16 January Theme Ideas
Today I’m sharing 16 January theme ideas that you can use for your classroom. These are themes that I have done over the years, as well as ones that are the most popular for this time of year.
Don’t forget to check back each month to find out theme ideas for the next month. I’ve also included links under each theme to give you ideas for what you can do for the themes. The Pinterest boards are great for you to follow and get ideas from too.
1. Arctic Animals
Why I love it: Students are fascinated by animals that live in the cold! Plus, it ties in nicely with science, geography, and art.
Ideas:
- Learn about Arctic habitats and animal adaptations
- Compare Arctic vs. Antarctic animals
- Arctic animal crafts (polar bears, Arctic foxes, walruses)
- Science experiments: blubber glove, ice melting
- Arctic animal sensory bins with fake snow
2. Martin Luther King
Why I love it: It’s such an important opportunity to teach about kindness, fairness, and standing up for what’s right.
Ideas:
- Read books about MLK Jr.
- Discuss “big dreams” students have
- Kindness writing prompts
- Create a classroom peace tree
- Timeline of the Civil Rights Movement
3. Winter
Why I love it: A simple, broad theme — perfect for easing back into routines after break.
Ideas:
- Winter-themed sensory bins (snow, ice, winter animals)
- Snowflake crafts
- “Signs of Winter” scavenger hunt
- Compare winter in different parts of the world
- Winter poems and writing prompts
4. Ice and Snow
Why I love it: Great for science experiments and hands-on exploration.
Ideas:
- Explore how snowflakes form
- Ice painting with watercolors
- Freezing and melting experiments
- Snow volcanoes (baking soda + vinegar)
- Virtual field trip to snowy locations
5. Snowmen
Why I love it: Snowman crafts are always a hit — and they’re great for building fine motor skills.
Ideas:
- Snowman name puzzles
- Snowman glyphs (math + art)
- Build a life-size snowman bulletin board
- Snowman sensory bins (cotton balls, white pom-poms)
- Snowman story writing prompts
- Snowman Teaching Activities
- Pinterest Board Ideas
- Snowman Sensory Bag
- Christmas Decoration Snowman Handprint
- Snowman Footprint Craft
6. Penguins
Why I love it: Penguins are adorable — and students love learning about them.
Ideas:
- Penguin life cycle
- How do penguins stay warm?
- Penguin directed drawings
- Penguin number line hopping (math movement game)
- Compare penguin species around the world
7. The Mitten
Why I love it: Jan Brett’s The Mitten is a winter classroom staple — perfect for sequencing and retelling.
Ideas:
- Retell the story with puppets
- Story sequencing mats
- Compare different versions of The Mitten
- Mitten crafts and matching activities
- Discuss hibernation and animals in the story
8. Bears
Why I love it: This theme pairs so well with both fiction (bear books) and nonfiction (bear habitats and behaviors).
Ideas:
- Bear crafts (paper plate bears, torn paper bears)
- Bear hibernation caves
- Compare different bear species
- Bear counting games
- Bear-themed sensory bins
- Bear Teaching Resources
- Alaskan Brown Bears Virtual Field Trip – YouTube
- Who Stole the Bear’s Honey? Interactive Crime Scene
- Pinterest Board Ideas
9. Hibernation
Why I love it: A perfect science topic for winter — and great for teaching about seasons and animal behavior.
Ideas:
- Which animals hibernate?
- Sort animals that hibernate vs. migrate
- Create hibernation caves
- Hibernation stories and read-alouds
- Virtual field trips about winter animals
- Who Stole the Bear’s Honey? Interactive Hibernation Crime Scene
- Pinterest Board Ideas
- Getting Ready for Hibernation YouTube Video
10. Igloos
Why I love it: It ties in beautifully with STEM and engineering!
Ideas:
- Build marshmallow or sugar cube igloos
- Learn about Inuit culture and traditions
- How do igloos keep people warm?
- Virtual field trip to Arctic communities
- Igloo art projects
11. Yetis
Why I love it: A fun, lighthearted theme that sparks creativity and imagination.
Ideas:
- Yeti art and craft projects
- Yeti story writing prompts
- Yeti sensory bins (white rice, fake snow)
- Compare yeti myths around the world
- Directed drawing: How to draw a yeti
12. New Year
Why I love it: It’s a great way to reflect, set goals, and celebrate new beginnings.
Ideas:
- New Year’s resolutions writing
- New Year’s goal setting bulletin board
- Countdown math games
- New Year’s traditions around the world
- Create party hats and noisemakers
- New Year Teaching Resources
- Squirrel’s New Year Resolution Read Aloud
- Pinterest Board Ideas
- 15 Books for New Year
13. Chinese New Year
Why I love it: It introduces students to a rich and beautiful cultural celebration.
Ideas:
- Learn about Chinese zodiac animals
- Make paper lanterns and dragon crafts
- Try traditional Lunar New Year foods
- Red envelope math activity
- Virtual tour of a Chinese New Year parade
- Chinese New Year Teaching Activities and Resources
- 4 Chinese New Year Crafts for Kids
- Chinese New Year Activities for Kids Blog Post
- Pinterest Board Ideas
- The Story of Lunar New Year – YouTube Video
14. Community Helpers
Why I love it: It connects learning to the real world and helps students appreciate people in their community.
Ideas:
- Community helpers dress-up day
- Create a class book: “When I grow up, I want to be…”
- Interview a community helper (live or virtual)
- Community helper matching games
- Virtual field trips to fire stations, post office, hospital
- Community Helpers Teaching Activities and Resources
- Pinterest Board Ideas
- Community Helpers Virtual Field Trips – YouTube
15. Gingerbread
Why I love it: The Gingerbread Man is such a flexible story — and perfect for post-holiday fun.
Ideas:
- Retell the story with puppets
- Gingerbread math games
- Gingerbread STEM trap challenge
- Bake and decorate gingerbread cookies
- Compare different gingerbread stories
16. Polar Bears
Why I love it: A fantastic way to tie in science, geography, and art.
Ideas:
- Learn about polar bear adaptations
- Compare Arctic vs. Antarctic animals
- Polar bear directed drawings
- Create polar bear sensory bottles
- Polar bear fact writing
- Polar Bear Teaching Activities and Resources
- Pinterest Board Ideas
- Polar Bears YouTube Video
- Little Polar Bear Read Aloud
- Polar Bear, Polar Bear Read Aloud
I hope this list of 16 January classroom themes gives you some fresh inspiration for the month ahead! I love using themes like these to keep learning fun, seasonal, and cross-curricular – and students really look forward to seeing what’s coming next.
Don’t forget, check back next month for more monthly theme ideas to help you plan your classroom activities all year long. vAnd if you have a favorite January theme I didn’t mention, I’d love to hear it! Leave a comment and share your ideas with other teachers!
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