Classroom Activities: Spring
These classroom activities are designed to complement the Spring topic on BrainPOP Jr.
Watch How Our Garden Grows
If possible, plant a garden with your students. You can create inexpensive window boxes for your classroom or give old containers a new purpose. Have students research what plants grow best in your community, and decide which of those they would like to grow. Have students learn how deeply the seeds should be planted, and how much sunlight and is recommended for each plant. Monitor how your garden grows, having students record plant height and frequency of watering. Students may wish to observe the plants’ growth by drawing pictures or taking photos. Which plant grew best?
Spring Walk
Take a walk during winter and have students record their observations. What plants do they see? What animals do they see? What is the weather like? Have students note the temperature using a thermometer or data from a newspaper or website. Then during spring, do the same walk again. Have children observe and record the changes they notice. Do they see buds on trees? Can they find flowers blooming? What animals are around? What do they think are the biggest differences between winter and spring? Students may wish to draw pictures or take photographs. Discuss how the community changes from winter to spring.
Earth Day
Earth Day usually falls in late April. Celebrate Earth Day with your students: Go online and find out what events and activities will be happening near you. Your students can vote on which they would like to participate in. Learn about how our environment is changing in your community, state, or in other countries. Start a letter-writing campaign to your government leaders and urge them to pass legislation that protects habitats and supports clean air and water. Promote recycling in your school or community and find ways to reuse or repurpose materials that would otherwise be thrown away. Challenge your students to decrease their carbon footprints.