World Teachers' Day, celebrated on October 5th, is a special day dedicated to showing appreciation for teachers all around the world. Teachers play an important role in shaping young minds, helping children learn and grow every day. For preschoolers, this is a wonderful opportunity to begin understanding how much their teachers do to help them, while also having fun celebrating with stories, crafts, and activities.
World Teachers' Day was established in 1994 by UNESCO to honor teachers and highlight the vital role they play in education. It’s a day to thank teachers for their hard work and dedication, and to recognize the impact they have on children’s lives. Teachers are not only important for teaching subjects like reading, math, and science, but also for guiding children as they develop social skills, creativity, and confidence.
For preschoolers, their teachers help them with the basics of learning, from exploring the alphabet to counting numbers and discovering new ways to play and interact with their classmates. World Teachers' Day is the perfect time to remind children how special their teachers are!
Teachers do so much more than teach lessons—they help children discover the world around them, make new friends, and build confidence in their abilities. Teachers encourage curiosity, celebrate achievements, and help children understand the importance of being kind, patient, and hardworking.
For preschoolers, teachers are often one of the first adults outside of their families who make a big impact in their lives. Teachers provide love, support, and guidance in the classroom, creating a safe space where children can learn and grow.
There are many fun activities preschoolers can do to celebrate their teachers and show how much they appreciate them. Here are some ideas to make World Teachers' Day extra special for both children and teachers:
Help preschoolers create colorful thank-you cards for their teachers. They can decorate the cards with drawings, stickers, or stamps, and write a simple message like “Thank you for being my teacher!” This is a great way to encourage children to express gratitude and appreciation for their teachers in a creative way.
Lesson for Preschoolers:
Preschoolers love to sing, so why not create a special song dedicated to their teachers? You can use the tune of a familiar song, like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” and change the words to be about how wonderful teachers are. Gather the children to sing the song as a surprise for their teacher!
Example Song: "Thank you, thank you, teachers dear, You help us learn all through the year! With your kindness and your care, You teach us all, we know you’re there! Thank you, thank you, teachers dear, We love to learn because you’re near!"
Lesson for Preschoolers:
Let the children create a special mural or poster to celebrate their teachers. Each child can add a drawing of their favorite thing about school or their favorite activity they do with their teacher. Once the mural is complete, hang it in the classroom as a special gift for the teacher to enjoy.
Lesson for Preschoolers:
Children love to pretend, and for World Teachers' Day, you can encourage them to play "teacher" for the day. Set up a pretend classroom where the preschoolers can take turns teaching their friends. This helps them understand the hard work teachers do and gives them a chance to practice leadership and communication.
Lesson for Preschoolers:
Storytime is always fun, and reading a book that celebrates teachers is a perfect way to honor World Teachers' Day. Choose books like “Thank You, Teacher!” by Sally North or “Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the Last Day of Kindergarten” by Joseph Slate to help preschoolers appreciate the kindness and care that teachers show every day.
Lesson for Preschoolers:
Celebrating World Teachers' Day helps preschoolers learn several important values that they can carry with them throughout their lives:
World Teachers' Day is a wonderful opportunity for preschoolers to express their love and appreciation for the teachers who make a difference in their lives. Through creative activities like making thank-you cards, singing songs, and working on group art projects, children can celebrate their teachers and understand how much they are cared for and supported.
As we celebrate World Teachers' Day, we remind children that teachers are everyday heroes—guiding them, encouraging them, and helping them become the best they can be. So let’s take this day to say a big “thank you” to teachers everywhere for all the love, patience, and dedication they bring to our classrooms!