From back to school to conventional holidays, there are many different themes that are suitable for the preschool classroom. To interest early learners, we are going to focus on the month of August and celebrate some of its most unusual observances. Here are a few unique ideas that might work for your early childhood classroom.
August Themes for the Early Childhood Classroom
Celebrate August
Celebrate the month of August! Decorate your classroom with fun facts about the eighth month of the year. Introduce the zodiac signs that are affiliated with the month of August, such as Leo and Virgo. Do any of the children have birthdays during this month? Teach about the gem Peridot and what it means to have this month’s birthstone. Let’s not forgot about the Gladiolus, the flower for August, which means ‘splendid beauty’. Help preschoolers draw their favorite thing about August and hang them up. Use their fabulous artwork as a segue into the next theme…
Artist Appreciation
August is American Artist Appreciation Month. Get early learners acquainted with art history’s most talented and celebrated American artists. Tell stories about their works, as well as, the different museums where their art can be found. Have students create their own masterpieces and share with each other.
“Eye” Have a Great Idea!
Teach preschoolers about the importance of eyes, as August is National Eye Exam Month. This month long celebration was founded in 1989 to raise awareness about routine eye exams. Preschoolers can have fun learning about eye health and safety through different activities and projects. Show children the braille alphabet, experiment with eye patches, or use a magnifying glass to make up-close discoveries. It’s also a great time to set up an eye exam dramatic play area. Read a book or create a finger puppet performance all about eyes.
Watermelon Fun
August 3rd is Watermelon Day! Celebrate the day by eating watermelon (be aware of any allergies) and learning all about this delicious fruit. Where did it originate? How does it grow? Make some watermelon crafts with tissue paper or have a picnic. Keep the fun going all week long by incorporating it into a picnic theme!
Up, Up, and Away to Celebrate Aviation Day
National Aviation Day is celebrated on August 19th. This day is also the birthday of Orville Wright, the first person to ever fly a plane! Teach about the history of aviation, set up a dramatic play area that looks like the inside of a plane, or go for a walk and see planes in the sky.
Let’s Be Friends!
The second Sunday of August marks Friendship Day. Help preschoolers celebrate the joy of making and having friends. By engaging children in sharing activities, it reinforces kindness, acceptance, and appreciation of others. Finger paint a friendship flag, braid friendship bracelets, or read a book about friends.
By decorating classroom space with theme related designs, preschoolers will be invited to learn about and engage in fun, specific topics. Themes welcome imagination and creativity for teaching and learning throughout the classroom. Organizing activities that are associated with these special subjects can maximize the connection of life experience to education for early learners. Not only that, themes make teaching and learning a great deal of fun!
Tell Us: What are your favorite August themes for the Early Childhood classroom?