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Toddler Lesson Plan Template

Plan short, flexible activities for toddlers (about 18 months to 3 years) around language, movement and sensory exploration.

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

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    Week

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

    Planning for toddlers

    Toddler lesson plans are short, flexible and sensory. Group times last only a few minutes, activities are offered rather than required, and the plan follows each child's lead. The main goals are language, movement, exploration and learning to be with others.

    • Repeat favorites. Toddlers learn through repetition: the same song or book all week is a good plan.
    • Offer, don't direct. Set out materials and let children choose.
    • Talk constantly. Name colors, actions and feelings as children play.
    • Safety first: check materials for choking hazards and supervise sensory play closely.

    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: exploring colors with sensory bottles

    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)

    Exploring colors with sensory bottles

    ThemeColorsAge group18–36 months
    DateLength30 minutes (flexible)

    Learning goals

    Sensory: explore color and movement. Language: hear and repeat color words. Physical: grasp, shake and roll bottles.

    Early learning standards

    Your state infant-toddler early learning guidelines (sensory exploration, early language).

    Materials and resources

    Sealed sensory bottles (lids glued shut) with colored water and glitter, red/yellow/blue scarves, board book about colors

    Key vocabulary

    red, yellow, blue, shake, roll

    Circle / group time (5 min)

    Short song naming colors; show one bottle at a time.

    Learning centers

    Sensory bottles on the floor to shake and roll; colored blocks to stack.

    Art and sensory

    Finger painting with one color on large paper (washable paint).

    Music and movement (5 min)

    Wave colored scarves to music; stop and name a color.

    Outdoor / gross motor

    Roll colored balls down a slide.

    Story and early literacy (5 min)

    Board book about colors; let children turn the pages.

    Routines, snack and transitions

    Name the colors of cups and plates at snack; hand-washing song.

    Adaptations and support

    Follow each child's lead and attention span. Offer bottles of different sizes for small hands.

    Family connection

    Share the color song so families can sing it at home.

    Observation notes

    Notice which children point to or say a color word.

    Planned time: 15 minutes

    Frequently asked questions

    Do toddlers need lesson plans?

    They don't need formal lessons, but a simple plan helps caregivers offer varied, purposeful activities and notice each child's development.

    How long should toddler activities be?

    Often just a few minutes for group times. Free exploration can last longer if children are engaged.

    More early years templates

    Early years and preschoolPreschool, toddler, infant and daycare planning.Preschool lesson plan templateTheme-based plan for ages 3 to 5.Infant lesson plan templateResponsive plans for babies under 12 months.Daycare lesson plansOne theme, adapted for mixed ages.