Spring Brings About a Whole New Setting!

I can vividly remember trying to get my two young children up and ready for the day, gathering all needed belongings, buckling each into their car seat, driving to our daycare provider, and then rushing off to spend a day teaching kindergarten!

Those were the days! Luckily for me, Michael and Mary were so cooperative and loved to go to their sitter. It was (some days!) actually fun! As spring got closer, we would play a game on the way to and from home looking for signs of spring. We had a song…

• Spring is coming,
• Spring is coming,
• How do you think I know?
• I saw a (the sign of spring said here, a pussy willow, a forsythia bush, a little robin, a daffodil, etc.)
• I know it must be so.

Maryellen exploring the Spring Setting with grandchildren (ages 4, 4, 5, 7 and 9).

I miss those days!

Now, if you have never taught preschool or kindergarten, you cannot totally imagine the excitement that builds for any special event, the first day of spring being no exception.

Years ago, at the former Juniper Park School in Westfield, MA, we would have a Spring “parade.” Our kindergarten students would explore spring books, songs, and videos, create hats using construction paper, and make banners and hand held signs. We would then parade throughout the K-5 school, some students having noisemakers, and wish others a “Happy Spring!”

Since many of the students had siblings in the upper grades and our school often did projects across grade levels, there was an added level of joy for students to see a family member or friend. Our music teacher at the time, Mrs. Dowd, would play a spring march and the children were delighted to march about the studio! Returning to class, we would have a special snack.

Changes in the season are exciting (and welcomed!). Get started by choosing a few books on the spring season and reinforce the Setting icon from Braidy by asking students to think of changes in the setting once spring begins. The image shown is a sample list of changes from winter to spring that a small group of kindergarten students came up with after listening to When Spring Comes written by Kevin Henkes and illustrated by Laura Dronzek.

After completing the list with students, go back through the beautiful illustrations for any items missed and add them to the list. Use the song mentioned above to review the list!

Invite students to make this simple project. You will need: a paper plate, crayons, tissue paper strips, glue, tape, and a craft stick.

1. Ask students to pick one item from the created list to illustrate on the paper plate.
2. Add glue and tissue paper strips around the edge of the paper plate.
3. Tape a craft stick to the back for students to hold to bring on the parade, if you choose to have one!

Other books that you may be interested in:

• Spring Is Fun by Walt K. Moon
• This book is an early expository book with a table of contents, a picture glossary, index, and other references. It would be a great addition to an early elementary school class library.
• Are You Ready for Spring? by Sheila Anderson
• This selection is another informational book that students in early elementary school would enjoy. It also has a two-page explanation of how chicks hatch. This would be perfect for first graders to listen to and then use the SGM^® Sequence Map or participate in a teacher-led lesson using the sequence magnetic icons from the Universal Magnet Set.

Check out these other spring related blogs:

• Kindergarten Activity: In the Tall Tall Grass
• Spring Stories: The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush

And for older student, change the focus from winter to spring:

• Winter’s Coming! Narrative, Expository, Setting Lesson

“Happy Spring!”