How to Create a Preschool Lesson Plan

Feeling overwhelmed by how to create a preschool lesson plan? You juggle a million tasks each day, and the thought of building a detailed roadmap of lessons might leave you reaching for the coffee pot. But let me tell you a secret: Effective lesson plans are your secret weapon, not a burden!

They ensure your little learners progress towards developmental goals, and – bonus! – can save you time in the long run. Continue reading for a step-by-step guide to writing a preschool lesson plan, and grab the sample lesson plan ideas!

While lesson plans might seem like just another box to check, they’re a powerful tool that can transform your classroom into a well-oiled machine for learning.

Effective lesson plans keep you organized and focused throughout the day and ensure your activities are aligned with specific learning objectives, maximizing your students’ learning potential. They also allow you to adapt to your student’s needs and interests quickly and serve as helpful records for tracking progress, too.

We understand that creating lesson plans from scratch can be time-consuming. Stay At Home Educator has preschool lesson plan templates that will help you plan with ease and confidence. Whether you plan daily, do weekly lesson plans, or even plan a year in advance, having a plan ensures your lessons are focused on what matters most – meeting your students’ needs! 

How to Write a Good Lesson Plan for Preschoolers

Do blank lesson plan templates leave you feeling confused? You’re not alone! Creating activities that encourage curiosity and development in young learners can be challenging. But don’t worry, here is a guide to writing a good lesson plan:

• Know Your Learners:
  • Before diving in, consider your students’ interests, strengths, and any areas that need some extra attention. This personalization makes learning more meaningful and engaging.
• Define Your Goals:
  • What do you want your students to learn by the end of the lesson? Focus on specific skills, like color recognition, counting, or following directions.
• Plan Activities and Materials:
  • Choose developmentally appropriate activities that align with your learning goals. Gather all the necessary materials well in advance to avoid scrambling during lesson time.
• Structure Your Time:
  • Preschoolers thrive on routine. Set aside time for each activity segment, including an engaging introduction, the main activity, and a wrap-up to solidify learning. Don’t forget to factor in time for transitions and movement breaks!
• Keep it Playful:
  • Learning should be fun! Incorporate songs, finger-plays, and plenty of opportunities for exploration and discovery.

Check this post for additional information on crafting preschool lesson plans:

• Learn At Home Preschool Lesson Plans Collection
• A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Preschool Lesson Plans
• Preschool Schedules Guidebook
• Lesson Planning Ideas
• Preschool Methods

The Importance of Preschool Lesson Plans

Creating lesson plans might feel like one more thing to juggle in your busy preschool day. But take it from us, these plans are your greatest ally, not a hassle!They can transform your classroom into a fun and focused learning environment. 

Here’s why lesson plans are your best friend:

• Stay Organized: Lesson plans keep you focused, eliminating the scramble to determine what’s next.
  • No more frantic searches for materials or last-minute activity planning!
• Targeted Learning: Lesson plans ensure that your students maximize their learning potential by aligning activities with specific learning objectives.
• Adaptability is Built-in: Even the most detailed plans can encounter bumps. Lesson plans provide a strong foundation and flexibility to adjust activities on the fly to meet your students’ needs and interests.
• Track Progress with Ease: Lesson plans record what your students are learning and how.
  • This documentation is gold for tracking progress and adjusting to ensure all students thrive.

The Difference Between Thematic Calendar and Emergent Curriculum Approach

When it comes to preschool lesson planning, two main approaches offer distinct advantages: the thematic calendar and the emergent curriculum. Understanding the strengths of each will help you choose the best fit for your classroom and teaching style.

Thematic Calendar: A Structured Approach

Imagine a roadmap guiding your students’ exploration. A thematic calendar provides a framework for your lessons based on a central theme, such as “Under the Sea,” “Dinosaurs,” or “Colors.”

This organized approach allows you to plan activities and materials, connecting different learning areas like math, language arts, and art through the chosen theme. Themes also introduce new vocabulary and provide a sense of predictability for young children who thrive on routine.

However, there are some drawbacks to consider. The pre-determined themes might not always align with students’ current interests, and activities often follow a teacher-directed approach, potentially limiting opportunities for student-led exploration.

Emergent Curriculum: Following the Child’s Lead

In contrast to the structured roadmap, the emergent curriculum approach follows your students’ lead. The teacher acts as a guide, observing their interests and spontaneous play to create learning opportunities in the moment. This fosters a student-centered environment where children’s natural curiosity takes center stage. 

The curriculum constantly evolves to meet their changing needs and interests, encouraging them to explore, investigate, and solve problems independently. While planning can be more dynamic and aligning with standards requires careful observation, the benefits of emergent learning create a beautiful learning experience.

Whatever you choose, the best approach often lies somewhere in between.

You can utilize a thematic calendar as a foundation but allow flexibility to incorporate student interests when opportunities arise. This allows you to capitalize on the strengths of both approaches, creating a dynamic and engaging learning environment for your preschoolers.

Here are some articles that go more in depth about the two methods:

• Best Play Based Preschool Curriculum
• Academic VS Play-Based Early Childhood Learning
• Research Based Teaching Strategies for Letter Recognition
• Play and How It Impacts Brain Development

Tips for How to Create a Preschool Lesson Plan

Creating a preschool lesson plan doesn’t have to be complicated. Follow these steps for engaging and effective learning experiences:

1. Spark Curiosity with Themes or Topics

Begin by choosing a preschool theme that aligns with your curriculum goals. This could be anything from colors and shapes to insects and outer space. Alternatively, tap into your students’ current interests. Are they fascinated by dinosaurs? Build a lesson plan around these prehistoric giants!

2. Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals

Once you have your theme or topic, define specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (S.M.A.R.T.) learning objectives. For example, if your theme is “Under the Sea,” a S.M.A.R.T. goal might be: “Students will identify and name three different sea creatures by the end of the lesson.”

3. Plan Activities and Gather Materials

Choose engaging activities that support your learning objectives. Consider incorporating a mix of active learning, creative exploration, and opportunities for social interaction. Remember to gather all the necessary materials well in advance to avoid any mid-lesson scrambling!

4. Structure Your Time

Preschoolers thrive on routine. Structure your lesson plan with clear time segments for each activity. This includes introductions to capture their attention, the main learning activity transitions to guide them between activities, and a wrap-up to solidify learning. Be sure to factor in time for movement breaks to keep those little bodies energized!

5. Assess Student Progress

Think beyond a single test at the end. Incorporate formative assessments throughout the lesson to gauge student understanding. Observe their participation, ask questions, and use informal quizzes to get a well-rounded picture of their learning.

6. Teach Reflection

Don’t underestimate the power of reflection! After each lesson, take some time to reflect on its effectiveness. Did the activities achieve the learning goals? What could be improved for next time? This ongoing reflection helps you refine your lesson plans and ensure continuous improvement in your teaching practice.

How to Incorporate Themes in Preschool Lesson Plans

Themes are the magic threads that give preschoolers a cohesive and engaging learning experience. They act as a springboard for exploration, sparking curiosity and fostering connections across different areas of development. Here’s how to seamlessly incorporate themes into your lesson plans:

• Read Aloud Picture Books: Carefully select books related to your chosen theme. Read-aloud becomes interactive journeys, prompting discussions, predictions, and connections to the real world.
  • Here is an amazing list of picture books for preschoolers.
• Arts and Crafts Get Themed: Arts and crafts activities allow creative expression and skill development.
  • For example, during a “Transportation” theme, children could design and decorate their paper airplanes, explore building block cars, or create colorful traffic light collages.
• Science Activities: Science experiments can be easily adapted to fit your theme.
  • For a “Plants” theme, plant seeds and observe their growth, explore the concept of dissolving with colorful candies and water or create a sensory bin filled with soil and leaves.
• Dramatic Play: Set up a designated area that encourages students to act out scenarios related to the theme.
  • A cardboard box transformed into a spaceship becomes a launchpad for imaginary space exploration during a “Space” theme. Students can dress up as their favorite creatures in a dramatic play area for an “Animals” theme and create their own animal habitats.
• Play Thematic Games: Traditional games and activities can be easily adapted to incorporate your theme.
  • During a “Shapes” theme, play a matching game with cut-out shapes or create an obstacle course that requires navigating different shapes.

You create a rich and interconnected learning environment by incorporating themes across various activities. Students will see the theme come to life through stories, songs, and play, solidifying their understanding and fostering a sense of wonder about their world.

Preschool Lesson Plan Ideas

The heart of every preschool teacher’s mission is keeping young minds engaged and fostering a love for learning. We’ve compiled preschool lesson plan ideas across various themes designed to ignite curiosity and spark exploration in your little learners. 

From exploring the wonders of the natural world to delving into the world of stories and imagination, these ideas provide a springboard for engaging activities that will leave your students eager to learn more. 

Here are some of the preschool lesson plan ideas your little ones surely will love:

ALL ABOUT ME PRESCHOOL LESSON PLAN

This playful theme is the perfect way to kick off your preschool year! “All About Me” helps young learners explore the wonderful world of themselves, their families, and their friends. Activities focus on building confidence, developing self-worth, and fostering a sense of belonging in the classroom community.

ART PRESCHOOL LESSON PLAN

Unleash your preschooler’s creativity and learning with these art activities! They will explore different mediums, experiment with colors, and even explore art stories. Each activity fosters fine motor skills, focus, and a love for artistic expression!

HELPING OTHERS PRESCHOOL LESSON PLAN

This lesson plan focuses on nurturing the seeds of kindness in our youngest learners. Through engaging activities and playful interactions, we’ll help preschoolers develop empathy, respect, and a love for helping others – a foundation for lifelong social-emotional learning!

TRANSPORTATION PRESCHOOL LESSON PLAN

Preschoolers are in constant motion, and their curiosity about how things move extends beyond their own two feet! A transportation theme taps into this natural fascination, transforming your classroom into a bustling world of cars, trains, planes, and more.

SEASONS PRESCHOOL LESSON PLANS

These interactive lesson plans are a captivating journey through all four seasons! Little learners will explore the changing nature, from spring’s vibrant hues to winter’s cozy chill. They’ll discover what happens to plants and animals throughout the year and learn how to dress comfortably for each season with engaging activities and hands-on fun!

BEE THEME PRESCHOOL LESSON PLAN

Get ready for a hive full of learning fun! This bee-themed lesson plan is bursting with over 15 engaging activities to excite your little learners. Explore the fascinating world of bees through various playful experiences – from counting colorful pollen dots to creating their own buzzing bee crafts.

DENTAL HEALTH PRESCHOOL LESSON PLAN

This exciting theme offers a treasure trove of engaging activities for your preschoolers. From brushing adventures in dramatic play to fizzy science experiments that explore healthy teeth, these fun lesson plans will surely spark smiles (and learning!) throughout the month.

Creating effective preschool lesson plans doesn’t have to be a solitary struggle. By incorporating the strategies and ideas explored in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to crafting engaging experiences that nurture your students’ curiosity and development. 

Remember, the most important ingredient is your passion for early learning! With a sprinkle of creativity, a dash of organization, and a whole lot of love for your little learners, you’ll transform those once-blank pages into springboards for a joyful and enriching learning adventure.

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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