While the spring weather is nice and relaxing, students have energy that they have saved up all winter. It’s time to freshen things up in the classroom and try some fun spring activities to keep your students engaged and motivated. In this post, you’ll find:

activities to use to observe the life cycle of a plant
new spring books to add to your collection
fun spring crafts your students will love

6 spring activities for reading and science.png

Plant Seeds and Keep a Plant Journal

One of my favorite things to do during spring is planting seeds. Planting seeds is a great way to teach your students about patience and responsibility.

Although we know that it takes time for seeds to grow, young students expect to see a seedling right after they water it for the first time. My favorite book to teach about having patience is Sofia Grows a Garden by Shari Watt.

In the book, Sofia plants some mystery seeds that she found in her Grandmother’s shed. When she plants her seeds, she is disappointed when they don’t show signs of growth. After 2 weeks, Sofia finally gets to enjoy her hard work and patience.

Although the lesson of patience is great for students, it can be hard to wait to see some seedlings. Some plants that I’ve found to grow quickly are grass, radishes, Lima beans, and cosmo flowers.

When we plant seeds, we keep track of the plant growth with a plant journal. I like using a plant journal because it keeps students engaged and focused on the growth of their little plants. Students feel responsible to take care of their seeds and make sure they have everything that they need to grow.

Use a plant journal to track the growth of seeds.

Plant Crafts

While your students are busy observing their new plant babies, they will begin to see new parts of their plants developing. Help your students understand the needs of their plant with a plant needs labeling craft. Students can cut and glue the correct plant need to label the picture.

The Best Spring Books

There are some really cute books that I love to pull out every spring. A funny book that I usually read when we plant our seeds is called We Are Growing by Mo Willems.

In the book, each blade of grass describes what it looks like as it starts to grow. One blade is the pointiest and one is the curliest. However, one blade of grass has a hard time describing what he is like. With help from his friends, he is able to find the best description for himself.

Another book that I save for spring is Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens. My students and I love this book because one of the main characters, Hare, is always outsmarting his lazy friend Bear. My students giggle page by page as we read the next way Hare tricks Bear into getting the best crops for his family.

how to grow a flower writing activity and plant journal

Spring Math Activity

If you’re looking for a no prep math activity, click the link below. Students can use a 100 chart to make frog jumps to skip count by 10s. I love to use the mini erasers from Target during math because they have so many kinds to match our theme. My students love to see what different math tools we will be using each day.

Bees & Insects

As we grow our plants and flowers, we learn about how bees, butterflies, and other insects play a role in pollinating plants.

One book that I have used to introduce pollination is What if There Were No Bees? by Suzanne Slade. We learn that bees are nothing to be afraid of because they help to pollinate flowers, fruits, and vegetables.

Butterfly Lifecycle

Butterflies are also another favorite topic for spring. I use butterflies to talk about life cycles. We discuss and observe butterflies at different stages in their lifecycle. Students create a butterfly lifecycle craft at the end of the unit.