These favorite October preschool themes are perfect for keeping your little ones engaged and excited during this busy month! For more theme ideas for any time of the year, check out our ultimate list of preschool themes.
As educators, we bring the season alive through October themes and lessons that acknowledge the beauty of nature and the outside world. I have included the themes that I wait all year to bring to the classroom, that celebrate the fall colors, tastes, smells, and holidays.
Ideas for October themes include:
- Apple Theme
- Fall Theme
- Farm Theme
- Leaves Theme
- Monsters Theme
- Halloween Theme
- Pumpkins Theme
- Spiders Theme
I’m also including themes you can use anytime, such as:
- All About Me Theme
- Community Helpers Theme
- Emotions Theme
- Five Senses Theme
- Pets Theme
- Weather Theme
We’ve created a printable themes list for you, so you can always have the next theme idea at hand! Just fill out your information below and we’ll send it right over.
Favorite October Preschool Themes
All About Me Theme
All About Me allows students to talk about themselves, their interests, and learn what they share in common with others. Make it easy with done-for-you all about me lesson plans! We also have whole lists of all about me activities, all about me books, and all about me songs that are perfect for circle time. This catchy book, I Like Myself, is a great read for encouraging differences and self-love.
This is an easy time to incorporate name recognition activities, such as tactile name writing practice or this simple craft.
Grab the free All About Me poster below to guide your preschoolers as they share how truly unique they are!
Check out the All About Me Theme lesson plans in our preschool store or toddler store for lots more ideas!
Animal Theme
An animal theme is so much fun for children of all ages. Make sure to use some lively animal songs that kids will love! We also love reading many of the animal books on our list, including Wild Animal Babies: An Alphabet Book, written by our very own creator of Preschool Inspirations.
We also have many lists of fun animal facts for kids that are sure to delight! Check out the compilations:
- Bear facts for kids
- Butterfly facts for kids
- Giraffe facts for kids
- Ladybug facts for kids
- Narwhal facts for kids
- Spider facts for kids
- Sloth facts for kids
Run, hop, or slither over and grab the animal lesson plans in our preschool store or toddler store. They’re packed full of great ideas and learning activities!
Our friends at Preschool Teacher 101 also have some great animal lesson plans for bats and spiders, and these spooky animals are both great ideas for October themes! Click the pictures below to learn more.
Apple Theme
October is the perfect month to celebrate the apple because National Apple Day is October 21st. We’ve also got your apple-themed circle time covered, with lots of both apple books and apple songs!
Infuse this theme with fine motor fun with this apple lacing activity and this sorting apples activity to practice colors.
Visit our friends at Preschool Teacher 101 for an entire apple theme lesson plan!
Camping Theme
As cool weather (hopefully) approaches in October, it’s the perfect time for a camping theme! I love these s’mores on a stick for an indoor camping-themed snack! Join Llama llama on a camping adventure in this adorable book, Llama Llama Loves Camping.
Or get lots more ideas with these camping lesson plans.
Community Helpers Theme
A true preschool favorite…this theme spotlights all the amazing role models in our communities! Learn about health care workers, firefighters, garbage collectors, police officers, teachers, and more. Use clean-up songs to teach how kids can be helpers, too! This book, Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do, is a great introduction to all kinds of community careers.
We also have engaging community helper lesson plans in both our preschool store and toddler store.
Construction Theme
Preschoolers are fascinated by big vehicles! Introduce big vehicles and bring in some hands-on fun with a construction sensory bin. Read Might, Mighty, Construction Site, and learn how even construction vehicles work together.
Dig up some more ideas in our construction theme lesson plans available in our preschool store.
Cooking Theme
October is the perfect month to introduce a cooking unit because it is National Cookie, Popcorn, and Pizza month! Get creative and make homemade ice cream, a tasty snack for tea time, or any other favorite kid recipes. Enjoy Lois Ehlert’s book, Eating the Alphabet, and encourage some yummy fruits and veggies into those little hands!
We also love all of the great hands-on activities over at Planning Playtime.
Dinosaur Theme
Dinos are totally rawr-some! Celebrate this favorite preschool theme during October and observe National Fossil Day on October 14th with a dino dig! Play some dinosaur games and get musical with these amazing dinosaur songs! Don’t forget the dino-tastic books. We’ve also got a list of the best dinosaur lesson plans.
Don’t miss our dinosaur ten-frame counting mats for some themed math practice! Sign up below to grab your free copy. Numbers 1-20 are included and there’s a differentiated set for both preschool and pre-k!
Stomp on over to grab an entire dinosaur-themed lesson plan, either in our preschool store or toddler store!
Emotions and Feelings Theme
No matter the season or month, this preschool theme is great for social/emotional development and benefits young students as they navigate their feelings and emotions. This calming glitter jar is loved by kids…and adults too! Use music and silly songs to talk about all kinds of feelings.
Books can be super helpful during this theme. Check out our books about feelings and emotions for preschoolers and toddlers.
Preschool Teacher 101 has developed an amazing emotions-themed lesson plan unit that you’ll want to grab!
Fall Theme
Fall is one of the most fun October preschool themes, with tons of possibilities! We’ve got you covered with:
- Fall lesson plans
- Fall books
- Fall songs
- Fall science activities
- Fall sensory bottles
- Fall fine motor practice
We’ve also got a separate list of the best fall preschool themes.
Fall into our preschool store or toddler store for an entire fall lesson plan!
Fantasy and Fairy Tales Theme
This theme is so much fun! Using classic stories, this theme is a great option as a Halloween alternative or even after Halloween. Kids love dramatic play and pretend role play. Check out this fantastic fractured fairy tale, The Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark.
Make your theme even more magical with this fairy tale lesson plan from Preschool Teacher 101.
Farm Theme
A farm theme is one of the most beloved October preschool themes! October 2nd is World Farm Animals Day so it’s the perfect month for a trip to the farm. Farms are great for sensory activities and learning about animals through farm books and farm songs. You can even use the animals as a gateway to math with our farm animal ten-frames and these farm counting mats!
Grab these farm finger puppets as our free gift to you! Just fill out the form below.
You can also grab an entire farm-themed lesson plan for toddlers or preschoolers in our preschool store or toddler store.
Fire Safety Theme
October 9th is Fire Prevention Day so it’s an ideal time to talk to your preschoolers about how to prevent fires, what to do if one occurs, and the role of firefighters in our community. Don’t forget to read the kid favorite, Pete the Cat: Firefighter Pete by Eric Litwin.
Five Senses Theme
Learning about our five senses can be so much fun…especially in the fall! Taste pumpkin, smell cinnamon, touch a bumpy gourd or smell apple pie. Listen to the crunch of fall leaves. Read My Five Senses and invite your preschoolers to use their five senses in new ways!
We have an entire five senses lesson plan in both our preschool store and toddler store. They are perfect for any season!
Friendship Theme
October 19th is National New Friends Day and the perfect theme for preschool. Help children learn how to be a friend and navigate conflict strategies. Read friendship books, write and send friendship letters, and share the wonderful characteristics of each other. We also love to read kindness books during this theme!
Snag an entire friendship theme lesson plan from Preschool Teacher 101 to get even more great ideas.
Halloween Theme
The Halloween holiday is one of the most popular October preschool themes, and it doesn’t have to be scary! Our math and literacy pumpkin activities are perfect. Check out this cute ghost sensory smash and a last-minute pumpkin craft that is sure to excite! Sprinkle in the Halloween songs and have a dance party. And don’t forget the not-so-spooky monster books or pumpkin books full of fun characters that are just plain silly!
Our friends at Preschool Teacher 101 have a great Halloween lesson plan or an entire Halloween Bundle lesson plan.
Hibernation Theme
Did you know many animals begin hibernating in September or October? As they prepare for winter, many animals including hedgehogs, bears, bats, and even bees begin to curl up for a long winter’s rest. Help children learn even more about animals by teaching which animals hibernate and why with this book, Over and Under the Snow.
Hot or Cold Theme
Encourage your budding scientists with this theme! Discuss the weather outside or the changing seasons, and of course what it means to touch a hot sidewalk or cold ice. Preschoolers love this playing with ice sensory activity that’s easy to set up and tons of entertainment. This theme ties in nicely with a weather theme and the fluctuating temperatures throughout the year – weather songs are a perfect addition!
Need some weather ideas? Check out the weather lesson plan available in our preschool store and the differentiated plan available in our toddler store.
Leaves Theme
Leaves make a great preschool theme during the month of October. There are so many leaf science experiments your littles can do! Don’t forget to read the classic book Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert and encourage your preschoolers to make some leaf art of their own.
Check out the leaves lesson plan from our friends at Preschool Teacher 101!
Math Theme
Math is a perfect theme for any time during the year! Expand your daily math activities into an entire theme using:
We can also help you break down how to teach some larger math concepts like number sense, one to one correspondence, and subitizing, with ideas and activities for each.
Our favorite teachers at Preschool Teacher 101 have a great set of math centers that you can grab by clicking the image below!
Mindfulness Theme
Mindfulness is perfect to add to your October preschool themes – it is a great way to help little ones learn strategies to calm, manage energy levels, and relax when they find themselves wound up. This is the perfect theme for introducing yoga, and the easiest way is with our FREE animal yoga pack!
You can also check out yoga books, and kid yoga videos. Incorporate brain breaks to help relax or rejuvenate. Mindfuless can even be used outdoors!
If you’ve already got the FREE animal yoga pack and still want more, you can grab these yoga cards in our store!
Monster Theme
Not all monsters are scary and cause a fright! This theme is perfect around Halloween, and a great way to dissipate fears and anxieties. Check out these adorable monsters in our not-so-scary monster books list.
Or grab an entire Monster lesson plan in the Preschool Teacher 101 store.
Moon Theme
World Space Week is October 4th through the 10th and is a great time to learn all about the moon. Whether you are studying space or just the moon, this is always a fun theme with so many ways to supplement it including a moon phase activity with Oreos. Enjoy this classic Eric Carle book Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me.
Music Theme
This theme is perfect any time of the year, but why not celebrate in October during International Drum Month? It’s been proven that music actually makes children smarter!
Music can be used anytime during the day: to say hello or goodbye, during circle time, to transition from one activity to another, and to introduce or reinforce new concepts. There are lots of songs that teach a variety of concepts! Don’t miss our ultimate guide to preschool songs!
Have the perfect song always at your fingertips with this free printable song list! Enter your e-mail below to receive the download.
To make music easily accessible during circle time, grab these song cards and song sticks from our store! There are 35 song posters that can be used as song cards, along with matching song sticks to make choosing songs even more fun.
Nature Theme
One of the easiest and most loved preschool themes is a nature theme. It’s the perfect way to get children to connect with the world around them, as well as to use natural materials in new ways. Objects found in nature can be used in numerous art projects and learning activities. Spending time outside is SO good for children – read about the benefits of Forest School!
Outer Space Theme
3, 2,1… Blast off! There are so many ways outer space can be a ‘blast’. October 4th through the 12th is World Space Week so it’s the perfect time to make space an October preschool theme. We’ve got you covered with:
Try some space-themed number writing practice, or grab our free space ten-frame counting mats for additonal themed math! Sign up below to grab your free copy. Numbers 1-10 are included and there’s a differentiated set for both preschool and pre-k!
If you’re in need of an entire space lesson plan, we’ve got you covered in both our preschool store and toddler store.
Pets Theme
October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, and it’s a great theme to share our love for pets of all kinds. Create a dramatic play area with a pet clinic or pet store to get your preschoolers excited about their new pet theme. Read The Pigeon Wants a Puppy for some extra silly giggles, or pick another favorite from our compilation of preschool books about pets! And don’t miss our list of animal songs, with many songs about pets included.
Fill out the form below to snag our free pet clip cards, perfect for pet-themed math practice!
Our friends at Preschool Teacher 101 have a pets lesson plan in their store for planning the perfect pet theme.
Pumpkin Theme
Pumpkin spice and everything nice, pumpkin is one of the most popular October preschool themes! We’ve got everything you need for a pumpkin theme, including a whole list of pumpkin activities for preschool! Additionally, don’t miss:
- Pumpkin songs for kids (it’s the first section of our Halloween songs post)
- Pumpkin math and literacy center activities
- Pumpkin books
- Pumpkin writing center
- Pumpkin suncatchers
- Pumpkin art projects
- Pumpkin book characters
Pop over to Preschool Teacher 101 and grab a whole pumpkin lesson plan!
Seasons Theme
Pick a favorite season or learn about them all… this is a great theme for teaching kids about the weather, plant life, temperature, and more! Learn about the characteristics of each season and how the outside world changes with this informational book, Watching the Seasons. Add in an art project to celebrate each season, winter, spring, summer, and fall.
Drift into our store for our 4 seasons bundle of lesson plans.
Spider Theme
Spiders can be spooky, with their many eyes and legs, but they can also be so cute (see this pet spider craft!) Learn more about these interesting arachnids with these great spider facts. Add some spiders in the sensory table for some fun and eerie exploration.
Crawl over to Preschool Teacher 101 and snag the fun spider lesson plans.
Squirrels Theme
Squirrels are super cute with their fluffy tails, their incredible climbing skills, and their quick nature. This theme is perfect to include with an animal theme, fall theme with a counting activity, or even physical activity! There are some awesome fall songs about squirrels, too!
Weather Theme
Weather is an endless theme with numerous activities! Consider learning about all types of weather – sunshine, rain, snow, etc. Use weather songs during calendar or transition time to make this theme even more exciting.
Get more weather ideas in the weather lesson plan in both our preschool store and toddler store.
We hope these October preschool themes excite and engage your little ones. For even more themes and ideas, visit The Ultimate List of Preschool Themes, or see our library below!
Themes by the Month
- November Preschool Themes
- December Preschool Themes
- January Preschool Themes
- February Preschool Themes
- March Preschool Themes
- April Preschool Themes
- May Preschool Themes
- June Preschool Themes
- July Preschool Themes
- August Preschool Themes
- September Preschool Themes
Themes by Season
- April Preschool Themes You’ll Love! - March 21, 2023
- March Preschool Themes - February 22, 2023
- Alliteration Activities - August 26, 2022
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