October Preschool Themes
There’s something magical about fall, making it the perfect time for October preschool themes. The cool air, colorful leaves, and nature’s wonders spark curiosity in toddlers and preschoolers. Preschool theme ideas like pumpkins, leaves, and fall activities keep kids excited and eager to learn, offering endless opportunities for hands-on fun and exploration during this cozy season.
Our October preschool themes include seasonal favorites like apples, pumpkins, seeds, farms, fall, and Halloween, plus year-round themes such as construction, dinosaurs, and zoo animals.
These engaging October theme ideas for preschool will fit perfectly into your curriculum, making learning more meaningful and exciting for kids. Theme-based preschool learning is an excellent way to keep children engaged while easily integrating math, science, literacy, reading, and language development.
You’ll love how these thematic units seamlessly support all learning areas and keep your students eager to explore. Jump on in for some fall-tastic learning fun. Check out our October preschool themes ideas list and start planning an October that will be your best yet!
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Product on saleApples & Pumpkins Preschool CentersOriginal price was: $8.00.$4.00Current price is: $4.00.
Preschool Themes to Teach in October
Our October preschool themes are filled with fun hands-on experiences both inside the classroom and in the great outdoors. The best part? There are so many activities that explore and celebrate the special season that is fall. For additional fantastic theme ideas, be sure to check out our ultimate list of preschool themes, too!
It is our hope that you find our theme ideas and lesson plans to be your go-to resources, as you plan an epic October for your preschoolers. We know that your toddlers and preschoolers will love the activities and resources we are sharing! They are tried and true. Additionally, our cozy autumn centers and autumn activity pack are an awesome addition to your regularly scheduled lesson plans. They are packed with awesome learning and fun!
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Product on saleApples & Pumpkins Preschool CentersOriginal price was: $8.00.$4.00Current price is: $4.00.
Monthly Preschool Themes
If you’re excited for the holidays and planning out your next few months, be sure to check out our upcoming monthly preschool themes with holiday ideas along with lots of other themed activities!
October Preschool Books
Fall is in full swing, and there are book choices galore that both teach and entertain during this exciting season. Check out some of our fall favorites to read aloud and share throughout the month of October.
- Used Book in Good Condition
- White, Linda (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Hubbell, Will (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Catherine Hapka (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages – 07/22/2014 (Publication Date) – HarperFestival (Publisher)
- Rockwell, Anne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages – 09/11/2012 (Publication Date) – Aladdin (Publisher)
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Silverman, Erica (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Steven Kroll (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 09/01/1993 (Publication Date) – Cartwheel Books (Publisher)
- Edwards, Nicola (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 18 Pages – 07/24/2018 (Publication Date) – Silver Dolphin Books (Publisher)
Themes to Teach in Your October Preschool Lesson Plans
October brings tons of exciting learning opportunities for toddlers and preschoolers. We have a wide range of October preschool themes designed specifically for preschoolers but perfect for toddlers and kindergartners too!
Explore fall, farms, pumpkins, and more as we transition into cooler autumn days. Discover our themes and lesson plans to make October learning fun and engaging!
Apples Preschool Theme
Did you know that October is National Apple Month? It makes sense, right? It’s the perfect time to pick some apples and make them into cider or some delicious home-made applesauce or baked good.
Preschoolers love to learn about apples…as well as get in some tasting, too, of course. It’s always fun (and relevant) to graph their favorite types of apples after they taste some. There are also a wide variety of apple art projects, sorting and matching activities, literacy activities, and more!
We have ready-to-go apples (and pumpkins) math and literacy centers, to help make your apple-theme planning a breeze. We also have a fun apple activity pack that is full of apple-themed numbers, sorting & classifying, pre-writing, letter recognition and alphabet activities, and more!
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Product on saleApples & Pumpkins Preschool CentersOriginal price was: $8.00.$4.00Current price is: $4.00.
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Construction Preschool Theme
A construction preschool theme will definitely be one that your preschoolers will dig! Our free lesson plans include 16 + construction-themed activities that teach anything from counting to fine motor skills to fun art projects and more. We even have a roadwork small world that is always a hit! This theme is full of great sensory learning experiences and hands-on fun! Help your preschoolers build their skills as they take on the exciting world of construction!
Cooking & Baking Preschool Theme
October’s cooler temps make it the perfect time for a seasonal baking theme in preschool. Cooking and baking activities are fun and filled with learning, allowing preschoolers to practice sorting, measuring, stirring, and more. These activities naturally build fine motor skills, math, and problem-solving abilities.
Our cooking and baking preschool lesson plans make it easy to bring this theme into all areas of the classroom, turning your little learners into “chefs” while they learn.
Dinosaur Preschool Theme
Something BIG is hitting preschool classrooms in October- Dinosaurs are back! And, just in time for National Fossil Day on October 14th. Little dinosaur enthusiasts love to learn about different dinosaur species, their living and eating habits, dinosaur eggs, and of course, their fossils!
With lots of fun and hands-on dinosaur learning in mind, we’ve included exciting activities in our free dinosaur preschool lesson plans. Get ready to travel back in time on a prehistoric adventure filled with discovery and imagination. Your preschoolers will be ROARing about this popular theme!
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Dinosaur Printable Pack$5.00
Fall Preschool Theme
Crunching eaves, cozy sweaters, and the smell of pumpkin spice – fall is full of nostalgia for us grown-ups, but for young children, it’s truly full of excitement and wonder!
We’ve got a bunch of extra-fun fall activities just for preschoolers. We’re talking sensory games, hands-on crafts, and heaps of giggles! Our free fall-themed preschool lesson plans are jam-packed with hands-on math, STEM, artsy adventures, and even some storytelling magic. So, help your preschoolers fall into some seasonal learning and fun…with a fabulous fall theme!
Get Fall Lesson Plans for Toddlers
Grab our cozy autumn literacy and math centers with beautiful clip art and fun learning activities for preschoolers!
Farm Preschool Theme
Did you know October 12th is National Farmers’ Day? It’s the perfect time to celebrate everything our farmers do for us, especially during harvest season. While we should appreciate farmers year-round, October gives us a special reason to give extra thanks.
If you can visit a local farm, your preschoolers will love experiencing farm life firsthand. It’s a great way to bring classroom learning to life. If a field trip isn’t possible, no worries! There are plenty of fun farm activities you can do right in your classroom.
Our free farm-themed preschool lesson plans cover all learning areas with engaging, hands-on activities. Your preschoolers will have a blast with farm animal sounds, songs, and rhymes while learning about life on the farm.
Check out these awesome farm lesson plans for toddlers!
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Farm Preschool Centers$9.00
Food and Nutrition Preschool Theme
Teaching kids about food and nutrition from a young age is important. Fall is a great time to explore this theme, with farms and harvests all around! You can get preschoolers excited by telling them you’re sharing the secrets of “superhero fuel” and how healthy food makes us strong like superheroes.
Take it further with a trip to a local farm where preschoolers can learn where food comes from and maybe even pick some fresh produce to taste. Our food and nutrition lesson plans make it easy to combine this theme with your farm lessons for even more fun and learning!
Halloween Preschool Theme
You didn’t think we could share a bunch of October themes and not mention Halloween, did you? Of course we have some awesome Halloween preschool activities to share with you!
There are so many different themes within a Halloween theme, like spiders, bats, ghosts, pumpkins, mummies, and friendly monsters, to name a few. Our Halloween preschool lesson plans are not scary. We try to keep it light, silly and fun. From playdough spiders to a friendly ghost craft and a tasty candy sorting activity…your little ghosts and goblins will delight in a variety of Halloween-themed activities.
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Halloween Activity Pack$5.00
Helping Others Preschool Theme
We want to instill in our preschoolers a desire to help others when they can. Of course, this is something we want to model and teach all year-long. October is a great month to put an extra emphasis on helping others because the fourth Saturday in October is “National Make a Difference Day”. The day focuses on volunteering and helping others in ways, both big and small. Preschoolers can certainly get in on the fun and find ways that they can make a difference.
We have designed a whole set of lesson plans focused on helping others. We have even integrated it across the curriculum, like all of our themed lesson plans. Your preschoolers will gain a broader understanding of what it means to help and also gain more skills practice along the way!
Leaves & Trees Preschool Theme
In many places, the leaves and the trees in October are a part of nature’s majesty. It’s like exploring a whole new world right outside our windows. And, better yet…it keeps unfolding and looks a little different every single day.
Of course, you may not live in a climate that gets a whole lot of fall scenery. And, that is okay. Our free leaves preschool lesson plans are designed to celebrate and teach all things fall, no matter where you live. Your children will delight in all the fall-tastic activities and have fun exploring this beautiful season.
Monsters Preschool Theme
You might take pause at the thought of your monsters in your preschool classroom. But, never fear- this theme is packed full of adorable and silly monsters, not scary, undesirable ones. These monsters will make your preschoolers giggle- no screaming allowed!
A monsters theme is perfect in October to go right along with your Halloween theme. Your preschoolers may be surprised at just how lovable monsters can be. They will love learning and practicing all kinds of skills with these friendly monsters preschool lesson plans.
Nocturnal Animals Theme
Bats and raccoons and owls, oh my! While we slumber away in our beds, nocturnal animals are active, hunting, and living their lives in the dark. Preschoolers are typically fascinated by these animals that live a life so very different from ours.
Our free nocturnal animals lesson plans have lots of fun activities that tie in math, reading, crafts, songs and of course, the science behind it all. October is a perfect month to study nocturnal animals, as it goes perfectly with fall and Halloween. Plus, the days are getting shorter and have just the right fall feel to study these animals that like to party all night.
Pumpkin Preschool Theme
As the leaves turn and the air gets crisp, it’s time for all things pumpkin! Dive into the world of pumpkins with loads of fun activities. Scoop out the insides of a pumpkin, find the seeds and help your preschoolers explore, measure, and play with them.
It’s messy but oh-so-much fun! Some kiddos might not be into the slimy stuff, and that’s okay, while others will dig right in! With tons of pumpkin play ideas, we’ve got over 15 easy and exciting free pumpkin lesson plans for preschool! Let the pumpkin party begin!
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Product on saleApples & Pumpkins Preschool CentersOriginal price was: $8.00.$4.00Current price is: $4.00.
Rain and Clouds Theme
There is something about October that makes a rain and clouds preschool theme seem very, very timely and appropriate, am I right? Those dog days of summer are long gone, and many of us are in climates where it’s time to pull out the jackets and prepare for more cloudy and rainy days. This theme is perfect for October but is also great to use along with a weather theme.
Our free rain and clouds lesson plans are full of books and hands-on learning fun, including the very cool shaving cream rain cloud experiment! Your little meteorologists will love learning about rain and clouds during this theme, and however you incorporate weather into your preschool on a daily basis.
Scarecrows Preschool Theme
Let’s stroll into fall with some friendly companions…scarecrows. In Autumn, it’s time for our annual visit to the pumpkin farm, where we’re warmly welcomed by scarecrows standing tall in the fields. A scarecrow theme offers an opportunity to learn and discover lots of new things.
Of course, this theme also ties in perfectly with your fall, farm and harvest themes. Together, let’s embrace the magic of fall and the joy of making memories with our preschoolers. Check out our FREE scarecrow preschool lesson plans that are full of engaging literacy, STEM, social-emotional activities and more!
Seasons Preschool Theme
With September comes the exciting and official start of Fall! This is the perfect opportunity to explore the four seasons. Whether you like Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter best – we’ve got something for everyone in our free seasons preschool lesson plans.
Seeds Preschool Theme
Fall is a perfect season to learn about nuts and seeds and tie it in with all of your pumpkin and farm fun! Preschoolers love watching seeds grow, so you will definitely want to include some basic seed experiments in your classroom. You can even do simple experiments to figure out which plants need lots of water, sunshine, or both.
Our free printable nuts and seeds lesson plans will make it easy and fun to teach all about seeds and how they grow. This theme also correlates perfectly with a farm, gardening, and food and nutrition theme!
Shapes Preschool Theme
Why is October an extra fun time to dig into shapes? Pumpkins desire some attention this time of year…and preschoolers love giving them faces full of triangles, circles and more. It’s fun to make shape-filled faces on real pumpkins, as well as foam pumpkins that are easier for each kiddo to take home.
Check out our shape-tastic free shapes lesson plans for preschoolers where you will find shape mats, shape trains, shape clip cards, shape puzzles, and more! Be sure to have some basic pattern blocks and geometric attribute blocks on hand to really make this theme a success!
Squirrels & Acorns
It’s a busy time of year for squirrels as they collect their acorns for the long winter ahead! Preschoolers delight at learning about busy squirrels in the fall and the serious business of collecting and stashing acorns. Check out our sneaky squirrel fall counting activity.. but watch out! This squirrel will try to steal the acorns! Your preschoolers will love this fun game with a sneaky squirrel who wants to steal acorns. It’s a great game to teach counting and subitizing.
You can integrate your squirrels and acorns theme in with your nuts and seeds theme, and of course it fits into your overall fall theme perfectly.
Zoo Animals Theme
You can easily teach about animals any time of year, and even all throughout the year, but studying zoo animals in October is extra fun because World Animal Day is October 4th. This gives you an opportunity to celebrate the wonder and importance of animals in our world. A zoo animal theme is much like a general animal theme, but specifically focuses on animals typically found in zoos and also touches upon topics like conservation efforts.
Our free zoo animals preschool lesson plans are filled with zoo animal fantastic crafts, books, math, literacy, steam lessons and more! Add these to your zoo theme and your preschoolers will have a roaring good time. And, of course…if you can schedule a zoo field trip during your zoo animal theme, that makes it exponentially better!
Toddler Themes for October and All Year
Toddlers are eager to explore, learn and make connections with the world around them. Toddlers love to dig in to engaging hands-on activities. Every day is a new day of discovery for these curious learners.
Check out these awesome lesson plans that are specifically designed for toddlers.
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.
