14 January Lesson Plans for Preschool

4 min read

Last updated

Tamar Andrews

Tamar Andrews

4 min read

Last updated

January is a great time for preschoolers to learn about a variety of new and exciting themes.

Here are 14 ideas for January preschool themes and lesson plans to help get you started:

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New Year's Resolutions

Help your preschoolers understand the concept of setting goals and making positive changes in the new year.

You can have them create their own resolutions and discuss the importance of sticking to them. This is important for them to learn the importance of making promises and following through with those promises.

Winter Weather

With cold temperatures and snow outside, January is the perfect time to teach your preschoolers about the different types of winter weather and how to stay safe in it.

Include activities like checking the weather forecast, learning about how to dress for cold temperatures, and discussing methods of staying warm in the snow.

Winter Animals

Many animals have special adaptations that help them survive the cold winter months. You can discuss these adaptations and have your preschoolers create their own animal pictures or crafts.

Teach them about how animals like bears hibernate and how other animals adapt by changing their fur colors or migrating to warmer climates.

Martin Luther King Jr.

January 16th is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and this is a great opportunity to teach your preschoolers about the life and work of this important civil rights leader.

Talk to your preschoolers about his work in the civil rights movement and help them to understand what he stood for.

Community Helpers

January is a great time to introduce your preschoolers to the various people who help keep our communities running smoothly, such as firefighters, police officers, and doctors.

Discuss the different roles these people have and why they are so important. You can also host a dress-up day where the kids can wear pretend uniforms of their favorite community helpers.

Healthy Habits

With the new year comes a renewed focus on health and wellness. You can teach your preschoolers about the importance of healthy eating and regular exercise and help them develop their own healthy habits.

Emotions

The winter months can be tough for many people, and preschoolers may experience a range of emotions during this time.

You can help them understand and express their emotions by talking about them and doing activities that focus on empathy and understanding.

Sharing feelings and creating art projects that reflect their emotions can help your preschoolers navigate their feelings.

Image Source

Winter Holidays

January is a great time to celebrate the winter holidays, such as Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.

You can teach your preschoolers about the traditions and customs associated with these holidays and help them create their own holiday crafts.

Polar Regions

With the cold winter weather outside, it's the perfect time to teach your preschoolers about the polar regions and the animals that live there.

You can discuss how these animals adapt to the cold and how humans can protect them.

Space

January is also a great time to introduce your preschoolers to the fascinating world of space. You can talk about the different planets and stars and help them create their own space-themed crafts.

Simple activities like painting their own galaxies can open up their imaginations and help them explore the wonders of outer space.

Snowflakes

January is the perfect time to teach your preschoolers about the beauty and wonder of snowflakes. You can help them create their own snowflake crafts and discuss the unique patterns and shapes of these amazing winter wonders.

Exploring snowflakes can be a great way to get your preschoolers excited about winter weather and the natural beauty of the season.

Chinese New Year

January is also the time for the Chinese New Year, and this is a great opportunity to teach your preschoolers about the customs and traditions associated with this important holiday.

Help your preschoolers learn about the zodiac animals, create their own Chinese Zodiac wheel, and talk about how Chinese culture celebrates a new year.

Winter Sports

With the cold weather outside, it's the perfect time to introduce your preschoolers to the fun and excitement of winter sports, such as ice skating, skiing, and snowboarding. You can discuss the different sports and help them create their own winter sports crafts.

Winter Wonders

January is a great time to explore the beauty and wonder of winter. You can help your preschoolers create their own winter wonderland crafts and discuss the unique qualities of this magical season.

Image Source

January is a great time for preschoolers to learn about a variety of new and exciting themes.

From winter weather and healthy habits, to Martin Luther King Jr. and the Chinese New Year, there are plenty of opportunities for learning and exploration in the month of January.

By using these ideas for January preschool themes and lesson plans, you can help your preschoolers develop new skills and knowledge while having fun and staying engaged.

January is a great time for preschoolers to learn about a variety of new and exciting themes.

Here are 14 ideas for January preschool themes and lesson plans to help get you started:

Image Source

New Year's Resolutions

Help your preschoolers understand the concept of setting goals and making positive changes in the new year.

You can have them create their own resolutions and discuss the importance of sticking to them. This is important for them to learn the importance of making promises and following through with those promises.

Winter Weather

With cold temperatures and snow outside, January is the perfect time to teach your preschoolers about the different types of winter weather and how to stay safe in it.

Include activities like checking the weather forecast, learning about how to dress for cold temperatures, and discussing methods of staying warm in the snow.

Winter Animals

Many animals have special adaptations that help them survive the cold winter months. You can discuss these adaptations and have your preschoolers create their own animal pictures or crafts.

Teach them about how animals like bears hibernate and how other animals adapt by changing their fur colors or migrating to warmer climates.

Martin Luther King Jr.

January 16th is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and this is a great opportunity to teach your preschoolers about the life and work of this important civil rights leader.

Talk to your preschoolers about his work in the civil rights movement and help them to understand what he stood for.

Community Helpers

January is a great time to introduce your preschoolers to the various people who help keep our communities running smoothly, such as firefighters, police officers, and doctors.

Discuss the different roles these people have and why they are so important. You can also host a dress-up day where the kids can wear pretend uniforms of their favorite community helpers.

Healthy Habits

With the new year comes a renewed focus on health and wellness. You can teach your preschoolers about the importance of healthy eating and regular exercise and help them develop their own healthy habits.

Emotions

The winter months can be tough for many people, and preschoolers may experience a range of emotions during this time.

You can help them understand and express their emotions by talking about them and doing activities that focus on empathy and understanding.

Sharing feelings and creating art projects that reflect their emotions can help your preschoolers navigate their feelings.

Image Source

Winter Holidays

January is a great time to celebrate the winter holidays, such as Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.

You can teach your preschoolers about the traditions and customs associated with these holidays and help them create their own holiday crafts.

Polar Regions

With the cold winter weather outside, it's the perfect time to teach your preschoolers about the polar regions and the animals that live there.

You can discuss how these animals adapt to the cold and how humans can protect them.

Space

January is also a great time to introduce your preschoolers to the fascinating world of space. You can talk about the different planets and stars and help them create their own space-themed crafts.

Simple activities like painting their own galaxies can open up their imaginations and help them explore the wonders of outer space.

Snowflakes

January is the perfect time to teach your preschoolers about the beauty and wonder of snowflakes. You can help them create their own snowflake crafts and discuss the unique patterns and shapes of these amazing winter wonders.

Exploring snowflakes can be a great way to get your preschoolers excited about winter weather and the natural beauty of the season.

Chinese New Year

January is also the time for the Chinese New Year, and this is a great opportunity to teach your preschoolers about the customs and traditions associated with this important holiday.

Help your preschoolers learn about the zodiac animals, create their own Chinese Zodiac wheel, and talk about how Chinese culture celebrates a new year.

Winter Sports

With the cold weather outside, it's the perfect time to introduce your preschoolers to the fun and excitement of winter sports, such as ice skating, skiing, and snowboarding. You can discuss the different sports and help them create their own winter sports crafts.

Winter Wonders

January is a great time to explore the beauty and wonder of winter. You can help your preschoolers create their own winter wonderland crafts and discuss the unique qualities of this magical season.

Image Source

January is a great time for preschoolers to learn about a variety of new and exciting themes.

From winter weather and healthy habits, to Martin Luther King Jr. and the Chinese New Year, there are plenty of opportunities for learning and exploration in the month of January.

By using these ideas for January preschool themes and lesson plans, you can help your preschoolers develop new skills and knowledge while having fun and staying engaged.





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Tamar Andrews

Director of ECE @ American Jewish University

Tamar Andrews, EdD, is an Associate Professor at UCLA's Graduate School of Education and Information Studies and Director of the Early Childhood Education Department at American Jewish University. With 30+ years in early childhood as a teacher and director, she led Temple Isaiah Preschool from 2003 to 2023, where she earned NAEYC accreditation and built an award-winning STEM program. Her work inspired her son Daniel to build Playground. She also teaches at UCLA Extension and Santa Monica College and speaks internationally on early childhood education.

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Book a demo to see why providers are switching.

First, tell us about yourself. What type of program do you run?

Great! What's the best way we can contact you?

  • Gan Sinai Early Learning Center of Temple Siniai
  • Yakima Valley Memorial
  • Child Development Consortium of Los Angeles
  • St. John Lutheran Church
  • The Weston School Early Childhood Education
Illustration of a child care classroom with bookshelves, a slide, and a teddy bear

Book a demo to see why providers are switching.

First, tell us about yourself. What type of program do you run?

Great! What's the best way we can contact you?

  • Gan Sinai Early Learning Center of Temple Siniai
  • Yakima Valley Memorial
  • Child Development Consortium of Los Angeles
  • St. John Lutheran Church
  • The Weston School Early Childhood Education