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Preschool Graduation Ideas: Planning and Themes for Memorable Ceremonies
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Apr 30, 2026
November has arrived, and with it comes the anticipation of Thanksgiving. However, there are also plenty of other exciting themes to explore this month.
This blog post highlights some of the best November lesson plans and themes for preschool kids and toddlers. Whether you're seeking Thanksgiving activities or autumn-themed lessons, we've got you covered.
Get ready to bring the month of November to life in your child care center!
Create turkey paint hands with your classroom.
Make a paper plate turkey and hang them from the ceiling for the month!
Toilet paper roll turkeys are fun and adorable. Check out how to make them Here.

Leaf Rubbings. All you need are some leaves, crayons, and paper. check out how to make them Here

Leaf Sun-catchers. This craft is perfect for exploring colors and light. Get the tutorial Here
Painted Leaves. All you need to do is grab some real leaves and let the kids go to town with paint!
Paint mini pumpkins with your students. These will be a great decoration for November throughout your daycare center!
Paper Plate Pumpkins. Another easy craft to hang from the ceilings to bring the Autumn season to life
Pumpkin Seeds Craft. A creative way to make art for your children. Get the tutorial Here

Gratitude Tree. This is a great way to remind your students of all the good things in their lives! Check out different variations Here.
Acorn Matching Game. Let your students find acorns and match them up.
Turkey Trot Race. This is a great way for your kids to get some exercise and burn energy.
Get into the Autumn holiday spirit by reading to your children about turkeys! Check out our favorite turkey books Here
Let a pumpkin rot and turn it into a science experiment for your students to keep track of through the month.Talk to them about the changes in color and shape of the pumpkin and why it's decomposing.
November lesson plans and themes for preschool don’t always have to be about staying indoors. You can use the outdoors too! Adventure outside and have each student gather one leaf. Bring them all back into the classroom with their leaf and sort them by similarities.
This is a great visualization of leaf variety and a good opportunity to educate them about the leaf cycle and season changes.
This is a great way to start each day in November. Go around the circle and have each child say something they are grateful for. Write it down in a November gratitude journal to look back on as a class.
Gratitude may be central to November but it is closely related to generosity. This is why we think that generosity is apt as when it comes to building November lesson plans and themes for toddlers. Talk to your students about what it means to give back and be generous. Have a discussion about people or organizations that give back and why it's important.
Using books and videos to help explain what it means to give back will help your kids understand. Consider this video about Clarence the fox learning about the joy of giving.
This is a great time to talk about the change in seasons and why leaves change color.
This is obviously a big theme in November! Talk about what Thanksgiving is and why people celebrate
Friendship is always a great theme to explore with children. This month, consider books about being thankful for friends such as *A Thanksgiving Friendship* by TL Suchman or *Porcupine's Pie* by Laura Renauld.

Talk about how pumpkins grow and the different ways people use them.
Learn about different types of turkeys and why they are so important to Thanksgiving.
November is a month that is full of opportunities to ignite the minds of kindergarten kids. It is up to you to find the flint and steel that can get that spark going. Be bold, be creative, and be adventurous as you bring November to life in your child care center with these fun November lesson plans and themes for preschool kids and toddlers!

Beny Mizrachi
Director of Growth
Beny Mizrachi leads marketing at Playground from New York, where he runs go-to-market across content, paid and organic social, email, referrals, and strategic partnerships. He authors content on the Playground blog — including the comprehensive guide to creating a preschool marketing plan — and is dedicated to making it easier for child care operators to attract families, improve enrollment, and stand out in competitive markets.
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