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 Day (USA)

Even if you’re not based in the U.S., the Fourth of July can still be a fun way to explore history, traditions, and cultural celebrations. A Fourth of July classroom theme offers the perfect mix of hands-on creativity, storytelling, and patriotic flair. Whether you’re teaching about U.S. history or just looking for a festive summer theme, this one brings a whole lot of spark to your week.

Start by setting the mood with red, white, and blue everywhere – think bunting across bulletin boards, star garlands, and flag-themed tablecloths. You could create a “History Hall” in your classroom with facts about American independence, or a “Freedom Wall” where students post what freedom means to them.

Dive Into the History of Independence Day

Begin your themed activities with a lesson on why the Fourth of July is celebrated. Talk about the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the colonies breaking free from British rule, and what that meant for the people at the time.

For younger students, keep it simple and focus on the idea of birthdays, freedom, and fireworks. For older students, dive deeper into:

  • What the Declaration of Independence says (and why it was so important)
  • Key figures like Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington
  • How the original 13 colonies became a new country

Use visuals, timelines, and storytelling to make the history feel alive. Even a quick video or illustrated read-aloud can help set the stage.

Creative Activities for All Ages

There are so many fun and educational crafts and writing tasks that fit this theme. Some favorites include:

  • Design Your Own American Flag: Let students create their own version of the flag with symbols that represent freedom, bravery, or unity.
  • Acrostic Poems: Use words like FREEDOM, AMERICA, or LIBERTY and have students write lines for each letter.
  • Fireworks Art: Use straws or forks dipped in paint to create fireworks bursts on black or dark blue paper. Add glitter for sparkle.
  • Statue of Liberty Crowns: Make wearable paper crowns inspired by Lady Liberty as a simple fine motor craft.

You could even try making a class-sized “Declaration” where students write something they believe is important for fairness or kindness in the classroom.

Add Some Music and Movement

Celebrate through song by playing patriotic music like “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “Yankee Doodle,” or “America the Beautiful.” Encourage students to sing along, create their own classroom anthem, or tap out rhythms using instruments or body percussion.

Add in a bit of movement by hosting a “Parade Around the Playground” with paper flags, red-white-and-blue streamers, and student-made instruments. It’s a great way to burn off energy while staying in theme.

Independence-Themed Writing Prompts

Let your students reflect on the meaning of independence and freedom with writing prompts like:

  • “What does freedom mean to me?”
  • “If I signed my own Declaration of Independence, it would say…”
  • “Three reasons I’m thankful for freedom”
  • “If I were one of the Founding Fathers…”

For younger learners, sentence starters and drawing prompts can help scaffold their ideas. Older students may enjoy writing from the perspective of someone living in 1776 or composing letters to the King of England explaining why independence is important.

Host a Birthday Party for America

Wrap up your theme with a “Happy Birthday, America” party! Students can wear red, white, and blue, sing songs, and share their favorite things about the week. You might include:

  • Patriotic cupcakes or fruit skewers (strawberries, bananas, and blueberries)
  • A birthday banner made by students
  • Party games with a patriotic twist like flag trivia or star scavenger hunts
  • A group sing-along of “Happy Birthday” with a special star-shaped cake or classroom craft cake

This is a fun way to tie everything together and celebrate what students have learned.

The Fourth of July theme is a great way to explore history in a way that feels exciting and meaningful. It helps students understand the concept of independence, appreciate cultural traditions, and get creative through crafts, music, and storytelling. Whether you’re focusing on the history of the holiday or just enjoying the colorful festivities, this theme is full of ways to connect learning with celebration.

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 classroom favorite, and for good reason! It offers an exciting mix of movement, creativity, global learning, and teamwork. Students love the chance to explore real-world events while participating in hands-on activities that mirror the energy and spirit of the actual Games.

Start by introducing students to the history of the Olympics. You could explore how the ancient Greek games evolved into the modern global event we know today. Consider reading a short story or showing a video about the origins in Olympia, Greece, and discuss how sportsmanship and unity were key values even back then. Students might enjoy mapping the countries that have hosted the Olympics and finding them on a globe or interactive map.

Next, dive into the sports themselves. Highlight a mix of familiar and unique Olympic events… Think gymnastics, swimming, javelin, equestrian, fencing, and more. You can tie this into reading and research activities where students choose one Olympic sport to investigate. They could create posters or mini presentations on how the sport works, famous athletes in that sport, and any fun facts they find. For younger students, picture sorting or matching games with Olympic sports are a great way to build vocabulary.

Bring the excitement into your classroom with your own version of the Olympics! Set up a Classroom Olympics using simple and accessible activities.

Try events like:

  • Paper airplane javelin throw
  • Cup stacking challenge
  • Desk chair races
  • Ping pong ball relay
  • Sock shot put (throwing rolled-up socks into a laundry basket)

Make it a team event by dividing the class into groups and having them create their own team names, flags, and uniforms. This adds an element of creativity and collaboration, and it’s a great way to build classroom community. You can even design your own paper medals or use printable certificates to celebrate students’ efforts and achievements.

Incorporate cross-curricular learning too. For example:

  • Math: Have students keep track of scores, measure distances thrown, calculate time differences, or graph medal tallies by country.
  • Literacy: Use writing prompts like “If I were an Olympian, I would…” or “My dream Olympic event is…” for narrative writing practice. Students can also write news reports on classroom events or athlete bios.
  • Geography and Social Studies: Choose a few participating countries and explore their cultures, flags, traditional foods, and languages. You could even set up “international stations” around the room where students complete a themed task related to a different country.

Don’t forget about the Olympic values – friendship, respect, and excellence. These can be incorporated into your social-emotional learning goals for the month. Hold short daily discussions where students reflect on what it means to be a good sport, how to encourage others, and why trying your best is more important than winning.

If you want to go all in, turn your classroom into an Olympic village. Use decorations like mini flags, Olympic rings made from paper plates, torches made from construction paper and tissue flames, and sports-themed bulletin boards. You can even host an opening or closing ceremony with music and a parade of teams!

For students who thrive on sensory input or visuals, consider:

  • Using a visual schedule with icons for each Olympic event
  • Offering “spectator roles” for students who prefer to cheer or time events
  • Including fidget tools shaped like medals or Olympic rings during transitions

This theme works well as a one-day event or stretched across a week or more. Either way, it gives students the chance to move their bodies, engage their brains, and celebrate global connection, all while having loads of fun.

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

3. Beach Days

Bring the beach to your classroom with a fun, sunny, and sensory-rich beach days theme that your students will absolutely love. This theme is perfect for both younger and older students, offering a calming, playful atmosphere while creating tons of cross-curricular learning opportunities.

Start by transforming your classroom into a seaside escape. Think blue crepe paper for ocean waves, paper umbrellas for shade, beach towels for seating, and plenty of seashells, sand buckets, and inflatable beach balls to set the mood. You can hang up fish cut-outs, ocean animal posters, and even string blue and white bunting across the ceiling to give a breezy beach hut vibe. If you have access to a fan, you can add a gentle “sea breeze” as a sensory experience.

Once your beach setting is ready, dive into themed activities that span a wide range of learning areas:

Literacy

  • Invite students to write a story titled “A Day at the Beach.” Provide visual prompts or story starters, like “I woke up and the sun was shining…” or “I found something buried in the sand…”
  • Create class books featuring each student’s favorite beach activity or sea animal.
  • Read aloud beach-themed books like “The Sandcastle That Lola Built,” “Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor,” or “Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach.”

Art & Creativity

  • Sand art is a must! Provide colored sand and glue for students to create their own beach scenes.
  • Use bubble wrap painting to mimic the texture of ocean bubbles.
  • Make tissue paper jellyfish or paper plate sea turtles for your beach bulletin board.
  • Create “seashell sun catchers” using contact paper and real or plastic shells.

Science

  • For younger students, focus on marine animals – sharks, dolphins, octopuses, starfish.. And talk about their habitats and behaviors.
  • Introduce the concept of tides and moon phases with water tables or simple demonstrations.
  • For older learners, dive into the importance of coral reefs, the impact of plastic pollution, and how humans can protect marine life. This is also a great time to introduce Earth-friendly habits like recycling and litter-picking.
  • If you want to tie in weather, you can explore tropical storms or hurricanes – how they form and how they impact beach communities.

Sensory Play

This is one of the most hands-on themes you can create:

  • Fill small tubs with kinetic sand, plastic seashells, mini buckets, and spades for a calm and focused sensory station.
  • Freeze small sea animal figurines inside ice cubes for a “rescue the sea creature” activity.
  • Add shell matching or texture trays with real sand, water beads, and sponges for students who seek tactile input.
  • Use blue water in spray bottles and let students “spritz the sea” onto chalkboards or sidewalks outside.

Movement and Music

  • Play ocean wave sounds or relaxing ukulele music during transitions or quiet time.
  • Have a beach dance party featuring songs like “Surfin’ USA,” “Wipeout,” or “Under the Sea.”
  • Set up movement stations like “Crab Walk Races,” “Beach Ball Balancing,” or “Shark Freeze Tag.”

Math

  • Create a seashell graphing activity: students sort and count different shells or colors.
  • Use beach balls for number games – write numbers or equations on them and have students solve wherever their thumb lands.
  • Practice measurement and volume by filling containers with sand or water and comparing amounts.

Snack & Life Skills Ideas

  • Host a beach-themed snack day with fruit skewers, goldfish crackers, or make “sand cup” desserts using crushed biscuits and pudding.
  • Incorporate life skills by practicing packing a beach bag, making a visual checklist, or role-playing how to stay safe in the sun and water.

Extend It Further

  • Create a “Seaside Café” dramatic play area with menus, cash registers, and sunhats.
  • Invite students to research beach destinations around the world and present a mini travel brochure or postcard.
  • End the week with a “Beach Day Celebration” where students wear sunglasses and hats, sit on towels, and enjoy a calm picnic-style lunch in class.

This theme isn’t just fun – it’s also calming and easy to adapt for all learners. From fine motor development and vocabulary building to emotional regulation and sensory input, a beach days theme provides something for everyone. Plus, it’s the perfect way to lean into the summer vibes as the school year winds down.

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 that will instantly ignite curiosity and excitement in your classroom. This theme is a fantastic way to blend hands-on fun with meaningful learning across subjects like science, literacy, geography, and art.

Start by transforming your classroom into the African savanna. Drape green streamers from the ceiling as jungle vines, tape animal footprints to the floor, and create cardboard trees or bushes to give the room a wild, untamed feel. Add in binoculars made from paper rolls, safari hats, and signs pointing to different “animal zones.” You can even set up a safari jeep using classroom chairs or large boxes for a fun dramatic play corner.

Introduce the theme by exploring what a safari is, where it takes place, and what animals you might encounter on one. Show photos or videos of the African plains and jungles to build background knowledge and spark discussion. For younger students, read simple nonfiction books or watch short animal documentaries. Older students might enjoy learning about the five main safari regions in Africa and the countries they span.

Science

This theme opens up tons of opportunities for science learning. Dive into ecosystems and talk about the animals that live on the savanna, their adaptations, and how they rely on one another. You can cover topics like herbivores vs carnivores, camouflage, predator-prey relationships, and the importance of conservation. Students might also enjoy comparing the African savanna to other biomes like the rainforest or desert.

Hands-On Activities

For hands-on activities, have students create their own safari animals out of paper plates, construction paper, or modeling clay. Younger students can make animal masks and go on an imaginary safari around the school, while older students can choose an animal to research and create a short report or fact file to present to the class. This is a great opportunity to practice research skills, organizing information, and public speaking.

Story Time

Story time fits perfectly with this theme. Some favorites include Giraffes Can’t Dance, The Jungle Book, Rumble in the Jungle, and other animal-themed books that encourage movement and rhythm. You can follow up with writing prompts like “If I had a pet giraffe…” or “The day I went on a safari and saw…”

Movement

Add in some fun and movement with a safari scavenger hunt. Hide animal toys or picture cards around the classroom and give students clue sheets or binoculars to search with. You can also adapt the hunt by adding QR codes that link to animal facts, sounds, or short videos. This gives students a chance to move, think, and work together as a team.

Math

Math can come into play too. Have students measure the lengths of different animals using string or tape measures. Use animal-themed word problems for counting, addition, and subtraction. You could even sort and graph favorite safari animals, or track daily animal sightings on a classroom chart.

Geography

To tie in geography, explore where different safari animals live. Find those places on a map and talk about what the climate is like, what people live there, and how they interact with wildlife. Some students may even be interested in exploring real-life safari parks and conservation centers through virtual tours or Google Earth.

This theme is also a great way to introduce discussions about endangered species and the importance of protecting habitats. You can include simple conservation lessons about reducing waste, protecting the environment, and the role of wildlife reserves.

To make it extra special, consider wrapping up the theme with a “Safari Day” celebration. Students can come dressed in animal prints or khaki clothes, bring their binoculars, and rotate through themed activity stations. Play ambient jungle sounds in the background and enjoy a day filled with learning, creativity, and adventure.

A safari theme is perfect for engaging imaginations while teaching real-world science and global awareness. Whether you go all out with decorations or keep it simple with storybooks and art, this theme will have your class roaring with excitement.

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

5. Camping Adventures

A camping theme is the perfect blend of fun, creativity, and meaningful learning. Start by transforming your classroom into a pretend campsite. You can set up pop-up tents, roll out sleeping bags, and place faux campfires made from paper towel tubes, red and orange tissue paper, and fairy lights. Add a few lanterns or battery-operated candles to create that warm, cozy glow. You could even bring in some logs (or pool noodles wrapped in wood grain paper) for students to “sit around the fire.”

Encourage students to help with the transformation, it adds to the excitement and builds ownership of the learning space. You might assign roles like tent decorators, campsite mapmakers, or camp sign creators.

Literacy by the Campfire

A camping theme is a fantastic opportunity to make literacy come alive. Kick things off with campfire storytelling. Students can take turns sharing made-up or real stories while gathered around your classroom fire. This builds speaking and listening skills in a fun, low-pressure setting.

Encourage journal writing with prompts like:

  • “What I would pack for a camping trip”
  • “The day I got lost in the woods”
  • “If I had to survive in the wild…”

You can have students create camp journals where they document daily activities or reflect on what they’ve learned throughout the theme. These can be decorated with brown construction paper covers, pretend “leather straps,” or even “wood slice” name tags.

To add even more excitement to your reading block, try a flashlight reading session. Let students bring in flashlights or provide small book lights, turn off the main lights, and allow them to read their favorite books “under the stars.” This is a great way to promote independent reading while making it feel like a special experience.

Math Around the Campfire

Incorporate math in a fun, thematic way. Create s’mores-themed math problems where students “build” s’mores using counting, patterns, or fractions. For example:

  • “If you have 3 graham crackers, 2 marshmallows, and 2 pieces of chocolate, how many s’mores can you make?”
  • “Create a pattern using s’more ingredients: marshmallow, chocolate, cracker, chocolate, marshmallow… What comes next?”

You can also use real or pretend camping gear for measurement activities. Estimate and measure the length of sleeping bags, marshmallow sticks, or tent ropes using rulers, string, or non-standard units.

Set up a pretend “camp store” where students use fake money to buy supplies. This introduces budgeting, coin recognition, and basic addition and subtraction in a playful way.

Science in the Great Outdoors

Take advantage of your camping theme to explore a range of science topics. Focus on constellations, using star stickers or white crayon on black paper to replicate the night sky. Students can learn about famous constellations like Orion, the Big Dipper, or Cassiopeia, and then design their own star formations.

Another fun topic is nocturnal animals. Talk about owls, bats, raccoons, and fireflies. Students can sort animals into nocturnal or diurnal categories, research how they survive in the dark, and even create paper owl crafts or “bat caves” from paper bags.

For older students, dive into basic survival skills. Talk about fire safety, how to filter water, how to read a map or compass, and the importance of leaving no trace. You can also explore real-world STEM topics like how tents are engineered to withstand wind or how camp stoves work.

Social Skills and Team Building

Camping themes naturally lend themselves to team-building and social-emotional learning. Set up cooperative games like “tent building challenges” using blankets and chairs, or scavenger hunts where students work in pairs or small groups to find camping-related items or facts.

You could even simulate a “hike” around the school where students complete mini tasks at each stop, like answering nature trivia, solving a math riddle, or identifying animal tracks.

To wrap it all up, consider hosting a Camping Day celebration. Invite students to wear cozy clothes or PJs, bring in a cuddly toy and a book, and enjoy a relaxed day full of flashlight reading, campfire stories, and themed activities. You might even provide a camp-themed snack like trail mix or graham crackers to make it extra memorable.

Whether you do it for a day, a week, or spread it out across the month, a camping theme creates a warm and inviting environment for learning. It sparks imagination, encourages hands-on engagement, and offers endless opportunities to teach across multiple subjects in a playful, memorable way.

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

6. Ice Cream Shop

Nothing says summer quite like ice cream, which makes it the perfect theme for those final sunny weeks of the school year. An ice cream theme is light-hearted, playful, and packed with learning potential. Whether you’re celebrating the end of a unit or just looking for a fun focus for the week, this theme is guaranteed to be a hit with your students.

Start by transforming your classroom into a cheerful ice cream parlor. Hang pastel streamers, display cones made from paper, and add colorful “scoops” made out of pom-poms, foam balls, or even crumpled tissue paper. Create a pretend counter where students can “order” their favorite flavors or build paper sundaes. You can add laminated menus, aprons, and a “now serving” sign to help set the mood and inspire dramatic play.

Sprinkle Some Math on Top

This theme is an excellent opportunity to integrate engaging math activities. Try setting up an ice cream stand role-play center where students use fake money to buy and sell cones, toppings, and sundaes. Label each item with prices and encourage students to calculate totals, give change, or budget their purchases.

You can also use ice cream scoops to explore fractions. For example:

  • Create a math center where students build cones using different “flavored scoops” to represent parts of a whole.
  • Have them identify or create cones that show halves, thirds, and quarters.
  • Use real paper cut-outs of scoops in different colors to sort and compare.

Graphing is another fun option. Poll your students on their favorite flavors and use the results to create a class ice cream bar graph or pictograph.

Writing That’s Good Enough to Eat

Incorporate literacy by inviting students to use their imaginations in writing tasks. Start with a fun creative writing activity: “Design Your Own Ice Cream Flavor.” Encourage students to think outside the box—would their ice cream include bubblegum, pretzels, or glow-in-the-dark sprinkles? Then have them write a persuasive advertisement to convince their classmates that their flavor is the best.

Other writing ideas include:

  • Step-by-step instructions for making ice cream
  • Descriptive writing about eating their favorite flavor
  • A story about a magical ice cream truck or a mystery set in an ice cream shop

You can also tie in vocabulary work by creating a word wall with ice cream-themed words like “cone,” “scoop,” “sprinkles,” “melt,” and “delicious.”

Hands-On Activities for Younger Students

This theme is perfect for early learners too. Keep little hands busy with ice cream crafts like:

  • Paper plate ice cream cones
  • Puffy paint sundaes
  • Cotton ball “scoop” collages

You can also create color-matching activities by having students match scoop colors to the correct cone or sort sprinkles by color or size.

Fine motor skills can be practiced through tasks like scooping pom-poms with spoons, using tongs to pick up felt “sprinkles,” or tracing ice cream shapes with scented markers.

Science, Snacks, and Sweet Sensory Play

Turn snack time into a science experiment by making homemade ice cream in a bag. All you need is milk, sugar, vanilla, ice, and salt. Students learn about temperature and physical changes as they shake their ingredients into delicious, cold treats. You can even turn it into a mini science lesson by discussing why salt lowers the freezing point of ice.

For a sensory station, fill bins with rice dyed in pastel colors and add small cones, scoops, and bowls for students to explore. Or create scented play dough in “ice cream flavors” like chocolate, mint, and strawberry.

Wrap It Up with an Ice Cream Day Celebration

Finish your ice cream theme with a class celebration. Set up a DIY ice cream bar with toppings like sprinkles, syrup, and fruit. If you can’t serve real ice cream, frozen yogurt or sorbet are great alternatives, or stick with the homemade version from earlier in the week.

Add in some themed games like:

  • Pin the cherry on the sundae
  • Ice cream relay races
  • “Guess the flavor” mystery scents (using cotton balls and flavored extracts)

You can even send students home with ice cream-themed certificates or mini cones as party favors.

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

7. Stars and Space

Blast off into a world of imagination and discovery with a space-themed classroom. Whether you’re wrapping up the year or starting a new unit on the solar system, this theme is always a hit. The possibilities are endless, and it works beautifully across age groups, subjects, and ability levels.

Start by transforming your space. Think black or navy bulletin boards with stars, planets, and rocket ships. Hang glow-in-the-dark stars from the ceiling, use aluminum foil to create metallic details, and display planets in order along a classroom wall. You could even create a giant cardboard rocket for photo ops or dramatic play.

Exploring the Solar System

One of the most exciting parts of this theme is learning about our solar system. Teach students the names and order of the planets, fun facts about each one, and how they orbit the sun. Create hands-on models with foam balls or paper cut-outs, and have students act out being planets rotating around a “sun” in the center of your classroom.

You might also explore space exploration history, learning about famous astronauts like Neil Armstrong, Mae Jemison, and Tim Peake. Watch short videos of rocket launches or read picture books about the first moon landing. Students can even design their own space suits or astronaut badges.

Creative Writing from the Stars

This theme is perfect for igniting creativity in writing. Use fun prompts to get students imagining what life beyond Earth might look like. Try:

  • “What would I pack for a trip to Mars?”
  • “My life as an alien”
  • “A day on a space station”
  • “I found a new planet, and here’s what it’s like…”

Let students turn their stories into comic strips, travel brochures, or astronaut diaries. For reluctant writers, you can offer picture supports or use voice typing tools to help get their ideas out.

Space-Themed Crafts and Activities

Add in some hands-on fun with simple but engaging space crafts. Students can:

  • Build paper rockets and launch them using straws or balloons
  • Create moon craters by dropping marbles into trays of flour
  • Use salt or sand to recreate surface textures of the moon or Mars
  • Paint galaxy scenes using sponges and splatter painting

For early finishers or younger students, add a sensory bin with black beans as the “space” background and small planets, stars, and astronauts to explore.

Science That’s Out of This World

Bring science to life with topics like:

  • Gravity: Use experiments to show how gravity affects movement. Drop objects of different weights or jump with and without resistance bands to explore force.
  • Phases of the Moon: Use Oreo cookies to model waxing and waning phases. Pair this with a moon-watching calendar where students track the moon for a week.
  • Telescopes: Teach students how telescopes work and why they’re important for space exploration. If possible, look at photos taken by Hubble or use a toy telescope for hands-on exploration.

You can also talk about the International Space Station and how astronauts live and work in zero gravity. Watch videos showing how they eat, sleep, and exercise in space, it’s always a favorite!

Enrich the Theme with Movement and Play

Incorporate music and movement into your day with space-themed songs, moonwalking dance breaks, or yoga poses inspired by the planets. You could even hold a classroom “spacewalk” where students complete challenges at different “planet stations” around the room.

For group collaboration, have students work together to create a new planet or design a spaceship. This can turn into a great STEM challenge involving building, problem solving, and creativity.

Wrap It Up with a Space Day Celebration

End your space unit with a fun Space Day celebration. Let students dress up as astronauts or aliens, share their projects, and complete themed centers around the classroom. Play space trivia, make alien slime, or enjoy a glow-in-the-dark storytelling session.

You could even hand out little “astronaut badges” or certificates for completing their training as space explorers.

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

8. Water Fun

Make a splash in your classroom with a full week of water-themed learning! This theme is perfect for summer, combining hands-on activities, outdoor fun, and important science concepts. Whether you’re teaching littles or older students, a water week brings excitement, movement, and engagement, while also offering plenty of opportunities to tie in real-world learning.

Transform your classroom with water-themed decor like raindrop cut-outs, blue streamers, ocean animals, or even paper umbrellas hanging from the ceiling. You could label areas of your classroom with signs like “Science Splash Zone” or “Raindrop Reading Corner” to help set the stage.

Science with a Splash

Start your week by exploring the water cycle. Teach students about evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection. You can create simple anchor charts, sing water cycle songs, or make mini water cycle bags taped to the window so students can watch the process in action.

Dive into buoyancy experiments by testing which items float or sink. Set up stations with water tubs and items like sponges, coins, plastic toys, paperclips, corks, and blocks. Have students make predictions, record results, and discuss why certain things float while others don’t. Older students can take it a step further by designing their own floating devices and testing how many pennies or small weights their “boats” can hold before sinking.

Use this theme to introduce water conservation and why it matters. Discuss ways to save water at home and at school. You can create posters, watch short videos about clean water access, and brainstorm ways to protect our oceans, rivers, and lakes.

Sensory Play and Exploration

For younger learners, water provides a wonderful opportunity for sensory exploration. Set up sensory bins with water and floating toys, measuring cups, funnels, and sponges. Add in rubber ducks, sea creatures, or frozen toys for an extra element of surprise.

Create a station for pouring practice with cups, bowls, and pitchers, which helps build fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. You can also add soap or bubbles for an extra layer of fun.

Another sensory idea is to make ocean discovery bottles using water, glitter, food coloring, and tiny sea creatures sealed in clear bottles. These make great calming tools and conversation starters.

Creative Water-Inspired Crafts

Add some artistic flair with water-themed crafts. Try:

  • Water droplet art using blue watercolor paint or ink dripped onto paper and blown with straws
  • Raindrop mobiles made with string and construction paper
  • Paper plate puddles with sponged-on paint
  • Design-your-own boats using foil, foam, or recycled materials—and test how much weight they can hold

You can also create “splash paintings” by flicking wet brushes onto paper or doing spray bottle art on a large canvas.

Writing and Literacy Connections

Encourage creative thinking with writing prompts like:

  • “If I were a raindrop, my journey would be…”
  • “A message in a bottle washed up, and it said…”
  • “My underwater adventure”
  • “How to save water at home”

Have students create water-themed acrostic poems using words like SPLASH, OCEAN, or WATER. You can also read books like A Drop Around the World, All the Water in the World, or Hello Ocean to tie in literature.

Outdoor Fun and Water Play

If the weather allows, bring learning outside for some active water games. Set up:

  • Water balloon tosses
  • Sponge relay races
  • Fill-the-bucket challenges
  • Ice cube races
  • Spray bottle tag

These activities are great for reinforcing teamwork, coordination, and turn-taking, plus they help everyone cool down and get moving.

Make sure to set clear boundaries for any water play, offer sensory-safe options for students who don’t like to get wet, and always have dry towels and a change of clothes nearby just in case.

A Theme That’s Memorable and Meaningful

A water-themed week is a fun and refreshing way to explore science, art, sensory, and literacy all at once. It helps beat the summer heat while offering students meaningful opportunities to experiment, problem solve, and think about the world around them.

Wrap up the week with a water-themed celebration where students share their favorite discoveries, showcase their crafts, and maybe even enjoy a blue-themed snack or a popsicle party.

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

9. Pirates and Treasure

Ahoy, matey! If you’re looking to spark imagination and get students excited about learning, a pirate-themed week is just the treasure you’re after. This theme is packed with storytelling, hands-on exploration, and creative learning opportunities across all subjects. It’s ideal for end-of-term fun, themed days, or even a full week of swashbuckling lessons.

Start by decorating your classroom like the deck of a pirate ship. Use blue streamers for ocean waves, hang up fish nets and pirate flags, and turn cardboard boxes into treasure chests. You can make a simple ship wheel with paper plates or create a “walk the plank” area using tape on the floor. Students can help decorate their learning space by crafting parrots, spyglasses, and pirate hats.

Treasure Maps and Math Skills

One of the most exciting parts of this theme is the opportunity to incorporate treasure hunts and maps into your lesson plans. Create a classroom treasure map activity where students follow a series of clues or complete tasks to discover hidden “gold” (this could be chocolate coins, stickers, or other small prizes).

For math, try:

  • “Dividing the treasure”: Practice division by sharing gold coins among pirate crew members.
  • Coordinate grid maps: Students locate buried treasure by plotting and reading coordinates.
  • Measuring distances between clues using footsteps or rulers.
  • Money math: Use fake pirate coins for counting, adding, and budgeting at a pretend “pirate store.”

You can even turn word problems into pirate-themed math stories for some extra fun during your numeracy block.

Pirate-Themed Literacy Activities

Let your students become swashbuckling storytellers with pirate-themed writing tasks. Encourage them to create their own:

  • Pirate alter ego complete with a name, job on the ship, and backstory
  • Pirate adventure stories set on the high seas
  • “Message in a bottle” journal entries from a pirate stranded on an island
  • Pirate-themed acrostic poems using words like BOOTY, SHIP, or OCEAN

You can also include a fun “wanted poster” writing activity where students describe themselves as mischievous pirates. They can draw their pirate character, assign a bounty, and describe their pirate’s crimes and characteristics.

Add read-alouds or independent reading with pirate-themed books such as How I Became a Pirate, Pirate Pete, or Pirates Love Underpants for a silly spin.

History and Social Studies

A pirate theme is the perfect way to introduce young learners to some real-life history. Teach students about famous explorers and real pirates, and compare historical piracy with the myths and movies they may already know.

Explore:

  • Navigation and the use of compasses and maps
  • The concept of trade and maritime travel
  • How pirates lived, worked, and divided their loot

You might even talk about geography by identifying famous pirate routes and oceans, learning about islands and continents, or tracking a treasure map through multiple countries.

Crafts, Costumes, and Classroom Fun

Bring out the creativity with pirate-themed crafts:

  • Make-your-own pirate flags using black paper, white paint, and cut-out symbols like skulls, bones, and anchors
  • Eye patches and pirate hats
  • Parrots on a stick that students can carry around or attach to their shoulder
  • Spyglasses made from paper towel rolls and decorated with “gold” washi tape

Encourage dress-up days where students come in pirate gear – bandanas, striped shirts, or homemade accessories.

Add a drama station where students can act out pirate skits or role-play as a ship crew with specific jobs like captain, lookout, and treasure keeper.

Movement and Games on the High Seas

Incorporate pirate play into your movement breaks and PE lessons:

  • Walk the plank balance games
  • Capture the flag with a pirate twist
  • Treasure relay races where teams race to collect gold coins or “build a ship”
  • Shark-infested waters obstacle courses

You could even host a classroom Pirate Day celebration with stations for crafts, games, stories, and treasure hunts.

Wrap It All Up with a Pirate Party

End the theme with a mini classroom pirate party. Decorate your room with gold streamers, dim the lights for a ship’s hull effect, and serve ocean-colored drinks or themed snacks (like “gold” popcorn or gummy fish). Let students present their stories, show off their flags and crafts, or share what they learned about pirates and explorers.

Send students home with treasure chest goodie bags or certificates for being brave, clever, or loyal shipmates.

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

10. Vacation Around the World

Take your students on a journey around the world – no passport required! A multicultural theme is a meaningful and exciting way to introduce global awareness, cultural appreciation, and a love for learning about the world beyond the classroom. Whether you’re planning a one-day event or a full week of cultural exploration, this theme is packed with possibilities.

Start by setting up your classroom like an international airport or travel agency. Create a check-in station where students receive their classroom “passports,” complete with photo space and travel pages. As the week goes on, they can collect stamps or stickers for each country they “visit.” Decorate different parts of your room to reflect the countries you’ll explore, using flags, maps, and photos of famous landmarks.

Explore a New Country Each Day

Pick 3–5 countries to focus on for the week and dedicate each day to one location. Some fun and classroom-friendly countries to explore include:

  • Japan
  • Brazil
  • France
  • India
  • Kenya
  • Australia
  • Mexico

For each destination, introduce students to the basics:

  • Location on the map or globe
  • Language(s) spoken
  • National flag and key symbols
  • Famous landmarks
  • Traditional clothing, food, music, and celebrations

Use videos, storybooks, and slideshows to bring the country to life and spark curiosity.

Cultural Crafts and Activities

Get hands-on with country-themed crafts and experiences that reflect cultural traditions. Some ideas include:

  • Japan: Origami animals, cherry blossom art, or practicing calligraphy
  • France: Design your own Eiffel Tower with construction paper or explore French impressionist painting techniques
  • India: Rangoli chalk art, diya lamps, or making paper henna designs
  • Mexico: Create papel picado banners or decorative sombreros
  • Australia: Dot painting inspired by Aboriginal art or making boomerangs from cardboard

You can also play traditional music from each country during transitions, breaks, or background work time to help set the scene.

Try Global Games and Dance

Get your students moving with games and dances from around the world. Try:

  • Brazil: Learn a simple samba step or play the game Luta de Galo (one-legged tag)
  • Kenya: Try tribal rhythm games or call-and-response songs
  • Mexico: Play Lotería (Mexican bingo) or dance to mariachi music
  • France: Play pétanque with lightweight balls for an adapted indoor version

These kinds of activities allow students to connect with other cultures through joyful movement and shared experiences.

Language and Literacy Connections

Introduce students to basic phrases from each country, such as:

  • Hello and goodbye
  • Thank you
  • How are you?
  • My name is…

You could create mini language booklets, role-play greeting one another, or have students use the new phrases to answer attendance. It’s a fun way to expose them to multilingual communication.

Tie in writing with prompts like:

  • “If I could visit any country, I would go to…”
  • “Five things I learned about [country name]”
  • “A postcard home from [country]”
  • “My favorite thing I learned today was…”

Students can also write short travel guides, brochures, or diary entries based on the countries they “visited.”

Social Studies and Global Awareness

Use this theme to introduce students to important global concepts like:

  • Traditions vs. culture
  • Similarities and differences between communities
  • The importance of respecting and learning from others
  • Why food, language, and holidays matter to people around the world

Create a “culture wall” where students display their crafts, notes, or photos from each country visited. You can also invite students to share their own family traditions and heritage in a safe, respectful way.

If possible, invite a guest speaker or parent to share about a specific culture, teach a dance, or show traditional clothing. Virtual museum tours and cultural videos are also great for classrooms without in-person visitors.

Wrap Up Your World Tour

Finish your multicultural week with a World Celebration Day. Students can dress in colors of their favorite country’s flag, present something they created, or share what they learned. Host a mini “International Food Tasting” with classroom-safe snacks like naan, tortilla chips, croissants, or dried seaweed. Be mindful of allergies and check with families beforehand.

Hand out “World Explorer” certificates and let students take home their passport books and crafts to celebrate their learning journey.

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.

P.S. Have you signed up for my VIP membership yet? If not, head on over and sign up now. You’ll get access to hundreds and hundreds of resources, templates, crafts and more being uploaded every month!

Nikki

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