"SPRING"ING WITH STANDARDS!

Spring, spring, where are you?  March 20th is the “official” first day of spring, so here are some activities that you can use in your lesson plans to help kids PLAY and LEARN!

Spring-O
Make a bingo card with signs of spring and objects that children can find on your playground. Children can walk around the playground and and color in the objects as they find them. Children could do this activity individually or with a partner.

*Here's a SPRING-O card I made for you. I'm not the best artist so you'll need to go over the words and the pictures with your students.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljZUxiN0dMUTdvdTQ/view?usp=sharing

Scavenger Hunt
Here’s a spring hunt for older students. Divide them into groups of 4 and give each group a clipboard with the items below. Have them record their answers. When you return to the classroom groups can share their results and compare answers.



Can you find a sign of spring? 


Can you find something older than you? 


Can you find something younger than you? 


Can you find something rough? 


Can you find something that feels soft? 


Can you find something living? 


Can you find something dead? 


Can you find something smaller than your fingernail? 


Can you find something bigger than you? 


Can you find something green? 


Can you find something yellow? 


Can you find something that smells good? 


Can you find some trash? Pick it up and throw it away! 


https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljZFR1cHVzSlpBR3M/view?usp=sharing

Long and Short
Give children a piece of string or yarn. Challenge them to walk around the playground and find objects that are "longer" than their string and "shorter" than their string.



Alphabet Walk 
Divide children into groups of four and give each group a sheet of paper with the letters of the alphabet. (They will also need a pencil and a clipboard to write on.) Challenge groups to find as many objects as they can for the letters in the alphabet. For example: A-acorn, B-bird, C-cloud, D-dirt, etc.
                                                          
Shape Hunt 
Cut circles, squares, rectangles, and triangles out of construction paper and put them in a bag. Children choose a shape and then try to match it up with a similar shape on the playground.
*Have children lie on the ground and make shapes with their bodies. Take photos to make a class book.

Bounce and Count 
How many times can they bounce a ball and catch it? How many times can they toss a ball with a friend and not drop it? 
*Have each child silently count the steps from the classroom to the playground. Compare their answers.