A thematic unit based on water provides you with a basis for many classroom activities. Choose children's literature to read with your students based on water or sea life. Teach a science lesson on the concept of sinking and floating. Allow children to paint or draw a beach scene or write a story about an animal who lives in the sea. To enhance the theme, decorate your classroom in a water theme using waves and blue paper during the study of this thematic unit.
You can develop a thematic unit on space to meet the academic needs of all students in your classroom. By choosing space as a subject, you can develop lesson plans based on astronomy or incorporate the study of day and night into your activities. Visit a local planetarium and study the constellations. Ask students to study the environment on each planet and develop a creative story about a living creature who has to adapt to that planet's climate.
A farming thematic unit allows you to teach students about your agricultural community and animals that live on a farm. Visit a local farm or ask a farmer to come to your classroom to speak about the daily routine of a farmer. Create a vegetable garden at your school to teach children the importance of growing their own food in today's society. Include developmentally appropriate science lessons in your farm unit based on animals such as cows, chickens or horses.
A thematic unit on trees allows you to use your own environment to teach children a variety of academic concepts. Choose books, such as Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree," to read to your class and then discuss local trees found around your school. Practice math concepts with your students such as counting apples or acorns found on trees. Create a variety of craft projects using collected leaves or fallen branches from trees in your area.