Themes

• Themes guide the planning process in a preschool learning environment. General themes based on the time of year provide flexibility in planning while teaching children about the world. General theme ideas include summer, spring, winter, fall or back-to-school. More focused themes allow teachers to incorporate specific educational concepts that are developmentally appropriate. Ideas include farm animals, manners, family, weather, body parts and food. Select preschool themes based on the age level and interests of the children. Use these themes to assist in activity planning for the classroom.
  
  

Student Choice

• Choosing an activity from several options allows preschool students to form decision-making skills. They also participate in an activity that appeals to their personal preferences. Limiting the choices to three or four activities prevents the children from becoming overwhelmed and allows for better supervision of the class. Learning centers set up around the room incorporate the student-led activity philosophy in preschool rooms. Appropriate activity ideas include a sand and water table, finger painting, puzzles, puppets and dancing to a music CD.
  
  

Interactive Learning

• Hands-on activities engage preschool children into the learning experience. Choose age-appropriate exploration opportunities for the class. Encourage the students to employ investigative skills to draw conclusions about the concept. Avoid directing the students step-by-step or leading them to the correct answer. Instead, focus on the process and the use of deductive reasoning in the children. These skills follow the children into elementary school and serve them well in general life tasks.
  
  One example of an interactive project allows kids to investigate sinking and floating objects. Fill an aquarium or tub with water and provide a variety of objects, some that sink and some that float. Encourage the kids to guess the outcome before placing each object in the tank. Other ideas include experimenting with mixing colors using paint and making simple food items with the kids.
  
  

Social Skills

• A preschool setting provides many young children with their first real social interaction with peers. Set up the preschool classroom in a way that encourages interaction amongst the students. Integrate cooperative learning projects that allow the kids to collaborate in completing the activity. Ideas include building a block structure as a small group or creating a group art project. Social skills typically addressed in a preschool setting include cooperation, conflict resolution, sharing, expressing emotions and communicating with others. These skills are often taught by guiding students through actual classroom incidents.
  
  

Academic Foundation

• The preschool years serve as a foundation-building period for future educational endeavors. Children learn basic academic concepts such as counting, letter identification, problem solving and prereading skills. They also learn how to behave within a school setting, such as respecting their peers, taking turns and walking in a line. Preschool eases the transition to kindergarten for many young children.