Spring Science Activities for Kids
Robin Williams once said, “Spring is nature’s way of saying ‘Let’s Party’!” Isn’t this so true! Spring brings a welcome break from winter and it’s the time of year when nature seems to spring to life (pardon the pun). Plus, there are some amazing Spring science activities and experiments to incorporate into the curriculum which will help Spring come alive in your classroom.
Seed Dispersal
Whether it’s watching a youtube video, reading nonfiction passages, creating a comic, doing a STEM challenge or going for a nature walk, there are plenty of ways to engage students while learning about seed dispersal. There is also a fun (and slightly) messy STEM activity to teach seed dispersal that might involve students flinging seeds. If any of these activities intrigue you or just for more information about teaching seed dispersal, check out this blog full of activities and science lessons.
Pollination
Pollination is a fascinating topic that can be taught through a variety of activities. The Busy Bee Game is a great way to let students get out energy and also teach the concept of pollination. Reading informational texts about pollination helps students glean information about the topic. Engaging in a STEM challenge that involves paint and a paper flower will allow students to use their creative thinking and problem-solving skills. Or simply go for a nature walk to observe pollinators in action! To find more information, including rules for the game and specifics about the STEM challenge, check out this blog that’s just full of pollination activities for kids.
what do plants need to survive?
I think many teachers can agree that teaching the concept of plant growth by growing plants is a fun spring science experiment. Why not turn this into an inquiry project? Have students read about what plants need to survive. Then conduct an experiment about why plants need sunlight. This blog gives a more detailed overview of some ideas and resources for teaching about plant growth.
Life Cycles of Living Things
With spring comes the birth of living things: chicks, lambs, flowers, cherry blossoms, bunnies, the list goes on and on. So why not teach the life cycle of living things during the spring? Turn it into a Spring science activity. Explore both animal and plant life cycles with activities and experiments that are perfect for second and third grades. These lessons and experiments are so engaging and easy to plan.
Biodiversity
Another great spring science activity would be to have students explore local plants, animals, ecosystems, and food chains. This helps them to discover biodiversity in their area. Why not study these things when they are actually visible in the springtime? This unit features directed lessons, project-based learning, inquiry projects, and more. And make sure to check out this biodiversity freebie! Read more about biodiversity activities right HERE.
Spring is a natural time to introduce these topics because students can observe these phenomena, or the by-products of these phenomena, in nature. They can see the honeybees pollinating plants. They can see the flowers growing. They can see the seeds being dispersed. They can see new life around them. Spring science experiments and Spring science activities can be engaging and meaningful, especially when we allow students to get out and explore!
