The weather in much of the country is slowly turning warmer, the days are getting longer, and leaves, grass, and flowers are finally starting to color the outside world again. Spring is just around the corner and it's the perfect time to get outside and embrace the changing of the seasons and appreciate nature. We’ve put together a list of activities to help get your kids excited for the spring season while also learning something along the way.
People were able to tell time long before the analog and digital clocks we know today existed using sundials. Use this free activity guide to create your own and learn more about the science of sundials.
PRESS FLOWERS
All you need for this simple but rewarding activity are a few flowers, some sheets of paper and some very heavy books.
- Place your chosen flowers between your sheets of paper, and then place between your heavy books.
- Wait a few days, and then remove your flowers. Your flowers should be pressed and dried.
Use your pressed flowers however you’d like! You can make bookmarks or cards, artwork, placemats, or even candles!
MAKE A TERRARIUM
Using a large glass or plastic container with a wide mouth, spread some potting soil or dirt on the bottom, then add little plants and bits of grass from outside with the roots still on them. Give them a little water and cover with the jar lid or cling film and an elastic band. Place in a sunny spot and spray lightly with water every week and watch the plants grow. You could measure the growth every week to see how quickly they grow.
Got a food crazy kid or a kid who really loves pizza? What about a kid that loves to garden? This project is great for kids because it allows them to reap the benefits of their work with delicious pizza toppings like basil, oregano, and tomatoes! It also teaches them about planting and growing - integral parts of the spring season.
Origami flowers are a simple and creative way to emulate the beauty of growing flowers! They are easy and fun to make, and you can use a variety of different colors of paper to create an entire bouquet or garden.
Utilize the changing weather that comes with spring and study the wind with your kids by making your own wind anemometer at home! This anemometer is easy to make with paper cups, cardboard, and a few other household materials. Once you've made your device, take it outside to check out the wind speed in your area.
Create a beautiful spring sensory box to get your little ones excited and talking about different elements of spring. Adding things like flowers, twigs and sticks, rocks, different types of grasses or mosses, and more will help bring your sensory box to life and create something as beautiful as the changing nature outside!
MAKE A MILK CARTON BIRD FEEDER
Both your kids and neighborhood birds will love a milk carton bird feeder! They are easy to make with a milk carton base, some thin sticks and decorating materials, a way to cut a hole in the carton and of course, bird seed! Kids will enjoy getting to decorate their bird feeders in their own way, and watching your yard spring to life with birds, squirrels, and other creatures coming back for the spring.
This amusing STEM activity is not only great for getting kids outside, but it is also a great lesson about shapes and gives plenty of opportunities to ask "why?" and discuss curiosities or questions your kids might have.
MAKE YOUR OWN RAIN GAUGE
Get your kids excited about wet spring weather by making a rain gauge to monitor how much rain you’re getting. All you need is a glass container that you can write or paint on. Have your kids use a ruler and make marks on the glass for each inch of water. Place the rain gauge outside on a level surface away from overhead trees or awnings. After each rain, go out and check the gauge to see how much rain you got! Keep track of your findings in a nature journal or rain tracker chart. If you have a home weather system, you can track any recorded rainfall differences and investigate the cause.
Staying cooped up over the winter season is never easy, especially with additional stressors keeping us inside now more than ever. We hope you can use some of these activities to jump-start your season and get your kids excited about spring!
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