Making Apple Pie Theater Activity
September and October are great months for apple-themed preschool lessons, so I created a simple activity for my theater classes similar to patty-cake. I printed out cards showing pictures of the steps to make apple pie, and we pretended we were baking a pie together. The activity included acting out the following steps with sound effects:
Chop the apples
Add the butter, sugar, and cinnamon to a pot and cook it on the stove
Pour the cooked mixture over the apples and stir
Roll out the dough
Put the dough in the pie pan
Pour the apple filling into the pie pan
Bake the pie in the oven
Eat the pie!
I made the activity more interactive by asking students the next step or asking them how long we should stir the mixture or bake the pie. Then we would count up to the number students said. This activity works well with students as young as 2 and a half years old. The preschool students loved this activity so much they told me they want to make banana, peach, and blueberry pies too!
If you would like a full apple-themed theater lesson plan, you can find it on my TeachersPayTeachers store.
Creating Theater Classes for Toddlers
Last year when I was first starting my business, a preschool contacted me about offering lessons for various age groups, including toddlers as young as 2 years old. I quickly realized that the imagination activities I use for ages 3+ were not appropriate for such young learners.
Toddlers who are just starting to speak need visual cues to understand and participate in activities. So I adapted my lessons for that age group to include books, puppets, and pictures. The best books for these lessons are books that are written for very young audiences and include repetition, for instance, a book about fish that describes the fish swimming different ways or in different directions.
Once I find the right story, I create simple puppets for the students to use so that they can interact with the story. One of the easiest ways to create durable puppets is to cut them out of felt. At the beginning of the story, I distribute the puppets by calling out the color options and having students raise their hands when I’ve called out the color they want. Students love using their puppets to play out the actions in the stories.
Some stories have too many characters to use puppets with them, but they have several simple actions that the students can act out during the story. For example, there might be a story about the insects and animals in a garden where each page shows a different creature and what it is doing (a bee buzzing, a grasshopper hopping, a bird flying, etc.).
I also try to find or create simple songs that align with the theme of the lesson. It helps to follow the same theme for several weeks so that students have more time to learn the songs. These lessons last 15-20 minutes, but they are a great way to keep young toddlers engaged in story-time!
Why Preschool Theater Classes Are a Hidden Gem (plus an easy format for starting theater classes at your preschool)
Why Preschool Theater Classes Are a Hidden Gem
When I read about preschool enrichment activities online, most of the resources relate to art, music, or dance classes. Theater classes, however, are less common for preschool-aged children. But I have found that preschool is the perfect time for theater! At this age, children are the most willing to express their creativity, share their ideas, and dive into imaginative play. Programs that incorporate storytelling, role-playing, and improvisation are perfect for young learners, offering them a joyful way to explore self-expression, build confidence, and develop social-emotional skills.
As someone who has taught theater to various age groups, I find preschool theater classes to be especially fun. Every day is filled with surprises, laughter, and the kind of uninhibited inspiration only young children can bring. Over the years, I’ve experimented with different formats and activities, and I’ve seen firsthand what works best for this age group. Below, I’ll share a simple guide to structuring and teaching engaging theater classes for preschoolers.
Theater classes are also a great opportunity for reinforcing current curriculum objectives. The activities shared below can easily be aligned to your preschool’s monthly or weekly curriculum theme, giving students additional opportunities for practicing vocabulary or deepening their understanding of the curriculum concepts.
The Best Format for Preschool Theater Classes
A 30-minute class with 7-10 activities is ideal for preschoolers. Here’s an outline for a 30-minute class with a few examples for each activity. This outline can be used every week.
Opening Share Circle - Start the class by gathering the children in a circle. Each child has the opportunity to share something—such as how they’re feeling, their favorite color, animal, toy, etc., or even a silly sound they can make. Invite students to show a movement or hand motion that represents their answer. Then everyone in the circle can repeat the movement/hand motion. This simple activity sets a welcoming tone and helps children feel comfortable and connected to the group.
Warm-ups - Help the children loosen up and prepare their minds and bodies for theater. These exercises are short, playful, and energizing:
Vocal - Have the children make sounds for specific letters or sounds such as buzzing like a bee or howling like a wolf. Students can also practice tongue-twisters or think of their own phrases to say with different emotions and/or volumes.
Physical - Lead students in focused movements such as stretching, shaking out different body parts, balancing, or moving in slow motion.
Short Intro Activities
Team-Building Activity - Activities like “Mirror Game” (where students pair up and take turns copying each other) or “Energy Ball” (where students take turns tossing an imaginary ball to each other) work great for building focus and teamwork.
Imagination Activity - Invite the children to move around the room pretending to be a series of characters or objects, like different animals in the jungle, different types of weather, or different toys. Encourage them to use their bodies and voices to fully become each character or object.
Longer Imagination Activity - Choose at least one of these activities to do per class. These give students a chance to develop self-confidence and self-regulation as they practice presenting to each other, listening to each other, and taking turns.
Storytelling and Story-acting: Create a story together as a group. Start with a simple prompt, such as, “Once upon a time, there was a magical frog,” and let the children contribute ideas to build the story. For larger classes, students can be split into groups of 4-6, with each group having a chance to take the stage and create a story together. For smaller classes, each student can tell their own short story.
Then, narrate the story and give each student an opportunity to act out one or more of the characters as you narrate.
Storybook-Acting: Act out a favorite storybook. Assign roles, and let the children bring the story to life with movement and/or dialogue. They can stay in their spots in the circle and stand up to do their parts, or you can designate an area of the classroom to be the “stage” and students can enter and exit the stage to do their parts.
Imagination Journeys: Guide the children on an imaginary adventure such as a hike through the forest or a quest for buried treasure. Each imagination journey should have different stops or obstacles along the way where students have a chance to improvise, share ideas, and help create the adventure.
Focus or Movement Game - An ending game gives students an opportunity for extra movement and facilitates the transition from theater class to the next activity of the day.
“Red Light, Green Light Theater Edition”: Instead of just stopping and going, children can act out emotions (happy, scared, excited) or characters (robot, monster, superhero) as they move across the room.
Freeze Dance: Play music and have children dance, but when the music stops, they must freeze in a dramatic pose!
Calming Closing Activity - Have students sit in a circle and participate in one final, non-verbal activity (such as clapping different rhythms or holding an imaginary ball and tossing it up and down a few times) to conclude the class.
Why Preschool Theater Matters
Preschool theater is more than just fun—it’s an incredible tool for fostering creativity, confidence, and collaboration. By introducing young children to the world of theater, we give them a joyful way to express themselves, connect with others, and grow essential skills that will serve them for a lifetime. They learn to take turns, listen to each other, share their ideas, and empathize with others. They also reflect on different emotions and develop early literacy skills.
If you’re inspired to bring theater to your preschool class, I’d love to help you get started! I offer customizable curriculum products and resources designed specifically for preschool theater classes. Feel free to email me at theaterinmotionimprov@gmail.com or call me at (206)659-9594 for more information.
Image Attribution: “Preschool Storytime” by Skokie Public Library, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0