Water theme for toddlers: a week of activities
A water 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 water theme with toddlers
- Arrival and free play on the floor.
- Sing “Jack and Jill” with actions; repeat it while you change and feed.
- Hold and pass something real for the week (water), and say its name.
- Snack: a toddler-safe version of fruit kabobs (check the recipe's lines for under-4s).
- Outside: a short walk looking for float.
- Read Fish in a Dish on laps, pointing and naming.
- Nap, then the song once more at pick-up.
Water 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: Jack and Jill.
- Read: Fish in a Dish (level 2).
Infants and toddlers: two or three minutes, on laps.
Water theme books
- Fish in a Dish (level 2, free on peabody.kids): A fish in water.
- Pup in the Tub (level 1, free on peabody.kids): Bath water and a puppy.
- Bo and the Bath Duck (read aloud, level 4): A read-aloud: a bath duck that goes missing.
- The Crow and the Pitcher (read aloud, level 5): A read-aloud fable: how the crow raised the water.
Infants and toddlers: one book, read every day; point and name.
Water craft: Float or sink chart
You need (4): card with two columns, crayons, a tub of water, small toys to test.
- Guess: will it float or sink?
- Drop it in the water and watch.
- Draw it on the right side of the chart.
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.
Water song: Jack and Jill
The words
Jack and Jill went up the hill To fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown, And Jill came tumbling after.
Traditional; public domain. From Top 52 nursery rhymes with lyrics.
Water snack
Fruit Kabobs from the Peabody Kitchen: picture steps, allergy swaps and safety lines on the recipe.
Letter W activities
WwW is for water. 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: Paint with water
Give everyone a cup of water and a big brush. Paint the fence or the path and watch it dry.
Water theme for 2 year oldsWater theme for 3 and 4 year oldsWater theme, all ages
Checked 2026-10-30