Spring
Background Information & Activities

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This movie will explore spring, the weather, and how plants and animals adapt to spring. Before watching, discuss the seasons with children and activate their prior knowledge. We recommend watching the Seasons movie and completing a few features for review. You may also wish to share the Fall and Winter movies.

Remind children that spring is the season between winter and summer. In most places, spring is warmer than winter, but cooler than summer. What is spring weather like in your community? Have children share their ideas. Explain that in spring, the days are longer than in winter, and there are more hours of sunlight. At dinnertime in winter, it might be pretty dark outside. But dinnertime in spring is much lighter. In some places, spring days can be sunny and warm. Many places also get a lot of rain in spring. Remind children of the old saying, "April showers bring May flowers" and discuss its meaning together. How might rain help plants?

In the spring, there can be severe, or strong, storms. Some places might get tornadoes. Explain that a tornado is a spinning tube of air that moves very quickly along the ground. Tornado Alley is the nickname given to the area in the United States between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains where tornadoes frequently occur. You may wish to discuss tornadoes further with children and have them share experiences. How do you stay safe during a tornado? If applicable, you may wish to learn how your community prepares for tornados and gives warnings and alerts.

Remind children that it takes one year for Earth to orbit, or go around, the Sun. Our planet is tilted at an angle. Together, Earth's tilt and its orbit cause the seasons to change. The equator is an imaginary line around the middle of Earth. On March 20th, the Sun shines directly on the equator and the lengths of day and night are almost equal (vernal equinox). This is considered the astronomical start of spring. Different cultures have different dates; in North America many people say that March 21st is the start of spring. Spring ends around June 20th, but many people consider March, April, and May as the spring months.

Discuss how plants adapt to winter. Many plants stop growing to conserve energy. Trees might lose their leaves for the whole winter. Then, when spring begins and the weather gets warmer, the trees begin to bud. Remind children that buds are parts of a plant that grow into leaves or flowers. We recommend looking for buds in your community or researching pictures online. In the winter the ground is frozen, but during spring, the ground thaws. Seeds that have laid dormant underground begin to sprout and grow. During spring, flowers grow and bloom. The increase in vegetation attract insects, as well as other animals.

What happens to animals in winter? Discuss how some animals migrate or hibernate. You may wish to watch the Hibernation and Migration movies for review. In spring, food is more readily available so the animals that migrate south return north and.hibernating animals become active again. Spring is a time when animals mate and breed. Birds build nests and lay eggs which will hatch later. The season is a time for new life and growth.

What do people do in spring? Brainstorm ideas with children. Some people participate in outdoor activities such as picnics, bike riding, and watching or playing baseball. Spring is also a time when many people garden. Arbor Day is a special day in spring when people plant trees in their communities and learn how forests are changing. If possible, make plans to plant trees on Arbor Day. Earth Day is also celebrated in spring. It is a day to learn about how our planet is changing and how we can help our environment. Many communities run special programs on Earth Day and we urge you to participate.

Spring Teacher Activities – Click Here!

Spring Family Activities – Click Here!

Spring Teacher Activities

© 1999-2010 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

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. 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 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? 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. 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.

Spring Family Activities

© 1999-2010 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Arbor Day

Many communities have Arbor Day festivities. Local parks often invite community members to help plant trees, maintain gardens, or clean up areas. If possible, plant trees with your child. Learn about the variety of trees in your area and find out the best ways to keep them healthy.

Listen to Spring

Go on a walk and listen to the sounds of spring. You may even want to blindfold your child so he or she can really pay attention. Animals come to life during this season of growth and birth, and your child may hear frogs croak or birds sing. He or she may notice the buzz of insects or other animal noises. You may wish to do the activity again in the evening. What sounds are different?