Free Preschool Lesson Plans for Pond Life Theme
Exploring nature with pond lesson plans for preschoolers is a great way to bring hands-on learning into the classroom. As part of spring preschool themes, a pond unit introduces kids to frogs, ducks, lily pads, and more. A well-planned pond theme helps preschoolers connect with nature while building early math, literacy, and science skills in a fun and meaningful way.
Ready to see what pond life activities we have in store? Check these out!
There’s something magical about ponds in the spring—frogs croaking, ducks paddling, and lily pads floating on the water. That’s why pond lesson plans for preschoolers make such a fun addition to your spring preschool themes and lesson plans! Preschoolers love exploring pond life themes because it’s offers opportunities for hands-on activitiesJust wait and see what we have in store.
Our free, weekly preschool pond life lessons includes pond themed activities in literacy, math, science, art and more! Over sixteen, easy activities that can even be done at home.
Spring is all about new life and discovery, making it the perfect time for a pond theme. With the right mix of structured lessons and playful activities, preschoolers stay engaged while building important skills. And we can do all of this with a super fun pond life theme!
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Engaging, hands-on themes that complement your math and literacy curriculum.
Pond Life Preschool Theme Activities
Enjoy 16 hands-on learning activities for preschoolers all centered around a pond life theme. And best of all, if you are homeschooling preschool, these are all pond activities that can be done at home. No special materials are required!
Literacy – Pond Theme Activities for Preschoolers
Lily Pad Hop – Use green construction paper to cut out 26 lily pads (less if your child doesn’t know all the letters). Simply cut a circle and then cut a notch out of each circle, thus making a quick lily pad. Use a marker to write a letter on each lily pad. Arrange the lily pads on the floor in a large circle. Finally, ask your preschooler to hop like a frog around the lily pads, naming each letter or sound as he goes.
Muddy Writing – Ponds are definitely muddy! Create a simple mud writing tray by adding a little dirt and water to a baking dish. Then, invite your preschooler to use his finger, or a Q-tip, to make various lines. She can even draw pictures in the mud.
Chidlren’s Books About Pond Life
We’d be amiss not to include a pond book list for preschoolers. The following books feature fun stories as well as information about life cycles at the pond and all the animals that live there. It’s books like these that create the backbone of our pond activities for preschool.
- Craig Hammersmith (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages – 07/31/2011 (Publication Date) – Capstone Press (Publisher)
- Gray, Nicole M. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 31 Pages – 03/25/2022 (Publication Date) – Independently published (Publisher)
- Fowler, Allan (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 09/01/1996 (Publication Date) – Children’s Press (Publisher)
- Wallace, Nancy Elizabeth (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 42 Pages – 01/21/2014 (Publication Date) – Two Lions (Publisher)
- Lindeen, Carol K. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages – 07/31/2016 (Publication Date) – Capstone Pr Inc (Publisher)
Math & Science Preschool Activities for Pond Life Theme
Counting Eggs – Many aquatic birds live near the pond. Find a set of like items that are egg-like in appearance. (Small rocks, floral pebbles, wooden blocks, Easter eggs, etc.) Write the numbers 1-10 on some index cards. Draw a card and count the corresponding number of eggs. Or you can also grab these free number formation cards printable, too.
Sink or Float? – In advance, collect some random, waterproof items from around the house and yard. Fill the bathtub with no more than two inches of water and invite your preschooler to test which items float and which do not. Have her make a simple hypothesis with each item by saying, “I think this will / will not float because___” Then test it to see if the hypothesis is true.
*** Never leave your child unsupervised around water of any depth.***
Learning Activities for Preschool Pond Theme
Edible Ponds – Fill a graham cracker crust with chocolate pudding. Then cover completely with blue sprinkles. Add some fish candies or goldfish crackers to the top, and enjoy. Get the full instructions for how to make a pond themed snack here.
Underwater Looking Glass – Take an empty, plastic frozen juice can and cut off the bottom to make a tube. Take three sheets of plastic wrap and cover one end, making sure each layer is pulled taut with no wrinkles. Wrap tightly with rubber bands. Now the can can be used as an underwater-looking glass.
Pond Walk – If you live near a pond, take a walk there with your preschooler. Note what you see and invite your preschooler to take a nature journal with them to draw and label new findings. Try starting your walk with the book Pond Life by Nancy Elisabeth Wallace.
Pond Theme Dramatic Play
Pond Dramatic Play – Set out a blanket, blue if you can, on the floor and pretend it is a pond. Set out a laundry basket to be a boat. Sing “Row, Row, Row, Your Boat” as your preschoolers pretend to row across the blanket pond. This is a fun activity to do with siblings, too!
Map Reading – Ponds are an addition to many city parks and playgrounds. Look at the map of the park in this link with your preschooler and follow the directions on the page to complete the map reading activity. Then, invite your preschooler to design their own park on a sheet of paper.
How do Fish Breathe Underwater? – Follow this simple science experiment to find out!
Fun Pond Activities for Preschool
Duck, Duck, Goose – No pond theme is complete without a game of Duck, Duck, Goose. Watch full instructions for how to play Duck, Duck Goose here.
Turtle Craft – Cut a white paper plate in half. This will be the turtle’s shell. Use green construction paper to make legs, a head, and a tail. Tear some green paper into about 1-inch pieces. Glue the pieces to the turtle shell, trying to “fit” the pieces like a puzzle.
Rock Trails – Small rocks are common around ponds. Have your preschooler collect lots of rocks from around the yard and then line them up in rows. Challenge her to make spirals or waving lines, or different shapes with the rocks.
These same rocks can also be used in a sensory bin, too.
Kid-Safe Activities to Do Online
Online Story – Go to Storylineonline.net and listen to the book The Kissing Hand and read by Barbara Bain. Look for a red button under the video called “Activity Guides” to find related activities that pair with the book.
Pond Life Video – Take a look at what life looks like for microscopic organisms in a freshwater pond with the YouTube video below. As you watch, as your preschooler to verbally describe what the organism looks like and how it is moving.
Five Green and Speckled Frogs Song– The actions in this popular circle time song are very kid friendly. And of course, it teaches counting, too!
Free Pond Life Lesson Plans for Preschoolers
Want to include these pond themed activities in your lesson plans?
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FAQ about a Preschool Pond Theme
A pond theme introduces young children to a rich ecosystem filled with interesting animals, plants, and water life. It encourages curiosity, exploration, and hands-on learning. Plus, it’s a fun way to incorporate science, literacy, art, and movement into a week of engaging activities. This video beautifully introduces the pond ecosystem.
Focus on pond animals (frogs, ducks, turtles, fish, and insects), plant life (lily pads, cattails, and algae), and the water cycle. Teach children about habitats, life cycles (such as tadpoles turning into frogs), and how animals interact in their environment. Simple science concepts like floating and sinking can also be explored.
Take a nature walk to a local pond (if possible) to observe real pond life. Set up a pretend pond outside using a kiddie pool with floating lily pads and toy animals. Have children use nets to scoop toy frogs and count them as they play.
That’s okay! You can create a “pond experience” in the classroom with books, videos, and hands-on activities like a water-based sensory bin with toy pond animals and plants. Virtual field trips or nature documentaries can also help children see what a real pond looks like. Additionally, you can visit a local park with a small stream, puddle, or fountain to discuss water habitats in a way that’s accessible to them.
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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.
Just so you know, way up here in Minnesota, we play DUCK,DUCK, GREY, DUCK! lol