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Daycare Lesson Plans

Plan a whole daycare day around one theme, with adaptations for toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children in the same group.

Your plans save automatically in this browser only. Nothing is sent to us or anyone else. Don't enter students' personal details.

What children will explore or practice, by area of development.

Your state's early learning guidelines, or the developmental areas covered.

Everything you need to prepare: texts, slides, manipulatives, handouts, tech.

Words students need to understand and use.

Songs, story, calendar, introduction of the theme.

Blocks, dramatic play, art, sensory table, library, science, manipulatives.

Process-focused art and sensory exploration.

Songs, fingerplays, dancing.

Large-muscle play and outdoor exploration.

Read-aloud and talk.

Transition songs, hand-washing, snack talk.

How to adapt for different ages, abilities and home languages.

A note or idea families can try at home.

What to watch for. Keep individual records in your program's own system.

Save and share

My plans

Saved in this browser on this device only. Clearing your browser data deletes them, so download a backup now and then.

    Week

    Plans appear on the day set in their Date box. Click a plan to open it.

    Planning for mixed ages

    Daycare lesson plans often serve children of different ages at once. Choose one theme, plan open-ended activities everyone can join, then note how younger and older children will take part: younger children name and point; older children explain, count, draw and label.

    • Write the adaptations for each age group in the Adaptations and support box.
    • Plan a full day: arrival, circle time, centers, outdoor play, lunch, rest, afternoon activities and pick-up.
    • Share the theme with families so they can talk about it at home.

    Home daycare providers can also use the printable teacher planner for a monthly calendar and to-do lists.

    Observations and children's information

    Plan for groups and ages, not named children. Keep individual observations, allergies and family information in your program's own secure records. What you type here stays in your browser only.

    Example: community helpers for ages 2 to 5

    Here is a complete example made with the maker above. Use it as a model, or load it into the form and change it to suit your class.

    Preschool / early childhood lesson plan (US)

    Community helpers

    ThemeCommunity helpersAge groupMixed ages 2–5
    DateLengthFull day

    Learning goals

    Children name three community helpers and act out what they do; older children sort tools by helper.

    Early learning standards

    Your state early learning guidelines (social studies, language, social-emotional development).

    Materials and resources

    Dress-up clothes, picture cards of helpers and their tools, toy vehicles, a book about community helpers

    Key vocabulary

    firefighter, doctor, mail carrier, help, tools

    Circle / group time (15 min)

    Show helper picture cards; children guess who the helper is from a clue.

    Learning centers

    Dramatic play: vet clinic. Blocks: build a fire station. Manipulatives: match tools to helpers.

    Art and sensory

    Paint a fire truck with sponges.

    Music and movement (10 min)

    Movement song acting out each helper.

    Outdoor / gross motor

    Mail carrier game: deliver "letters" to numbered boxes.

    Story and early literacy (10 min)

    Read-aloud about community helpers; younger children point, older children answer "who helps when…?"

    Routines, snack and transitions

    Thank-you song before lunch; helpers of the day set the table.

    Adaptations and support

    Toddlers: name and point. Preschoolers: explain what each helper does. School-age: draw and label a helper's tools.

    Family connection

    Ask families to share a job they do that helps others.

    Observation notes

    Note who names helpers and uses new words during play.

    Planned time: 35 minutes

    Frequently asked questions

    How do I write lesson plans for a daycare?

    Pick a weekly theme, plan circle time, centers, art, music, outdoor play and story around it, and write how each age group will take part.

    Do daycares need lesson plans?

    Many licensing and quality rating systems expect written plans or a curriculum. Check your state's requirements.

    More early years templates

    Early years and preschoolPreschool, toddler, infant and daycare planning.Preschool lesson plan templateTheme-based plan for ages 3 to 5.Toddler lesson plan templateShort, flexible plans for ages 1 to 3.Infant lesson plan templateResponsive plans for babies under 12 months.