Free Preschool Lesson Plans for an Ice Cream Theme
You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream! Free ice cream lesson plans for preschool brings a scoop of fun straight into the classroom, and will fit perfectly into your summer themes for preschool. These ice cream activities are packed with sunny colors, sweet pretend play, and hands-on learning perfect for warm-weather days.
You’ll find playful ways to work in all the content areas around this sweet summer twist. With just a few simple materials, these summer activities help keep the classroom buzzing with energy and smiles, even when the temperatures rise outside.
Who doesn’t love an ice cream preschool theme? It’s the ultimate summertime indulgence and it has a way of imprinting those lasting memories of warm days spent in the sun and a cool treat to wrap up the day.
So when the weather heats up, preschool classrooms can cool down with our play-based ice cream theme preschool lesson plans. It’s a great way to keep learning fresh and full of smiles while cover literacy, math, science and art activities. We’ve even thrown in some social-emotional activities, too.
These themes blend pretend play, creative art, simple games, and group activities that keep young learners both busy and happy.
Read this: Summer Number Identification Activities
FAQ About Teaching an Ice Cream Preschool Theme
An ice cream theme is about much more than a sugary treat. Children learn what ice cream is made of and how a few simple ingredients can morph into a delicious dessert. They have opportunities to problem solve, measure, and other math and science skills. Plus, an ice cream preschool theme is very engaging for children so it’s a great way to make other subjects come to life.
Summer themes are perfect for including nature, water, and outside play. Some great summertime themes include ocean, seashells, bubbles, watermelon, camping, and rainbows/weather. Summertime learning can be full of fun!
An ice cream preschool theme is very engaging for children so it’s a great way to make subjects come to life. Measure ice cream cones with these fun cards. Infuse alphabet practice with an ice cream missing letter activity. Build fine motor skills as you make orange creamsicle playdough and make pretend ice cream cones. The learning ideas are endless with an ice cream theme!
Ice Cream Activities for Preschoolers
These free ice cream activities for preschoolers include hands-on activities for all content areas. They include literacy and book recommendations as well as math and science activities. Plus, there are ice cream activities for sensory and art.
With 18 different fun and simple ice cream activities, these lesson plans are a perfect addition to your ice cream theme!
Ice Cream Preschool Theme Alphabet Activities
Ice Cream Letter Sequencing – This ice cream-themed letter sequencing activity is perfect for preschoolers. Not only is it a great way for young learners to learn the alphabet, but it’s also great for working on fine motor skills! Using magnet letters, letter tiles, or even writing the letters on, preschoolers will work hard to identify the next set of letters in the series. You’ll find yourself singing the alphabet song a lot with this fun activity!
Beginning Sound Popsicles – If you have a preschooler who is just beginning to pick up on hearing beginning sounds, then these popsicle puzzles will be a good fit. Also, the popsicles come in a few different colors, so use only one color or familiar letters so as not to overwhelm. Encourage your preschooler to make the first sound and find the puzzle piece that matches. Challenge the child to find objects in the home/classroom that begin with the same letter.
Picture Books for Your Ice Cream Preschool Theme
Help your ice cream theme activities come alive with these fun books about ice cream! We especially love Mo Willems book, Should I Share My Ice Cream, and your preschoolers will too!
- Hardcover Book
- Willems, Mo (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Hardcover Book
- Dean, James (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Rucker, Ryan (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 35 Pages – 08/22/2022 (Publication Date) – Be Ice Cream Or Be Nothing (Publisher)
- Bader, Bonnie (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 06/20/2017 (Publication Date) – Penguin Young Readers Licenses (Publisher)
- Hardcover Book
- Scheele, Kyle (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Math Activities for an Ice Cream Preschool Theme
Ice Cream Cone Counting – Count the chocolate chips on each ice cream cone and add pom-poms, buttons, or even chocolate chips to a small bowl and count along with each yummy scoop! To extend this activity, use large pom-poms and an ice cream scooper to scoop out pretend ice cream into bowls or cones.
Ice Cream Cone Measurement – Mix up the cards and then arrange them from smallest to largest or in descending order from largest to smallest. Measure with non-standard units like paper clips or counting cubes. Add in counting practice too! These measurement cards can be used to teach vocabulary like height and length, or shorter and longer.
Science Activities for Ice Cream Theme
Make Ice Cream in a Bag – It may sound challenging but with the right ingredients, this experiment is quite tasty and exciting! Watch a few simple ingredients turn into something yummy. Follow the directions for how to make ice cream in a bag for a cool and refreshing summer treat.
Pom Pom Ice Cream Sensory Bin – Get ready to scoop up some fun with this playful pom-pom ice cream shop activity! Create a colorful sensory bin using pom poms of all different sizes where preschoolers can scoop, sort, and serve “ice cream” using cones and scoops. See the ice cream sensory bin in action.
Playful Learning Activities for an Ice Cream Preschool Theme
Sidewalk Foam Paint – There are lots of creative ways to write on your sidewalk! Use this creative foam painting activity to have some fun with your kids. Invite them to draw ice cream cones, animals, and even people!
Water Balloon Fun – Head outside for some fun water play. Blow-up water balloons and do a relay with a water balloon on a spoon, water balloon musical chairs, or even a water balloon piñata!
Fly a Kite – Head to the park and pick a wide-open area to run and fly a kite. Flying a kite teaches patience and coordination. Get friends and family to join in and fill the skies with bright and colorful kites on a perfectly windy day.
Social-Emotional Activities for an Ice Cream Preschool Theme
”It’s Awesome to Share” – Go to YouTube and listen to the story, Groovy Joe Ice Cream and Dinosaurs by Eric Litwin. This story focuses on the joy you feel when you make others happy and how the dog shares his doggy ice cream. Even at the end of the story, when they run out of ice cream, Groovy Joe figures out how to turn something unfortunate into something fun.
Use this story as a talking point with your preschooler and ask questions like, ”Would it be hard for you to share your ice cream with your friends?” If so, what things can we do to make sharing feel good?
Ice Cream Emotions Board Game – Emotional development is very important in the preschool years. It’s important for preschoolers to recognize their feelings and be able to name what they feel and why. This emotions board game helps children to name each feeling. Plus it provides opportunities to talk about what could make you feel that way, and how to move on to a happier emotion.
Read this: Summer More & Less Activities
Just Plain Fun Activities for an Ice Cream Preschool Theme
Ice Cream Puffy Paint Art – With a little glue and paint, you can make some puffy and “cool” ice cream art! The best part about this ice cream craft is that you can mix colors and create all sorts of flavored puffy ice cream. Add in some glitter or cut tiny pieces of colored paper to make rainbow sprinkles!
Ice Cream Model Magic – Perfect for fine motor, these clay ice cream cones are so fun to make and will be lovely when they dry! Little hands will be working hard to mold and decorate these mini cones.
Smoothie Popsicles – Get out of the heat and make your own cool treats! Add frozen fruit and veggies to a blender, blend, and pour into a popsicle mold. Enjoy your homemade summer treat!
Ice Cream Theme Learning Toys for Preschool
Make learning fun with these ice cream-themed resources!
- BUILDS LETTER RECOGNITION – Kids ages 3+ match uppercase scoops to lowercase cones for…
- DEVELOPS FINE MOTOR SKILLS – Pop-on, pop-off ice cream toppers double as stacking toys,…
- SPARKS PRETEND PLAY – Designed as realistic ice cream cones, these letter scoops inspire…
- Scoop, Stack & Serve Treats: Use the kid-friendly magnetic scooper to scoop & stack up…
- Mix & Match 4 Different Flavors: Set includes 4 magnetic ice cream flavor scoops, 2 wooden…
- Open-Ended, Screen-Free Play: Develops fine-motor skills, memory & social interaction,…
- EARLY NUMBER LEARNING – Colorful popsicle-shaped manipulatives help children learn numbers…
- MULTI-SKILL DEVELOPMENT – Each popsicle features a number on the shell and corresponding…
- DURABLE CLASSROOM QUALITY – Made from sturdy, child-safe materials that withstand daily…
- Countertop Ice Cream Playset: Kids serve and share customizable ice cream creations with…
- Sweet Pretend Play: Fill up ice cream cones with the kid-sized scoop or use the soft serve…
- Compact Design: This ice cream playset’s compact design makes cleanup and storage a snap!
Online Activities for an Ice Cream Preschool Theme
Online Story – Go to YouTube and listen to the story, Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems. After listening, discuss with your preschooler. What happened to Gerald’s ice cream cone? Why was it so hard for him to share his ice cream? How did Gerald feel when Piggie shared her ice cream?
Ice Cream Song – How many scoops of ice cream would you like? This catchy song counts to 10 scoops and back again!
How is Ice Cream Made? – Take a virtual trip to a dairy farm and learn how ice cream is made! From vanilla to rocky road, the possibilities are endless!
Get our Summer Alphabet Activities Printables
Support literacy growth all summer long with our printable activities—and get those kiddos ready for kindergarten!
Shop our Summer Math Activities
Add a splash of learning to summer with our hands-on summer math activities!
Download Your Free Ice Cream Preschool Lesson Plans Here
Think your preschool will enjoy learning about ice cream? Download these free preschool lesson plans by clicking the image below.
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.
