September begins a new school year, for most kids and preschoolers will be especially eager to begin learning. There are lots of things that both teachers and parents can do to encourage this. You can create virtually any theme that you think will interest the preschoolers in your life, but there are some that work especially well in September. Whether you are looking for a theme for an entire classroom of preschoolers, or just want some fun projects for your child, here are some preschool themes for September-
- Classical Music Month-September is classical music month and there is no better time to introduce young children to classical music. While many adults may scoff that young children will not appreciate it, you just may be surprised when you find some preschoolers turning into classical music aficionados. Make sure that you have several recordings that you can play while activities or quiet time is happening.
Books to Read: (and listen to)
Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf: With a Fully-Orchestrated and Narrated CD
Adapted by Janet Schulman; illustrated by Peter Malone
The Story of the Orchestra
By Robert Levine
Play, Mozart, Play!
By Peter Sis
Field Trip-If you live near an urban center, many orchestras offer free concerts that are especially geared toward young children. A phone call to the box office will let you know if there is an orchestra in your area that does this.
Twinkle, twinkle little star-The children will be enthralled to learn that this nursery rhyme was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. After listening to a recording of the song, this star activity will give hands on experience.
You will need:
Yellow craft foam
Glitter pens
Glitter stickers
A craft stick for each star
Scissors
Glue
Depending on the age of the children, you can have them cut out a star shape of have them precut. Each child should have a large yellow craft foam star to decorate. Offer them a variety of glitter pens and glitter stickers they can use to make their star twinkle. As a finishing touch, have them glue a craft stick behind the star. Then you can sing the song again, with all of the children waving their twinkling stars.
- Grandparents Day/September 12-Grandparents can play a significant role in young children’s lives. If this theme is being used, for a classroom of preschoolers, it may be helpful to recruit volunteer “grandparents”, for those children who do not have grandparents close by.
Books to Read:
Tangerines and Tea, My Grandparents and Me: An Alphabet Book
By Ona Gritz
Funny, You Don’t Look Like a Grandmother
By Lois Wyse
Grandparent Gift Bags-These fun filled bags will be easy for the preschoolers to make and cherished by the grandparents.
You will need:
Lunch sack for each child’s grandparents
An assortment of craft decorating tools such as: crayons, markers, stickers, glitter pens etc.
Have each child decorate the outside of the Grandparents gift bag. When they are finished they can make a card to put inside. Have a few pieces of candy or some other treat to include in the bags as well.
Handprint Card-Grandparents will cherish the painted handprint of their preschool age grandchild.
You will need:
Cardstock for each child
An assortment of paint
Paper plate
Wipes for cleanup
Simply have each child place their entire hand in the paint color of their choice. They will then press the painted hand firmly down on the cardstock. Make sure that you sign and date each handprint, for a keepsake. This can be included in the Grandparent’s Gift Bag.
Grandparent Picture Frames-This darling frames can be used to frame a picture of the grandparent and their preschooler.
You will need:
Craft sticks
Glue
Assorted paint colors
Cardstock
Begin by having the child glue together several layers of craft sticks for the frame. You can measure out how big you want the frame to be, if you will be taking digital pictures of the child with their grandparent. Once they have glued together enough sticks, have them paint the sticks. As a finishing touch, take a picture of the grandparent and child to place inside the frame, backed by the cardstock.