10 Classroom Themes for July

Today I’m sharing my favorite 10 classroom themes for July. July is a wonderful month to explore fun, engaging, and educational themes in your classroom… Whether you’re running a summer program or preparing for the upcoming school year, these themes will keep your students excited to learn.

Below are 10 of my favorite classroom themes for July, each with ideas and activities to bring them to life.

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1. Independence Daay (USA)

Celebrate the Fourth of July by exploring the history and traditions behind America’s Independence Day. Decorate your classroom with red, white, and blue, and create activities that help students understand the significance of the holiday. Students can design their own American flags, write acrostic poems using “FREEDOM,” or learn about the Declaration of Independence.

For younger students, you can include hands-on crafts like creating fireworks art using paint and straws. Older students might enjoy discussions about historical figures who played a role in America’s independence. Integrating music, such as patriotic songs, and hosting a “birthday party for America” can also make this theme memorable.

Below are links to some of my favorite activities and resources for this theme;

2. Summer Olympics

Whether or not it’s an Olympic year, a Summer Olympics theme is always a hit. Dive into the history of the games, learn about different sports, and explore global cultures by “visiting” the countries of participating athletes. Students can make paper medals, design team flags, or hold their own classroom Olympics with simple events like a paper airplane contest or relay races. Integrate math by tallying scores or calculating averages, and use writing prompts like “If I were an Olympian, I would…” This theme is a great way to promote teamwork, physical activity, and global awareness.

Click here to check out my Summer Olympics Pinterest board for ideas.

3. Beach Days

Bring the beach to your classroom with a fun and sunny theme! Set the scene with seashells, sand buckets, and “ocean waves” made of blue crepe paper. Activities can include crafting sand art, writing “a day at the beach” stories, and exploring marine biology by learning about sea creatures. Sensory play is perfect for this theme; create small bins with kinetic sand, shells, and shovels for students to explore. For older students, science lessons can focus on the tides, coral reefs, or the impact of pollution on oceans. Pair your lessons with relaxing beach-themed music to transport everyone to the seaside.

Below are links to some of my favorite activities and resources for this theme;

4. Summer Safari

Go on a wild adventure with a safari theme! Transform your classroom into the African savanna with animal cutouts, green vines, and binoculars for “exploring.” This theme is perfect for lessons about ecosystems, animal adaptations, and conservation. Younger students can create animal masks or draw their favorite safari animals, while older students can research and present on a specific animal or biome. Story time can include books like Giraffes Can’t Dance or The Jungle Book. Bring the theme to life with a “safari scavenger hunt” where students search for hidden animals around the classroom.

Below are links to some of my favorite activities and resources for this theme;

5. Camping Adventures

A camping theme is a perfect blend of fun and learning. Set up a pretend campsite in your classroom with tents, lanterns, and paper campfires. Activities can include “campfire stories,” s’mores-themed math problems, and writing “What I Would Pack for a Camping Trip.” Science lessons can focus on constellations, nocturnal animals, or the basics of survival skills. Students can craft their own “camp journals” to record what they’ve learned. To make the experience even more immersive, consider hosting a “flashlight reading” session where students bring books and read by flashlight.

Below are links to some of my favorite activities and resources for this theme;

6. Ice Cream Shop

Nothing says summer like ice cream! Transform your classroom into an ice cream shop with colorful decorations, menus, and “scoops” made from paper or foam balls. Use this theme to teach math by having students “buy” and “sell” ice cream using fake money, or create fractions with “scoops” of different flavors. Writing activities could include designing their own ice cream flavors and writing persuasive ads for them. For younger kids, ice cream crafts and color-matching activities are a hit. End the theme with a real treat: making homemade ice cream in a bag.

Below are links to some of my favorite activities and resources for this theme;

7. Stars and Space

Take learning to new heights with a space-themed classroom! Decorate with stars, planets, and rockets to set the scene. Students can learn about the solar system, design their own constellations, or explore the history of space exploration. Fun activities include building paper rockets, creating moon craters with flour and marbles, and watching videos about astronauts. Writing prompts like “What would I pack for a trip to Mars?” or “My life as an alien” can spark creativity. For a science focus, teach students about gravity, phases of the moon, or the importance of telescopes.

Below are links to some of my favorite activities and resources for this theme;

8. Water Fun

Make a splash with a water-themed week! Lessons can include the water cycle, experiments with buoyancy, and learning about water conservation. Younger students can enjoy sensory bins with water and floating toys, while older students might test what sinks or floats. Crafts like making water droplet art or designing “boats” that hold pennies are hands-on ways to explore this theme. Incorporate outdoor fun with relay races involving water balloons or sponge tosses. This theme not only beats the summer heat but also makes learning interactive and memorable.

Below are links to some of my favorite activities and resources for this theme;

9. Pirates and Treasure

Ahoy, matey! A pirate theme is perfect for adding a sense of adventure to your classroom. Create a treasure map activity where students solve clues to find hidden “gold” (or candy). Lessons can include reading pirate-themed books, learning about famous explorers, or crafting “wanted” posters for their pirate alter-egos. Math activities could include “dividing the treasure” or using coordinates to locate buried gold. Encourage students to write their own pirate stories or design flags for their pirate ships. This theme is guaranteed to engage students of all ages.

Below are links to some of my favorite activities and resources for this theme;

10. Vacation Around the World

Travel the globe with this multicultural theme! Each day, “visit” a new country and explore its traditions, food, and landmarks. Students can create passports and collect stamps as they “travel” to each destination. Activities might include learning basic phrases in different languages, making cultural crafts, or trying traditional dances. Writing prompts could include “If I could visit any country, I’d go to…” or “Five things I learned about [country].” This theme encourages global awareness and opens students’ eyes to the diversity of the world.

Click here to check out my Vacations Around the World Pinterest board for ideas.

I hope this blog post gives you some ideas for classroom themes to use this July. If you found this blog post helpful please consider sharing it with your friends and colleagues on social media.

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Nikki

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