Hello, May! Our May preschool themes are perfect for engaging your preschooler with summertime fun and hands-on learning! These themes are just a select few from our ultimate list of preschool themes.
May is such a beautiful month… it brings us blooming flowers and thick green grass. April rain has brought new life to the outdoor world and preschoolers can’t wait to get out in the inviting weather and explore! During the month of May, we get a sneak peek into summer with longer days, warmer weather, and the approach of the traditional school year ending. It’s a great time to utilize summer themes and have a splashing good time!
This quote by Edwin Way Teale, “All things seem possible in May”, sure feels spot-on! As teachers and parents, we know that to be true. May is one of the busiest months of the entire year! With summer upon us, we have excited little ones ready for new adventures and more relaxed days. We hope these May themes will help you ease the planning for your preschooler so you can spend more time learning together and having fun!
I’ve even made a free printable preschool theme list to help with all your planning!
May Preschool Themes
Beach Theme
It’s time to start dreaming of summer! You know what that means… time for the beach! If you live near the beach or coast, a field trip is in order! No beach close by? No problem! Bring the beach to the classroom with this sensory play recipe that feels just like beach sand. Learn about ocean animals with this ocean creature discovery bottle! Bring the beach to circle time with this book, Pete the Cat at the Beach.
For an entire themed unit, check out this amazing preschool beach lesson plan from Preschool Teacher 101!
Eric Carle Theme
Did you know the month of May is Get Caught Reading Month? It is a nationwide campaign to remind people of all ages how much fun it is to read. Eric Carle is the perfect author to spotlight this month! Grab your favorite Eric Carle books and your preschoolers will be captivated for weeks. Get creative with The Mixed-Up Chameleon and this fun process art activity! An Eric Carle theme is not complete without reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? We’ve got some great activities to accompany Brown Bear, including a free printable for story stones and lacing cards that practice fine motor skills.
Family Theme
May is a special month for families. May is Family Wellness month and May 2nd just happens to be Brothers and Sisters Day. This makes it the perfect time for exploring relationships with children. Share great family stories like Who’s In My Family and Love Makes a Family during circle time!
Snag an entire family lesson plan theme from Preschool Teacher 101!
Fish Theme
Kids love fish! Most kids are familiar with fish, whether they have one as a pet or have visited an aquarium. This is a fun theme for the end of the school year as we head into summertime. Get creative with this rainbow fish art project and pair it with the beloved story, The Rainbow Fish.
Swim over to Preschool Teacher 101 for an entire fish lesson plan!
Flowers Theme
We all know the saying, “April showers bring May flowers”. May is the perfect month to bring the beauty of local flowers into the classroom! Lois Ehlert’s book, Planting a Rainbow is the perfect read-aloud for your flower theme. It’s filled with bright colors and an impressive variety of flowers! Grab the paint and art supplies and get crafty with this fun flower craft, or with a flower-themed art project!
For even more flower ideas, we have an entire flower-themed lesson plan in our store!
Ice Cream Theme
Everyone loves this frozen treat! Ice cream is the perfect preschool theme to celebrate summertime! It’s a great time to get crafty in the kitchen with this yummy smelling ice cream scented bubble recipe. Read a preschool favorite by Mo Willems, Should I Share My Ice Cream?, and have your little ones laughing along with Elephant and Piggie as they learn the importance of sharing and being a good friend.
For even more yummy ideas, check out this sweet ice cream lesson plan from Preschool Teacher 101.
Mother’s Day Theme
One thing is for sure, moms are pretty special! Since we celebrate moms during the month of May, check out these great DIY homemade gifts for mom. What mom wouldn’t love a handprint art keepsake? However, celebrating mom is of course about more than just arts and crafts! It’s a great time to stop and appreciate a mother’s dedication and love. This classic story, Are You My Mother? by Dr. Seuss is a great read-aloud that acknowledges the special bond children share with their moms.
Nursery Rhymes Theme
Did you know that nursery rhymes are actually super educational? They are a tried and true way to teach rhythm, rhyme, and new vocabulary. Nursery rhymes also help improve memory and oral language! May is the perfect month to incorporate classic nursery rhymes, as May 1st is Mother Goose Day! We have put together a list of the best nursery rhymes for children. Get hands-on with this nursery rhyme sorting activity! Many nursery rhymes can also be explored as fun fingerplays! Looking for a great Nursery Rhyme book? Check out this Nursery Rhyme book filled with classic rhymes and amazing art! And for more rhyming fun, check out this list of great rhyming songs.
Ocean Theme
An ocean theme is perfect for the end of the school year! It holds the promise of long summer days and cool water. Bring the ocean into the classroom with an ocean-themed sensory bin, DIY sea stars, ocean games, and ocean activities. Explore new sea creatures in the books, A House for Hermit Crab and Commotion in the Ocean. For even more ocean books, check out this amazing list of ocean books for preschoolers! Get your preschoolers excited for this new theme with ALL the baby shark song videos!
If you need more ocean ideas, we have a sea of ideas in this ocean lesson plan available in our store.
Outer Space Theme
Learning about space is a real blast! Preschoolers naturally gravitate to the amazing elements of space including the moon, stars, and planets. Set up a night sky sensory bin and watch your preschoolers create their own little galaxy! Add in some math learning by using these space-themed number writing practice cards. Dive into the magic of the moon with this oreo phases of the moon activity or constellation activities. Take time to make a galaxy calm down bottle, your preschoolers will be amazed!
If you’re looking for even more space ideas, blast over to grab the space lesson plan from our store.
Shells Theme
Finding unique shells at the beach is so fascinating! This theme ties in perfectly to the ocean theme or is great all by itself. Get your preschoolers excited about shells with this counting seashell book, Seashells by the Seashore. Or play a fun math game using shells!
Find even more ideas in this shell lesson plan from our friends at Preschool Teacher 101.
Summer Theme
Summer is almost here! Warm weather, water play, and watermelon make summer so exciting! Find a new purpose for those pool noodles with this pool noodle name recognition activity and other great pool noodle hacks and learning activities! Check out this great circle-time book, Then Comes Summer, and get your preschoolers excited for those warm, summer days to come. This theme is ideal for the end of the traditional school year or to engage preschoolers throughout the summer months.
Grab even more summer ideas from our summer lesson plan in our store.
Themes by the Month
- April Preschool Themes
- March Preschool Themes
- February Preschool Themes
- January Preschool Themes
- December Preschool Themes
- November Preschool Themes
Themes by Season
- Fun and Exciting August Preschool Themes - July 27, 2020
- All About Me Lesson Plans - July 16, 2020
- 30+ Simple and Fun Preschool Science Activities - July 13, 2020
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