Night and Day theme for toddlers: a week of activities
A night and day theme lesson plan for toddlers: what a day looks like, then the week's circle time (two or three minutes, on laps), books, craft, song, snack, letter and outside time, each with what changes at this age.
A day of the night and day theme with toddlers
- Arrival and free play on the floor.
- Sing “Brahms' Lullaby” with actions; repeat it while you change and feed.
- Hold and pass something real for the week (night), and say its name.
- Snack: a toddler-safe version of owl toast (check the recipe's lines for under-4s).
- Outside: a short walk looking for day.
- Read Not Yet, Ted on laps, pointing and naming.
- Nap, then the song once more at pick-up.
Night and Day circle time
- Hello song: sing hello to each child by name.
- Look out of the window together: sun, rain or clouds?
- Show the theme: hold up something real and name it.
- Sing: Brahms' Lullaby.
- Read: Not Yet, Ted (level 3).
Infants and toddlers: two or three minutes, on laps.
Night and Day theme books
- Not Yet, Ted (level 3, free on peabody.kids): Bedtime, not yet.
- Sit, Tap, Nap (level 0, free on peabody.kids): A day that ends in a nap.
- Dad Naps (level 0, free on peabody.kids): Sleep, in a pattern for twos.
- The Moon Follows Me (read aloud, level 6): A read-aloud: the moon at night.
Infants and toddlers: one book, read every day; point and name.
Night and Day craft: Day and night plate
You need (4): paper plate, yellow crayon, dark blue crayon, star stickers.
- Color one half yellow with a sun.
- Color the other half dark with a moon.
- Add stars to the night side.
With a grown-up. No heat, nothing hot.
Infants and toddlers: let them touch and hold the materials while you make it; nothing small enough to swallow.
Night and Day song: Brahms' Lullaby
The words
Lullaby, and good night, with roses bedight, With lilies o'er spread is baby's wee bed. Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed, Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed.
Johannes Brahms, 1868; public domain. From Top 20 lullabies with lyrics.
Night and Day snack
Owl Toast from the Peabody Kitchen: picture steps, allergy swaps and safety lines on the recipe.
Swap: Bread → gluten-free bread; Peanut butter → sunflower seed butter.
Letter N activities
NnN is for night. Print the two pages (a trace page and a color page).
Infants and toddlers: skip the trace page; show the picture page and say the word.
Outside activity: Night and day
Call "Day!" and everyone runs and plays; call "Night!" and everyone lies down still, eyes closed.
Night and Day theme for 2 year oldsNight and Day theme for 3 and 4 year oldsNight and Day theme, all ages
Checked 2026-10-30