It’s the most beautiful time of the year! Spring has officially arrived with all its sunshine and warmth and lovely May flowers. With flowers sprouting and the weather changing, spring is the perfect time to teach young children with fun educational activities. Their curiosity will abound as they see buds appearing on the trees and birds returning to their yards. It’s a time for new beginnings and fun new things to learn!
It’s the most beautiful time of the year! Spring has officially arrived with all its sunshine and warmth and lovely May flowers. With flowers sprouting and the weather changing, spring is the perfect time to teach young children with fun educational activities. Their curiosity will abound as they see buds appearing on the trees and birds returning to their yards. It’s a time for new beginnings and fun new things to learn!
Though there are many activities for elementary-age students, early childhood lesson plans for toddlers may be harder to find. Thankfully, Kathy Charner has compiled a wonderful collection of activities made by teachers from all over the world! From simple spring songs to fun crafts projects, her book Learn Every Day About Seasons has seasonal activities for children of all ages. Below are just a few activities from this wonderful preschool teacher resource that’ll help you and your classroom ring in spring!
A Wreath for Spring
Materials:
- Card stock
- Glue
- Cut spring-like shapes (birds, rabbits, umbrellas, suns)
- Easter grass
- Pictures of flowers
- Foam spring-like shapes
- Shapes from die-cuts
Preparation:
Cut the card stock into circles and then cut out their centers to make donut shapes that children can glue objects to.
What to Do:
- Talk with the children about what spring means to them. Ask them for images or objects they associate with spring.
- Show the children the art materials they will be working with and describe how to make a Spring Wreath.
- Help the children sort through the images and art materials to find things they associate with spring. Then help them attach the materials to their wreaths using glue.
- Hang the finished wreaths around the classroom as beautiful spring decorations!
I Wish I Were a Little Bluebird
Materials:
None!
What to Do:
1. In your discussion about spring, ask the children what birds do in the spring time. Let them tell you about their favorite birds and then introduce them to bluebirds with images or videos.
2. Teach the children the following song (to the tune of the “Oscar Meyer Weiner jingle”):
Oh, I wish I were a little happy bluebird
Oh, that is what I’d really like to be
For if I were a happy little bluebird
In spring I’d build my nest up in the tree
Oh, I wish I were a little baby bluebird
Oh, that is what I’d really like to be
For if I were a little baby bluebird
Come spring I’d hatch from my egg in that tree
Oh, I wish I were a mommy bluebird
Oh, that is what I’d really like to be
For if I were a mommy bluebird
I’d feed worms to my babies in the tree
3. Add motions to make the song even more interactive!
Maypole Dancing
Materials:
- Flower garlands
- Ten to twelve 25’ colorful ribbons
- A tall flagpole
- Recordings of foot-tapping music
- A stereo
Preparation:
Ask the children to wear colorful clothes on the day of the activity.
What to Do:
- Talk with the children about maypole dances. Explain that it was an English celebration of spring.
- Unfurl all the ribbons and tie the ends of halfway up the pole. Have the children name the colors they see.
- Start the music. Ask different children to hold the end of each one and dance around the pole, weaving in and out of each other. As they dance, the ribbons should begin tying and knotting around the pole.
- At the end of the activity, let the children look at the pattern on the pole—it should resemble a woven basket. Let them take turns undoing it and do the maypole dance again!
