October Preschool Themes

October brings lots of opportunities for learning activities and themes. The fall season offers several natural elements to explore (pumpkins, leaves). Your class could explore Halloween; but even if you do not use that occasion, you can explore spiders and scarecrows and other aspects that have nothing to do with scary or imaginary themes. Use these preschool curriculum themes to explore this October.

October Preschool Themes

FIRE SAFETY
October is Fire Safety Month. During October, talk about firefighters and ways to be safe in a fire. You may want to expand to other safety and community helpers with this theme.
Books About Firefighters
Fire Truck Counting Game
Fire Safety Videos
Fire Safety Scavenger Hunt
Fire Safety Letter Matching Game
Fire Safety Small Group Activities
Fire Safety Literacy Activities
Fire Safety Math Activities
Fire Safety Bingo Game
Fire Safety Play Dough Counting Mats

LEAVES
The leaves may begin to turn in October, a very visible sign that the seasons are changing. Even if your trees do not change to vibrant colors, you can talk about leaves and trees as a theme or emphasis. Help your preschoolers understand the world beyond their own experiences.
Leaf Man Beginning Sounds Activity
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf Sorting Activity
Fall Leaves Play Dough Invitation
Fall Leaves Snack Activity
Fall Leaves Art Activity
Leaf Math Activities
Leaf Music Activity
Leaf Fine Motor Play
Fall Tree Letter Matching
Fall Activities Bundle
Books About Trees

FALL
The fall season is a natural theme for October. Weather may be cooler, fall produce appears in stores, and leaves may turn color. Even if changes are more subtle in your area, helping preschoolers recognize seasonal changes is important for their understanding of time and the physical world. Here are some ideas for fall beyond leaves.
Books About Fall
Acorn Science Experiment
Busy Squirrel Class Book
Fall Sensory Bin
Fall Tinker Tray
Fall Colors at the Light Table
Feed the Squirrel Counting Game
Colored Corn Mosaic Art
Fall Activities
Fall Literacy Activities
Fall Math Activities
Fall Bingo

Preschool Curriculum Themes for October

PUMPKINS
In October, pumpkins are everywhere. Pumpkins are a natural connection or extension of fall themes.
Whether or not your center celebrates Halloween, pumpkins are a great theme to explore, with lots of possible activities.
Books About Pumpkins
Learning Activities with Pumpkins and Gourds
Pumpkin Soup Color Mixing
Pumpkin Science Exploration
Pumpkin Measurement
ABC Pumpkin Patch Game
Pumpkin Art Exploration
Pumpkin Sensory Bag
Five Little Pumpkins Snack Activity
Pumpkin Patch Dramatic Play
Pumpkin Patch Dramatic Play Kit
Pumpkin Math Activities
Pumpkin Literacy Activities
Pumpkin Life Cycle
Planting Pumpkin Seeds in a Pumpkin
Pumpkin Play Dough

SPIDERS
Spiders are fascinating for some preschoolers and very scary for others. Exploring a spider theme or spider activities can help preschoolers learn more about these arachnids and take some of the scariness away. These activities can supplement a Halloween theme or be used independently to support a study of these animals.
Spider Ring Counting Game
Spider Web Yarn Painting
Spider Web Rubbing
Spider Fine Motor Activity
Spider Web Gross Motor Activity
Spider Web Activity Tray
Spider Play Dough Invitation
Making Patterns with Spiders
Spider Web Number Matching
Frozen Fizzy Spider Experiment
Itsy Bitsy Spider Literacy and Math Activities
Miss Muffet Literacy and Math Activities

SCARECROWS
Scarecrows can be a fun way to explore concepts in fall and in October. Supplement a harvest, pumpkin, or gardening theme by exploring these guardians of the crops. Here are a few ideas for this topic.
Books About Scarecrows
Scarecrow Counting Game
Scarecrow Sensory Bin
Fall Activities Bundle
Fall Theme Activities

HALLOWEEN
Some centers focus on Halloween as a theme or for activities and some do not. The activities below are more specific to Halloween theme. In addition, use pumpkins and spider activities as extensions or supplements to your Halloween theme.
Halloween Books
Halloween Activities
Halloween Sensory Bin
5 Pumpkins Halloween Sensory Bin
Halloween Sensory Bottle
Melted Crayon Pumpkin Decorating
Five Little Pumpkins Counting Printable
Pumpkin Lesson Plans Bundle
Decorate Play Dough Pumpkins
Jack-o-lantern Sensory Bag
Halloween Songs
Halloween Sensory Bin with Spaghetti
Halloween Black Bat Sensory Bin
Halloween Fine Motor Activities
Halloween Lesson Plans Bundle
Halloween Play Dough Counting Mats
Halloween Bingo
Halloween Classroom Party Planning
Halloween Party Snacks
Halloween Visual Discrimination Activity
Halloween Counting Activities

Need more theme ideas? Check out our theme list.
Curriculum Themes