Some schools or language centres work very heavily from books and a set syllabus. However, for many the workbooks start from the primary school level which means that teachers for those younger than about seven or eight often find themselves faced with great flexibility.
This can be seen either as a positive or as a negative – on the positive side this enables you to find out what pupils are interested in and start your focus on this, developing aspects according to abilities and types of activities.
On the other hand, it can sometimes feel overwhelming as the whole school year may feel that it is stretching out in front of you and it is difficult to find enough material to cover it all.
This is why the use of themes can be an enormous help. Through working on a theme basis, you simply choose a theme and then use this as a springboard for all your activities – from listening and speaking to reading and writing (or mark making as it called for the little ones!)
You may be surprised to know that there are a lot of international days dedicated to all sorts of things from dental health month to polar bear and blowing bubbles day. Dates of these events have also been added so that you are able to pace out your topics according to the special days if desired.
To help you manoeuvre your way around the world of themes, the following outlines themes in alphabetical order along with some suggestions of the type of areas of focus that can be used within the topic.
As the list is rather comprehensive, it has been split into three sections – the first from A – H, the second I – P and third from Q – Z.
100 th Day of School TEFL theme
This is a theme that is very common in the USA and simply celebrates that pupils have been at school for 100 days. You can use this theme as both a way to look backwards at what has already been achieved and how much they have changed as well as looking forward as to what will come next.
All About Me Theme
This theme is often carried out towards the beginning of the year when children are getting to know their classmates, so through exploring themselves they can then share.
All about me topic allows children to learn how to introduce about themselves
This theme can have various levels of focus – from exploring similarities and differences between children, the countries they come from and the food they like to eat. In addition, you can include aspects such as names and interests.
Alphabet Theme
Although pupils will be working on the alphabet in general, through an alphabet theme you are able to focus in further on letters and have more time for reading alphabet books such as “ Chicka Chicka Boom Boom “ and work with play dough alphabet cards as well as alphabet puzzles.
Animal Theme
This is a very easy and practical theme and is something that all pupils can relate to. Depending on your class age and ability you can focus on the different habitats animals can be found in (jungle/ sea etc.) were you could find animals in daily life (pets / zoo / working animals etc.) explore the different animal sizes and explore how animals move. World animal day is held yearly on October 4, the feast day of Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.
Back to School TEFL Theme
This is often used as the first theme of the school year and covers aspects such as class rules, routines and what pupils will be learning.
Beach Theme
As you will find many of your pupils have visited the beach, they are able to relate easily to this theme. You can work in a whole range of vocabulary as well as incorporate textures as well as floating and sinking and ocean animals.
Bear Theme
This theme can culminate with a teddy bears picnic in which pupils carry out activities and have a bear themed picnic along with their own teddy bear that they have brought from home. In addition to geography through exploring the different types of bear, senses and colours can also be incorporated through the reading of “polar bear, polar bear what do you hear? “ International Polar Bear Day takes place each February 27, to coincide with the time period when polar bear moms and cubs are sleeping in their dens whilst world bear day is on March 23.
Bubbles Theme
An excellent theme for the younger age range who will be able to explore shapes, colours as well as water. International blowing bubbles day takes place on May 6.
Bugs and Insects Theme
A nice practical theme with pupils being able to go on a bug hunt, make the different bugs from dough and collage; explore colours, shapes and sizes.
Colours Theme
In this theme pupils can work practically to explore the basic colours through sensory bottles (simply add paint and oil to a bottle and shake) “clean painting, “(add paint to sealed Ziploc bags) as well as go on a colour hunt around the classroom and sort and classify. International colour day is on March 24th.
Community Helpers Theme
This theme can be separated into different sections and be used for a number of weeks if desired – for example, focus can be on:
- people who help us when we are sick (doctor, nurses and dentists)
- people who help keep us safe (police officers, firefighters)
- people who help us at school (principal, cleaners, teachers etc.)
- people who help us in the street (shopkeepers, road sweepers etc.)
Construction Theme
A wide range of vocabulary can be coved with this theme from exploring the different types of vehicles to investigating the different types of buildings that can be constructed to the properties of different materials. International construction day is held on the second Monday in March each year.
Cooking Theme
A practical hands on theme that can be as large as your facilities enable, with there being however, a huge range of no bake cooking that can be carried out easily in the classroom from peppermint creams to cereal cookie bars. International Chef’s day is on October 20th.
Dental Health Theme
In the USA February is National Children’s Dental Health Month ( which you can easily change to international dental month for your purposes ) so aspects such as teeth hygiene, eating healthy and morning and evening routines can be incorporated within this theme.
Dinosaurs Theme
This is always a very popular theme and there are a lot of easily available online plans to help you with this. As October is International Dinosaur Month this is an idea time to explore dinosaur size, colours, movement and make your own salt dough fossils etc.
Dr. Seuss Theme
Dr Seuss day is celebrated on March 2nd ( Dr. Seuss’ birthday ) This is a great theme in which books can be explored during the week culminating in pupils dressing up on March 2nd and having a green eggs and ham themed picnic.
Earth Day TEFL Theme
This theme can incorporate a wide range of areas from exploring nature, – plants, animals and sea life, through the aspect of recycling to exploring how to take care of the earth. April 22nd is International Earth Day.
Emotions and Feelings Theme
This is a popular theme for the beginning of the year when pupils are exploring how they feel in the classroom and can reiterate the importance of friendship and sharing etc. International social and emotional day is held on March 26th.
Eric Carle Theme
There are a wide range of books to study with this theme – the very hungry caterpillar, the very busy spider, the grouchy ladybug, from head to toe, today is Monday, do you want to be my friend etc. All of the books have the same collage illustrations so this is a great way to also include features about books e.g. authors, illustrations, blurb etc. Very Hungry Caterpillar Day is held on March 20th
Fall Theme
In the UK, fall is also called autumn. Seasons can be split up into the different components and used at four different stages throughout the school year or all explored together under a general season’s theme.
Family Theme
Family is a stable theme in all TEFL classrooms. It can be taught as a theme on its own or incorporated into an “All about Me” theme or even when looking at national celebrations such as Tet. The International Day of Families is observed on 15th May.
Fantasy and Fairy Tales Theme
This is a great way to include a wide range of stories, from traditional favourites such as” Red Riding Hood “and “Goldilocks and the three bears “to more modern aspects such as Elsa and Anna and Captain America.
Farm TFFL Theme
A very popular theme, this topic enables you to explore animals and their homes as well as their sounds and the way they move. In addition, you can explore foods that grow and the different jobs that a famer carries out throughout the year. Farmers Day is celebrated every year on October 12th.
Fine Motor Control Theme
Fine motor skills strengthen the muscles in the hands, making them strong enough to hold the pencil and start the writing process. Activities such as picking up small items (either with fingers or with tweezers) / cutting / threading / buttoning etc. can be explored under this theme and can be a great way to develop your sensory area.
Fish Theme
This theme can be used as part of an animal topic or are part of a food-based theme. Pupils can explore geographical aspects through exploring the difference between rivers, lakes, ponds and oceans and can also be incorporated into water themes.
Emotions and virtues can also be explored through the popular book “The Rainbow Fish. “
Five Senses TEFL Theme
A very popular theme since it so practical, this theme can be spread out over a period of time with focus on each of the aspects (taste, touch, smell, hearing, and feeling) or grouped together. This is an easy theme to teach and is often used towards the beginning of the school year.
Five senses is a popular theme for young learner classes
Flowers Theme
International Flower Day is celebrated on 19th January. With such a wide base, this theme can focus upon colours and shapes, size and differences, the growing process or the theme of giving.
Friendship TEFL Theme
Pupils can learn not only how to make and treat friends but also how to be a good friend themselves, exploring the things they need to do (sharing / being kind / listening / playing nicely etc.) International Friendship Day is on July 30th.
Fruits and Vegetables Theme
Whether used together or separately this is always a popular theme as teachers are able to easily show real objects and carry out a wide range of practical activities with cutting, feeling and smelling and cooking. The differences between the two can be explored (did you know that a tomato is a fruit?!) as well as the different ways they grow.
Gross Motor Control Theme
This is a very active theme and great if you want to teach a range of verbs. Gross motor skills use the large muscles e.g. sitting, standing, jumping, crawling, running etc. as opposed to the small muscles in fine motor control. A practical sports day can be a great finale to a gross motor control theme.
Hot and Cold Theme
This is a vital aspect for young children to gain an understanding of. It can be used in correlation to hot and cold weather (incorporating seasons if desired) hot or cold food or simply hot or cold things such as exploring ice. A great easy activity is getting pupils to rescue animals (or anything) from ice – you simply freeze items in ice and pupils explore how to rescue them.
This is the first part of the A – Z of themes – be sure to look out for the other two sections so that you have the whole alphabet to choose from!
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