end of this post!
Free At Home Preschool Lesson Plans
One of the best places to start when teaching young children how to read is to begin with their name. Long or short, name recognition activities offer a wide range of early literacy skills.
And since young children are highly interested in their own name, name activities become even more appropriate. A preschooler’s name has meaning and value to them – it’s personal.
This may sound a little unusual, but as I was planning all 40+ weeks for the Learn At Home Preschool Lesson Plans, I thought it would be fun to do an entire week of at home preschool lesson plans all centered around name activities.
Whether you’re a preschool teacher or a preschool parent, these activities are a great way to connect with your students or child. Plus, these activities are not just name recognition activities for preschoolers; they also offer a variety of ways to celebrate your preschooler’s name and meaning.
Frequently Asked Questions About a Name Theme
You might have some questions about teaching preschoolers how to recognize and write their names in preschool. Here are some frequently asked questions about teaching names in preschool.
The answer is lots of hands-on play! Using fun manipulatives, puzzles, and sensory items like playdough and stamps, the options are endless! Invite children to find and recognize the letters in their names with fun and engaging alphabet materials. Preschool name activities are tons of fun when you get to use bright manipulatives and it becomes a fun game!
Writing skills are developed long before a pencil is picked up! In preschool, it is developmentally appropriate to encourage children to write using their fingers first (think sand, sugar, sprinkles, etc). The goal is to build fine motor skills and hand strength before transitioning into writing practice.
For more info about writing practice in preschool, check out this post.
Heading back to school in preschool, there are lots of theme ideas! Teaching an all about me theme helps kids learn about their unique qualities and a classic children’s book’s theme brings high-quality literature into the classroom on day 1!
Important Info About These Name Preschool Lesson Plans
The Learn at Home Preschool Lesson Plans are free lesson plans you can use to teach your preschooler at home.
All the preschool learning activities are quick and easy to set up, designed to save time, requiring hardly any (if any at all) prep and only requires the most basic of household materials. This makes them especially easy for parents to implement…and this makes preschool teachers especially happy, too!
Just glance over the lessons each day, gather the very few materials needed, and you’re ready to go!
But don’t be fooled by the name “at home” preschool lesson plans! These activities work wonderfully in the classroom as well, and if you’re a preschool teacher who is remotely teaching you can send these lesson plans to your student’s parents.
Literacy-Based Name Recognition Activities
Sticky Note Names – Write your preschooler’s name in large print on a blank sheet of paper. Then, write your preschooler’s name on a set of sticky notes, writing one letter on each sticky note. Invite your preschooler to find each letter and put the letters in the correct order to spell their name, using the sheet of paper for reference. Use magnet letters, stamps, alphabet pasta, or any other resource to help your preschooler practice their name. This activity promotes letter recognition too!
Glitter Names – Write your preschooler’s name in large print on a piece of paper and place it on a cookie sheet or tray. Help your preschooler trace the letters of their name using liquid glue. While the glue is still wet, have your child sprinkle glitter (or colored salts) over the glue until it’s covered. For less mess, use glitter glue pens or stickers to trace or cover the letters. Invite your preschooler to write family members and pet names too! Using fun school supplies, like colored gel pens or glitter crayons is a less mess option.
Name Theme Math and Science Activities
Name Graphing – Write your child’s name on a piece of paper. Count the letters in their name and then graph accordingly on the graphing page. Graph family members’ names and compare name lengths and common letters.
Name Measurement – Write your child’s name on a piece of paper. Search for items to measure with (pasta, coins, string, etc.) and measure their name with various materials.
Name a Creature – Create a new animal! Start by mixing up animal parts. What would you name a creature that had a rabbit’s ears, a horse’s tail, and fish scales? Invite your preschooler to draw their new creature and name it something unique!
Grab High-Quality Literature for Your Preschool Name Theme!
Using great literature is essential in early childhood! We have hand-selected great read-alouds that revolve around a name theme and are a welcome addition to your back to school plans!
Name Theme Playful Learning Activities
Magazine Art – Invite your preschooler to flip through a magazine and find images that represent them in some way. Allow creative freedom as they search. Create a collage with glue.
Play Simon Says – Invite your preschooler to play this simple game. If Simon doesn’t say it, they’re “out,” but feel free to have them join back in right away! Have Simon name parts of their body and invite movement as you play!
Create in the Kitchen – Make something yummy in the kitchen. Help your preschooler make a simple recipe like ants on a log or apple slices with chocolate chip eyes and a blueberry smile. The options are endless!
Name Theme Social-Emotional Activities
Mail a Card – Encourage kindness, writing skills, and name recognition by inviting your preschooler to write a letter or card to a friend or family member. Begin by brainstorming ideas they could write about. Do they want to send a special gift like artwork or a photograph? How could they ensure that this letter makes someone feel happy and excited? Encourage your preschooler to write and draw independently. If they seek support, feel free to add in words or sentences to their letter. Don’t forget to have your preschooler sign their name!
Learning to Be Kind – After watching Chrysanthemum from the Get Online section (linked below), brainstorm a list of ways that students could be kind to her. What types of things could they do to make Chrysanthemum feel better? How would you be kind to her if she was in your class? Make a book together of ways to be a good friend and invite your preschooler to draw pictures to match the words. Write a new idea on each page and staple it together once the book is finished. Have your preschooler draw a cover image. Share the book with friends and family!
Name Theme Just Plain Fun Activities
Name Spelling Hop – Write your preschooler’s name, with one letter on each piece of paper. Place in a circle and invite your preschooler to begin on the first letter of their name and hop to the next letter saying the letter out loud.
Name Stories – Share with your preschooler the story of their name. Is there any special story or meaning behind their name? Encourage them to ask questions and learn more about other family members’ names.
Name Crown – Using construction paper, invite your child to decorate the crown with their name and things that are important to him/her. Wear it proudly!
Name Theme Get Online Activities
Online Story – Go to YouTube and listen to the book Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes. Discuss how Chrysanthemum felt about her name. How does your preschooler feel about his/her name? Use this time to chat about being kind to others.
Fingerplay – Engage your preschooler with this catchy fingerplay that helps build number sense. This fingerplay invites children to use their fingers to help them count and recognize number order.
What’s Your Name?– Help your preschooler navigate introducing themselves, exchanging greetings, and making new friends with a silly song.
Make Your Name Theme Even More Fun!
These amazing manipulatives are great for teaching preschoolers the letters in their names. Check out the list below of our favorite alphabet resources for learning names!
Get Your Name Preschool Lesson Plans Here
Think a full-on name theme sounds like a fun way to engage and connect with your preschooler? Click the image below and the preschool lesson plans will be sent to your inbox.
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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.
