Spring Theme
Activities for Teaching Young Children
Preschool education activities for spring that blossom into early childhood education lesson plans for teaching pre-k children pre reading, counting and the science skills of observation and prediction. Hot and cold cooking experiences enhance seasonal learning activities.
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Activities
Preschool Spring Activity Theme
Springtime Song
Preschool
children
learn about the spring season as they sing this sensory song from Nicole
H.
Springtime Song
(Tune: Did you ever see a Lassie?)
My eyes can see it springtime, it's springtime, its springtime.
My eyes can see it springtime, the grass is so green!
The green grass, the flowers, the sunshine and showers.
My eyes can see it's springtime, and I am so glad.My ears can hear its springtime, its spring time, its springtime.
My ears can hears its springtime, the birds sweetly sing.
The birds sing, the lambs bleat the frogs croak, the bees buzz.
My ears can hear it's springtime, and I am so glad!My body can feel its springtime, it's springtime, it's springtime.
My body can feel it's springtime, the air is so warm.
The warm air, the breezes, no frost and no freezes.
(Variation: The warm air, the breezes, the pollen, the sneezes)
My body can feel it's springtime, and I am so glad
Bulletin
Board: "Spring Has Sprung" Muffin Liner Scene
Melanie M.
offers this week long lesson plan saying, "This is a good lesson for
teaching
colors and texture. Children can use a variety of materials including
muffin
liners to create a spring picture. This is a simple, multi step
craft
that can be spread out over a week, if you want, or you can do the prep
work yourself and have the children construct their pictures in one
session."
Materials:
Brightly colored muffin liners (a variety of sizes)
Popsicle sticks
painted
green
Leaves (can use
real,
silk or cut from anything)
Grass (I use the
green
shredded stuff that goes in Easter baskets, or you can use scraps of
green
tissue paper)
Finger Paint,
blue,
yellow, green
Circular object
for
the sun.
Description:
1. Day
1: I take my kids out for a walk in
the springtime and we play games such as I Spy to take note of
what
we see outside. On windy days, we notice the cloud patterns and
on
nice days, we notice the clear blue sky. I also get them to use
their
5 senses to describe what they notice outdoors. This is a good
way
to introduce the craft.
2. Day
2: Indoors, I mix colors and show
the
children what new colors are
created when you
mix
them together. I eventually lead them to the color blue.
On heavy paper,
have
children finger paint a clear blue sky or add drops of
black to make a
stormy
blue-grey sky. I also give them a variety of tools to
textures their
skies
with. On the bottom half of the paper, have the children
finger paint a
green
bottom. Let these dry. As an added painting activity,
give the
children
a number of popsicle sticks to paint green. Let these dry
for
next day.
4. Day
3: Have the children take their
green
popsicle sticks and put a drop of
glue on the
top.
Take a large muffin liner, stretch it out a bit and affix it
to the top of
glue.
Put a small drop of glue in the middle of the large muffin
liner.
Take
a smaller muffin liner and affix it in the center of the large
muffin
liner.
You have just made a pretty flower. Repeat the process.
Some
of
my kids make two
flowers,
others make up to ten. It's up to them. Let these
flowers
dry.
Take your large sheet of paper and spread glue on the green section using your fingers or a paint brush. Sprinkle your green grass basket filler over the glue. Glue the backs of your popsicle flowers and affix them onto your grass. Glue your leaves on. Let your creations dry.
5. Day
4: By now your creations should be
completely
dry. You may notice that some of your green basket filler is
loose
in some places. You can glue these
down and give
extra
glue in some places. This is where the individuality of the
creation comes
through.
I set out gold glitter glue, circular objects such as
jars, split
oranges,
pipe cleaner, paint and so on. The kids can use them to make
sun, using any
method
they want. Some of my children finger paint a partial sun
(because it's
cloudy
outside and the sun doesn't come out on days like these).
Let dry.
6. Day
5: Your creation should be
completely
dry now and ready to be displayed on your spring theme bulletin
board.
These creations are so colorful and so
beautiful when
they
are finished. Parents also love them!
Comments:
Depending on the age group, this activity can take a long time or can
be done in two
days.
I did this with preschoolers and they absolutely loved it!
I think this
activity
would be ideal for any age group that is studying a spring
theme.
Sensory
Painting With A Scent
Kelly B.
encourages
children to incorporate their sense of smell in an activity often
associated
with touch.
Materials:
Paper (prefer stiff)
Several flavors
of
Kool-Aid
Paint brushes
Description:
Mix each flavor in a separate container with about half a cup of
water.
Allow
the children to paint on the paper with the brushes after dipping them
in the flavored water. The painting looks just like watercolor paints
and
it
smells so
good.
Actually the whole art area smells great! The children love
dipping
their
brushes in and smelling them before they paint, they try to guess
what
flavor
it is. They come up with some pretty interesting guesses.
After the
painting
has dried the children can scratch their painting with their
finger and smell
the
paint on their picture. Just like scratch and sniff stickers.
Comments:
I found the children just loved this. They were so excited to be able
to paint with a
drink
they often have. The colors are perfect for spring too
because they are
watercolor
and appear pastel. It's also a really cheap activity
because the
drink
mix is very inexpensive.
A
Note of Caution: The diluted
Kool-Aid
stains clothing and countertops / tables. Gail was able to get
it
out of the tabletops, but not the clothing and strongly recommends that
children wear smocks to protect their clothes.
Spring
Bulletin Board
During this preschool activity by Diane
S. teachers can encourage appropriate behavior, color recognition,
name recognition, discussion on spring and how plants and trees begin
to
grow after the winter.
Materials: Bulletin
board, large piece of brown paper, assorted smaller colored
paper, scissors, leaf and flower
patterns.
Description: Teachers
place on the bulletin board a large tree cut out of the brown paper,
making sure you have a branch for each child in your class. Write the
children's names on the branches. Trace the leaves and flower patterns
onto construction paper, the older children can do this themselves.
Next, ask the children to cut them out. With the leftover brown paper,
make two barrels one for each side of the tree. Place the leaves and
flowers in the barrels.
The title I chose for my board is Our
Class is Blooming!
During circle time talk about how
the tree
is bare and what happens to trees in the spring? Why does this happen?
What can we do to our tree to make it look like it's spring? Ask the
children
about the branches? What is on them that is not on the trees
outside?
Have them identify their names. Go over the colors
of the flowers and leaves, are the
leaves
all one shade of green? Why not?
Can there be more than one shade of a
color?
Next explain how the children can add leaves and flowers to the tree by doing their very best at school, following the rules, cleaning up centers, and doing their best on papers or crafts. At the end of each day have the children who have had a good day choose a leaf or flower to put on their branch. Encourage everyone to participate so that the class tree can become big and full by the end of the month.
Cooking: Ice Cream Sundaes
Young children create their own ice cream
delights using fine motor control
during this fun activity from Debbie M.
Materials: Ice cream, assorted
ice cream toppings, assorted sprinkles,
cool whip, cherries, nuts, eatable
bowls.
Description: We do this
for our spring parties. We allow the children to make
their own ice cream sundaes and they
have
an absolute ball. They are able to add their own toppings as much or as
little as they want. The only thing we as
grown up do is to put the ice cream
into
the eatable bowls because the ice cream
is frozen and too hard for the
children
to scoop. Both the parents and the children enjoy this extremely well.
Photosynthesis
During this preschool curriculum
activity
by Virginia G. students learn about the four elements (soil,
sun,
water, seeds) necessary for plant growth.
Materials: Poster board, colored markers, empty seed packet, (pictures of the type of seeds you are planting are great for later recognition of the plant), styrofoam cups, potting soil, seeds, water, plastic wrap and a sunny window.
Description: Discuss the
four elements needed to grow a plant. Soil, seeds, sun and water.
Enlist the students to help draw a sun in the upper corner of the poster
board. Make sure there are plenty of "rays' extending down the
poster.
Draw in the soil (brown) on the bottom 1/5
of the poster. Starting on the left side, draw a black seed in the soil.
Draw more seeds every few inches, but including some (green) "growth"
in each until you have drawn a sprout.
Extend a few of the yellow sun's rays all
the way down from the sun to the sprout.
Add water drops (blue) and a sprinkling can
just above the sprout. The class can color in the objects. Display the
poster in a prominent place in the classroom.
Next, use the cups and soil to help students
plant seeds in their own cup. Add a few tablespoons of water,
and cover with plastic wrap. Set in a sunny window for a few days (keep
warm at night). When the plants sprout, uncover. Review
the steps each day to remind students to water their plants.
Grass
Heads
During this Spring curriculum activity
by
Jackie
youngsters will have the opportunity to grow their own grass head and
be
responsible for watering it daily.
Materials: Old pair of nylon legs, grass seed, soil, small plastic containers (,jar or cleaned cat food tins), elastic bands, googlie eyes (the ones you sew on), pipe cleaners and a spray bottle.
Description:
1. Cut nylon at the knee
2. Scoop in 1 tbsp. grass seed
3. Scoop in preferred amount of
soil
/ compacted (size of a softball).
Work the soil
down
to foot of nylon into shape of a head.
4. Tie the open end of the nylon
tight
(snip excess nylon and leave about 3 inches dangling).
OPTIONAL:
5. Have the children pinch the
soil
through the nylon to make it easy to tie an elastic around for ears and
nose.
6. Sew on googlie eyes.
7. Make glasses out of pipe
cleaners
8. Place grass head on top of
small
container (have excess 3 inch nylon dangling into the container
9. Pour in 1/2 inch of water in
bottom
of the container every couple of days.
10. Spray water gently over grass
seeds
on top 2 times each day.
WATCH THE GRASS GROW and watch the children enjoy creating there own hairdo's.
Lots more plant activities are in
the Plant
Activity Theme in the Rainbow
Resource Room
Paper
Plate Umbrellas
Combine movement with this easy hands
on
art and craft activity by Yvonne S.
Materials: Large paper plates, markers and crayons.
Description: Give each student a paper plate with a small hole poked in the middle. Let the youngsters decorate the backs of their plates with crayons or felt tip markers. When they have finished, have them stick their index fingers up through the holes in their plates to make the umbrellas.
Comments: My preschool class walks around in a circle saying this rhyme:
Lots of Windy March and Rainy April Weather Activities are in theIt's raining, It's raining,
Oh me, oh my!
But our umbrellas will keep us dry!
Rainbow Resource Room
Game:
Caterpillars and Butterflies
Annette P.
developed this game from a poem that she found on the Preschool
Rainbow.
Young children join a group, take turns and use gross motor skill as
they
run around a circle and find their place again. This is very
challenging
for the children in Annette's class.
Materials: A circular mat to sit round, a large model butterfly suitable for the children to hold.
Description: Sit together in a circle and recite and act out the poem Fuzzy Wuzzy Caterpillar. At the end choose one person to get up and fly round the circle holding the butterfly model.
Fuzzy wuzzy, creepy
crawly
Caterpillar funny,
You will be a butterfly
When the days are sunny.
Winging, flinging, dancing,
springing
Butterfly so yellow,
You were once a
caterpillar,
Wiggly, wiggly fellow
Little fuzzy caterpillar
In your warm cocoon
The cold winter's over and
you'll
be hatching soon.
Then you'll spread your
wings
On a warm summer's day
And wave us all good bye
As you fly, fly away.
Comments: I teach
children with severe learning difficulties, ASD's and PMLD's from 2
- 6 years. The children I teach found this very challenging but
particularly the children with challenging behavior were motivated by
the fact they had to sit still to get the Butterfly.
A theme about Butterflies is in the Rainbow
Resource Room.
Kites!
Preschool and kindergarten children
have
the opportunity to develop pre-writing skills through tracing a diamond
during this early childhood activity by Kim. Patterning
is
reinforced using colored bow tie pasta to create the tail.
Materials: Diamond tracing pattern, crayons or markers, pencil, colored bow tie pasta, paper and glue.
Description: The children use a pencil to trace the diamond on paper. Once they have traced their diamond they can color their kite any way they choose. Next, the children use the pasta to create a pattern on their kite tail. The pasta is glued in place on the tail and the children draw on their paper.
Comments: The activity works very well with a mixed age group of children.
There's lots more Kite Making activities in the Windy & Rainy Weather Theme which is in the Rainbow Resource Room
Bulletin Board Idea
April
Showers Bring May Flowers
Ashlee offers this suggestion saying, "What I did was put every other letter green and blue. Blue symbolizes the showers and green for the flowers. Then to add detail, I cut out big rain drops to give to each child to personally decorate themselves. If you can fit their names on the rain drops, it turns out awesome with some glitter. Next have your class make some flowers for the rain to fall on.
Preschool learning
activities, themes and ideas that enrich year round early childhood
curriculum