Lesson Plan Template for Preschool
A good preschool lesson plan fits on one page: what children will learn, what they’ll do, what you need and how you’ll notice their progress. This template maker fills that page for you from a theme, with activity ideas for each part of the morning, an automatic materials list and space for observations — then prints it ready for the classroom wall or your planning binder.
Preschool lesson plan maker
Preschool Lesson Plan Templates
Editable daily preschool lesson plan template, weekly theme planner, theme web page, observation checklist by domain and a materials checklist.
- Daily lesson plan (DOCX/PDF)
- Weekly planner (DOCX/PDF)
- Theme web (PDF)
- Observation checklist (PDF/DOCX)
- Materials checklist (PDF/DOCX)
Formats: DOCX, PDF. Instant download after payment (link valid 72 hours, up to 5 downloads). AI-assisted: the templates were drafted with AI help and reviewed and laid out by Kedop.
$3.00 USD, one-time
Secure card checkout by Stripe. Full refund within 7 days — see the refund policy and license.
What a preschool lesson plan includes
| Section | What to write |
|---|---|
| Theme or topic | The big idea for the day or week |
| Learning objectives | Two or three things children should be able to do — observable, like “sort animals by size” |
| Developmental domains | Language, math, science, social-emotional, physical and creative areas the activities support |
| Schedule and activities | Circle time, story, centres, art, sensory play, movement and outdoor time |
| Materials | Everything to prepare in advance |
| Adaptations | Support for children who need it, extensions for those ready for more |
| Observation | What to watch for and record |
Theme activity ideas
| Theme | Objectives | Sample activities |
|---|---|---|
| Farm animals | Name five farm animals and the sounds they make; Sort animals by size; Take turns during group games | circle time: sing “old macdonald” and hold up animal pictures as each verse is sung; story: read a farm picture book; math centre: sort toy animals into big and small barns |
| Weather | Describe today’s weather using weather words; Match clothing to weather; Notice changes over the week | circle time: look out of the window and move the weather chart arrow; story: read a weather picture book and act out the weather with hands and voices; science: make rain in a jar |
| Colours | Name primary colours; Mix two colours to make a new one; Sort objects by colour | circle time: colour hunt; story: read a colour-themed picture book; science: colour mixing with droppers and coloured water in ice-cube trays |
| Community helpers | Name helpers in the community and what they do; Use tools in pretend play; Show kindness and cooperation | circle time: show pictures of helpers — doctor, firefighter, teacher, mail carrier — and talk about how they help; story: read a picture book about community helpers; dramatic play: set up a pretend clinic or post office |
| Seasons: autumn | Describe autumn changes using the senses; Count and compare leaves; Practise cutting and gluing | circle time: pass around real leaves, acorns and pinecones; story: read an autumn picture book; math centre: count leaves into numbered cups 1–10 |
| Ocean | Name ocean animals; Explore float and sink; Describe size using big, bigger, biggest | circle time: ocean animal cards; story: read an ocean picture book; science: float or sink |
Each theme in the maker has six activities covering circle time, story, a learning centre, art, sensory or science play and movement, with a matching materials list.
Timing for young children
Attention spans are short in the early years, so preschool plans alternate calm and active times and keep whole-group activities brief. As a rough guide, many teachers keep circle time to 10–15 minutes for three-year-olds and a little longer for four- and five-year-olds, with longer stretches for free-choice centres. The maker shortens activities automatically for toddlers and adds five-minute transitions between activities — songs, clean-up rhymes or a visual timer help children move between them.
Worked example
A teacher in the Sunflower Room plans a weather day for three- and four-year-olds starting at 9:00 with 20-minute activities. The maker lists three objectives — describing today’s weather, matching clothing to weather and noticing changes over the week — and schedules circle time 9:00–9:20, story 9:25–9:45, the rain-in-a-jar science activity 9:50–10:10 and so on, each followed by a five-minute transition. The materials list reminds the teacher to bring a clear jar, shaving foam and food colouring. The teacher adds a note about one child’s visual schedule and prints the plan for the classroom door.
Writing good objectives
- Use action words you can see or hear: name, sort, count, match, describe, build, take turns.
- Keep them realistic for the age group — one step beyond what children can already do.
- Link each objective to at least one activity.
- Plan how you will notice progress: a quick checklist, photos or short notes.
- Many regions publish early learning standards or frameworks; align your objectives with the one your programme follows.
Inclusion and adaptations
Every group includes children at different stages. Offer choices of materials (chunky crayons and fine markers), pair a confident child with a quieter one, use pictures alongside words for children learning English, and plan a calm corner for children who need a break. Record adaptations in the notes box so any adult covering the class knows what helps.
What’s in the template pack
- Editable daily lesson plan template (Word and PDF)
- Weekly theme planner grid
- Theme web planning page
- Observation checklist by developmental domain
- Materials and preparation checklist
The pack is a one-time download; the plan maker is free to use.
Privacy
Everything you type stays in your browser. Avoid children’s full names on plans that are displayed publicly.
Frequently asked questions
What should a preschool lesson plan include?
A theme, objectives, schedule of activities, materials, adaptations and observation notes.
How long should preschool activities be?
Often 10–20 minutes for whole-group activities, longer for free-choice centres.
How many objectives per day?
Two or three clear, observable objectives are usually enough.
Can I use my own activities?
Yes — untick suggestions and add your own in the notes, or edit the Word template in the pack.
Does it work for toddlers?
Yes — choose the toddler age group to shorten activity times.
Is my data saved?
No. Everything stays in your browser.
Can I plan a whole week?
Print a plan for each day, or use the weekly theme planner in the template pack.