Create a thematic literacy center. Fill the classroom library with books that are related to the current theme. For example, if you are working on a jungle thematic unit, fill the library with jungle-themed books and books-on-tape. Have children complete letter and letter-sound recognition activities that relate to the theme. Encourage children to write short stories or poems about the theme on which you are working.
Infuse the math center with theme-related materials. Have students sort items that relate to the current theme based on their attributes and use the items to create patterns. For example, when working on a unit about birds, students can sort colored feathers and use them to create patterns. For the same unit, pretend jelly beans are bird eggs and have children use them to practice their addition and subtraction skills.
Create themed arts and crafts projects in the art center. Have children make paintings of aquatic animals when focusing on an under-the-sea-theme. If you are focusing on apples, cut apples in half and have children dip the fruit pieces into paint and stamp them onto paper. Have children use the materials in the art center to create collages that relate to the theme. Offer them instructions to themed crafts, which they can use as a guide to create the crafts.
Fill the science and discovery center with theme-related items and tasks. When focusing on a five senses-theme, set out items that children can smell, taste, touch and hear. During a plant-theme, have children plant seeds and observe and draw pictures of the plant growth each day of the unit. Place items and activities in the center that will allow students to examine the current theme on their own.