Free Pre-K Lesson Plan Template
Ever felt the morning scramble trying to decide on activities for your preschoolers? With a well-designed pre-k lesson plan template, preschool lesson planning becomes much easier and more efficient. We know that predictability is key for young children, and a solid plan can help ensure a smooth and engaging classroom experience.
In this article, we’ll provide a helpful framework to organize your activities and cover essential early childhood learning goals, as well as a free lesson planning template for pre-k that you can download. And, it’s a fully editable pdf, too!
Ever find yourself scrambling for last-minute activities? A good lesson plan template takes the stress out of planning and keeps your days running smoothly. Preschoolers thrive on routine, and having a plan in place helps create a fun, engaging learning environment.
This guide will walk you through a simple way to organize your lessons while covering important early childhood skills. Plus, you can grab a free, fully editable lesson planning template to make things even easier!
And don’t forget— Using a template allows you to focus on what matters most—helping young children learn, grow, and thrive. Whether you’re planning weekly, monthly, or by themes, aligning pre-k curriculum with the right learning objectives ensures that each activity is meaningful, age-appropriate, and builds on previous learning.
Read this: Preschool Lesson Planning Tips.
Difference Between Pre-K and Preschool Lesson Plans
While the terms “pre-K” and “preschool” are often used interchangeably, there are some key distinctions when it comes to curriculum and developmental goals. Pre-K programs typically focus more on academic readiness, while preschool programs offer a broader range of learning experiences.
These differences influence the structure of lesson plans:
- Pre-K plans may place a stronger emphasis on early literacy and math skills, like letter and number recognition, basic counting, and simple writing activities.
- Preschool plans may have a more open-ended structure, incorporating more imaginative play, social-emotional development activities, and opportunities for exploration and discovery.
That said, this free lesson plan template can be used for preschoolers, pre-k students, and even daycare kiddos, too!
Shop our Preschool Literacy Lesson Plans
Engaging, ready-to-use lesson plans designed for early learners.
Now that we understand the importance of planning, let’s address some common questions about using templates:
Pre K Lesson Plans
A well-structured lesson plan typically includes:
- Learning Objectives: These are clear and concise statements outlining what your students will learn or achieve by the end of the activity.
- Activities: These are the engaging learning experiences you’ll guide them through. Be sure they are age-appropriate and incorporate different learning styles (visual, auditory, kinesthetic).
- Materials: List all the materials needed for the activity to ensure you’re prepared and avoid disruptions.
- Assessment Methods: How will you gauge your students’ understanding and progress? This could involve observation, participation, a simple formative assessment task or try our Toddler and Preschool Portfolio and Assessments.
Think of your lesson plans as a living document. Revisit them regularly throughout the year. Consider student feedback, adjust activities based on seasonal changes, or incorporate new materials to keep things fresh and engaging.
Lesson Plan Template for Pre-K
Creating effective lesson plans for pre-K learners is essential for fostering a love of learning. Here’s a practical approach to crafting engaging and developmentally appropriate plans:
1. Define Clear Learning Objectives
- Be Specific: Clearly articulate what you want your students to learn. For example, instead of “Learn about colors,” specify “Identify and name the primary colors.”
- Align with Standards: Ensure your objectives align with early childhood education standards or your preschool’s curriculum.
2. Keep Activities Simple and Engaging
- Short Attention Spans: Plan for short, focused activities that capture and hold your students’ attention.
- Hands-On Learning: Incorporate plenty of hands-on experiences, such as playdough, art projects, and sensory activities.
- Active Learning: Encourage active participation through games, songs, and movement activities.
3. Plan Around Student Interests
- Observe and Listen: Pay attention to your students’ interests and incorporate them into your lesson plans.
- Theme-Based Learning: Use themes like animals, transportation, or seasons to tie together various activities.
4. Choose an Appropriate Approach
- Whole-Group Instruction: Use this for introducing new concepts or reading stories.
- Small-Group Activities: This allows for more individualized attention and focused learning.
- Independent Work: Offer opportunities for independent exploration and creativity.
5. Document Your Plan
- Use a Template: A simple template can help you organize your thoughts and ensure you’ve covered all the essential elements.
- Be Flexible: While a plan is helpful, be prepared to adapt based on the needs and interests of your students.
Read this: Lesson Plan Template for Preschool.
Free Pre-K Lesson Planning Template
his free Pre-K lesson planning template helps you map out engaging, well-rounded lessons without the stress. With sections for yearly, monthly, and weekly planning, you’ll have everything you need to create a structured yet flexible learning experience for your preschoolers.
And don’t forget, this preschool lesson planning template is 100% editable, which means you can type yoru ideas right into the pdf.
Yearly Calendar Overview
Start with a big-picture view of the year. This section allows you to map out key themes, concepts, and skills to cover each month, ensuring a well-rounded curriculum. By planning ahead, you can ensure all essential learning areas—such as literacy, math, fine motor skills, and social-emotional development—are incorporated throughout the year.
Monthly Thematic Planning
Each month features a dedicated planning space for focus concepts, including:
- Theme of the Month – A central topic that ties activities together.
- Letters and Numbers – Specific letters and numbers to introduce or reinforce.
- Colors and Shapes – Key visual concepts to explore through play and hands-on activities.
Having a monthly theme helps keep learning engaging while ensuring exposure to a variety of concepts. The template also provides space for suggested activities to align with each theme.
Weekly Lesson Plans
For day-to-day organization, the template includes a weekly planning section. This allows you to break down learning goals into structured yet flexible activities, balancing teacher-led instruction with child-led exploration. The weekly section can be used to plan:
- Storytime and literacy activities
- Math and number games
- Hands-on sensory and fine motor tasks
- Art, music, and movement activities
With this free template, you’ll have a clear framework that supports both structured learning and play-based discovery. Download it today and start planning with ease!
Sample Lesson Plans for Teaching Preschool
Looking for a jumpstart? We have curated a list of Free and fun preschool lesson plans focusing on essential literacy and numeracy skills.
But you can avail of our Learn At Home Preschool Activity Plans Bundle. These ready-made plans are a great way to experience the benefits of structured planning firsthand!
- Flowers Preschool Lesson Plan
- Scarecrow Preschool Lesson Plan
- Penguins Preschool Lesson Plan
- Summer Preschool Lesson Plan
- Literacy Curriculum
- Math Curriculum
Pre-K lesson plan templates provide structure, consistency, and time-saving benefits for educators. However, they should be adapted to fit different teaching styles and student needs. By experimenting with activities, incorporating various learning styles, and staying flexible, teachers can create engaging, developmentally appropriate lessons that inspire a love of learning.
Get a Free Pre K Lesson Planning Template
Wanna’ try out this pre-k lesson planning template and get your lesson ideas organized? You can sue it for daycare and preschool, too!
Shop our Preschool Math Lesson Plans
Help preschoolers master math skills with playful and done-for-you math lesson plans.
FAQs About Planning Templates
A preschool lesson plan template is a structured framework that guides educators in organizing daily activities and learning objectives. It helps ensure that all key areas of development are covered in a consistent and balanced way.
A template saves time by providing a clear structure for planning lessons, reducing the need to start from scratch each day or week. With a template, you can easily fill in activities and objectives, making planning quicker and more efficient.
While a structure provides a strong foundation, it’s crucial to remain flexible. Be open to adapting activities based on your students’ interests and the day’s flow. Embrace teachable moments and adjust your plans as needed.
Reflection is key! Ask yourself: Did the activities meet the learning objectives? Did the students actively participate? Consider incorporating peer feedback from colleagues or observing fellow teachers to gain further insights.
The level of detail depends on the needs of the educator. Some templates focus on broad objectives, while others include specific activities, materials, and timing. Finding a balance between flexibility and structure is key.
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.
