6 Fun Summer Lesson Plans for Preschoolers ~ The Organized Homeschooler

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In these summer lesson plans for preschoolers, you will find fun educational activities to keep little ones learning all through the summer months. Think of it as a way of hosting your very own personalized summer camp for your kids.

The lesson plans include:

Booklists
Science experiments
Sensory bins
Themed activities and fun crafts
Field trip ideas

Please know that you do NOT have to do specific educational activities every day. Preschoolers are busy learning about the world around them even when we don’t have lessons planned. However, sometimes a daily routine helps the day go smoother and we might as well sprinkle in a few activities throughout the week.

Summer Lesson Plans for Preschoolers

These summer lesson plans for preschoolers are organized by summer preschool themes. Pick and choose whichever preschool summer theme sounds like the most fun for your preschooler. These thematic units can be used in any order.

Ocean

Books

The Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark by Ken Geist

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The Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark

Hardcover Book

Last update on 2026-11-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark is a silly version of the classic Three Little Pigs. Kids who are familiar with the original will find this retelling hilarious. Retellings are a great way to compare and contrast stories.

Inky the Octopus: The Official Story of One Brave Octopus’ Daring Escape by Erin Guendelsberger

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Inky the Octopus: The Official Story of One Brave Octopus’ Daring Escape (Includes Marine Biology Facts for Fun Early Learning!)

Last update on 2026-11-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This picture book is based on the true story of how one octopus escaped from the New Zealand Aquarium.

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister

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The Rainbow Fish

Used Book in Good Condition
Hardcover Book

Last update on 2026-11-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

In The Rainbow Fish, one fish has unique shimmering scales. All of the other fish admire them and wish they had such beautiful scales. Eventually, the Rainbow Fish learns how good it feels to be a good friend and share.

Rory: An Orca’s Quest for the Northern Lights by Sarah Cullen and Carmen Ellis

Rory: An Orca’s Quest For The Northern Lights (Ocean Tales Children’s Books)

Last update on 2026-11-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This beautiful picture book uses rhyming text, which is always a hit with little ones. Rhyming text also helps children with rhyming, which is a kindergarten language arts standard.

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of the Ocean by Catherine Hughes

This book is the sort of book that preschoolers love to look through over and over. It contains a TON of information – 128 pages worth of information!

I don’t recommend trying to read this book cover to cover. Instead, let your child be the guide. Let your kids flip through until they find an animal that interests them and then read those pages.

Science experiment

Will it float? – This science experiment introduces the idea of buoyancy to preschoolers. All you need is two bowls of water, a variety of items to test, and regular table salt. I recommend doing this science experiment outside to minimize the clean-up.

Sensory bins

Sandbox – You don’t have to travel to the beach to play in the sand. A sandbox is an old-school sensory bin. All you really need is sand, shovels, and buckets, but seashells are a fun addition.

Water table – A water table is a great way for kids to enjoy water play. Kids can begin learning about early physics concepts like buoyancy and motion without even realizing they are learning. My kids had so much fun with their water table when they were preschoolers. It was one of the best ways to play outside on a hot day. Every once in a while, I would switch out the animals and boats to keep it interesting.

Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table for Kids, Blue/Green, 18 Months+ | Easy to Assemble, Easy to Clean & Drain, 13 Accessories, Durable, Room for Multiple Kids, Toddler Outdoor Sensory Play Table

This kids’ water table will create a mini water park right in your backyard! Use the large bucket to scoop up water from the pond and pour into the top…
As the waterfall drains back into the water table pond, maze-like spinners, ramps and buckets are activated! Rearrange the put-and-place maze pieces to…
Kids can make a spinning splash in the “rain” with the hand-held spinning wheel and use the side flipper to flip figures back into the pond!

Last update on 2026-11-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Themed activities

Stringing coral reefs – Kids can create their own creative coral reefs by stringing a variety of beads onto pipe cleaners. Playdough will hold the pipe cleaners upright.

Sorting shells – Learning to sort items is an early learning skill. Kids can sort shells based on the type of shell, size, color, or any other characteristic they choose.

Salt painting – Watercolors are an obvious art activity for an ocean-themed activity for preschoolers, but salt painting is a fun painting twist.

Field trip

Aquarium – Visiting an aquarium lets kids see a variety of aquatic animals all in one place. Visiting aquariums isn’t always convenient, though. Sometimes we live too far away or can’t work the trip into our schedules. In those instances, a virtual aquarium tour is a great option! Maybe you can stop by an aquarium while on summer vacation.