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 October preschool activities 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.
Get the best learning activities for 3-5 year olds at your fingertips
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.
I have collected some of my favorite All About Me activities to share with you:
- Activities for an All About Me Theme
- All About Me Books
- All About Me Songs
- Name-Writing Practice
- Simple Name Craft
This catchy book, I Like Myself, is a great read for encouraging differences and self-love.
Grab the free All About Me poster below to guide your preschoolers as they share their uniqueness!
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! Your preschoolers will surely enjoy creating their own animal puzzles. 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 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
Is there anything sweeter than the aroma of warm apple pie baking on a cool fall day? October is the perfect month to celebrate the apple because National Apple Day is October 21st. Here are some apple-filled fun activities to incorporate into your apple-themed activities and lesson plans:
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 healthcare 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 share lots of ideas for a community helpers lesson plan if you’re planning that theme for your class of preschoolers or toddlers.
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 Mighty, 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 teatime, 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!
Doesn’t warm fresh-out-of-the-oven bread just sound divine, as the fall temps start to drop? If bread-baking is part of your lesson plans, be sure to read The Little Red Hen and check out these fun Little Red Hen Activities over at Fun-A-Day!
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!
For a ROARIN-GOOD time, check out the best dino-tastic learning activities around:
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 preschoolers as they navigate their feelings and emotions.
Here are some of our favorite ways to help little ones regulate their emotions and feelings:
- Calming Glitter Jar
- Silly Songs
- Books About Feelings and Emotions for Preschoolers
- Books About Feelings and Emotions for Toddlers
- Soothing Sammy for Emotional Regulation
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 iconic October preschool themes, with tons of possibilities! Our autumn-inspired learning is filled with a wide variety of fall-tastic activities! We’ve got you covered with:
- Lesson plans for Fall
- Autumn books
- Fall songs
- Science Activities for Fall
- Fall sensory bottles
- Fall fine motor practice
- Pumpkin art activity
- Pumpkin Activities for Fall
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 and hands-on activities and make learning just so udderly fun!
Check out some of our favorite farm activities:
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-approved, Pete the Cat: Firefighter Pete by James Dean. Also, be sure to check out these Fire Safety Lesson Plans from our friends at Stay At Home Educator.
Five Senses Theme
Learning about our five senses can be so much fun…especially in the fall! Taste pumpkin, touch a bumpy gourd, smell apple pie baking, hear the crunching leaves beneath your feet, and take in all the glorious colors outside. 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! With so many fun Halloween activities, you and your preschoolers just might do the monster mash all October long!
For a not-so-spooky, but oh-so-Fun Halloween theme, try some of these pumpkin-tastic activities:
- Math and Literacy Pumpkin Activities
- Not-So-Spooky Monster Books
- Pumpkin Books
- Halloween Songs
- Pumpkin Craft
- Adorable Ghost Sensory Smash
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 offers 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 you can grab to help add some great, hands-on center activities to your lesson plans.
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 some of our great mindfulness resources and activities:
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!
A preschool classroom should be filled with thematic, fun music all year long. Grow your classroom song library with some of our favorites:
Also, 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! 35 song posters 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 beloved 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 your weekly 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 additional 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! You better believe that 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
- Books about pumpkins
- Pumpkin writing center
- Suncatchers for a pumpkin theme
- Art projects for a pumpkin theme
- 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 activities and 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
- Magnet Town STEM Activity - February 8, 2025
- Gingerbread Books for Kids - December 3, 2024
- Pumpkin Letter Formation Mats - October 1, 2024
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