Spring Has Sprung:
Nature-Based Preschool Activities
Spring is upon us, and each new season brings new opportunities – opportunities to grow, learn new things and try something different. For children, exploring the world provides new opportunities to make connections and experience learning in a new way.
While classroom learning provides diverse experiences through creative lessons, getting outside and exploring provides diversity through the changes of nature. Below are a few activities children can do at home or at school to experience nature and learning.
Go on a Nature Walk
Take a walk through your neighborhood or around your center and look for new growth this spring. Take a small bag and have your child collect items like sticks, small stones or leaves and create a nature collection. Letting little ones lead the walk can help build their confidence and decision-making skills.
Measure Mother Nature
Using a ruler, measure the natural objects you can find on the playground or in your backyard. This helps teach math skills in a fun and engaging way. Grab a ruler and head for a group of trees or pile of leaves. If you take something home to add to your nature collection, you can also measure weight of the small items with a kitchen scale.
Take a Listening Stroll
Get outside on a nice day and point out all the sounds you hear in nature. There are plenty of nature-based sounds to explore this time of year including the wind, birds and crackling trees. Invite children to enhance their sense of hearing by closing their eyes and trying to identify what they hear.
Go on a Scavenger Hunt
Make a list of items to find outdoors that includes certain shapes, colors or quantities. Grab a bag and have the children collect their findings to keep and share with others. Fun items to include on the list are leaves, pine cones, acorns, sticks or grass of different shapes and colors. You can also add items you can’t take home like clouds, the sun or animals like birds.
There are so many ways to enjoy the great outdoors. Other fun and engaging opportunities include flying a kite, making outdoor art or gardening. Spring into action and get out and learn.
