If you know me, you know I’m not a fan of extreme temperatures. Because of that, my favorite seasons are Fall and Spring. But even ignoring the temperature thing, there’s just a certain smell, crispness, and feeling to those two seasons. It’s amazing and that’s one of the reasons I love them.
Introduction: I love Spring time! And most of our preschool crowd does, too, since we’re in the Midwest and can have weird/brutal winters! We start with our usual talking opportunities by asking open-ended questions: What are the signs that Spring is coming? What’s your favorite thing about Spring? What are you excited to do this SPring? Then we move on to our ECRR Hello Song
ASL Sign of the Day: We’ll learn the sign for “Spring” as in the season. This sign can also mean “a plant” or “garden.” If the sign doesn’t use a double motion (the same motion done twice), then it can also mean “Grow.”
Book: Spring by Stephanie Hedlund
I like that this book introduces vocabulary and common things in spring, but also talks briefly about why spring happens and when. It gives a brief, but more complete, look at the topic.
Rhyme: During the Spring
During the spring, it often showers (flutter fingers down)
Or the sun shines for many hours (form circle in the air with arms)
Both are good for the flowers! (cup hands and extend arms like flowers)
Book: When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes
By now you probably know that Kevin Henkes is one of my favorite authors for preschoolers. His books are just a perfect mixture of creative and imaginative opportunities and informational. Coupled with the bright, simple illustrations that are fantastic for ECRR talking practices, it’s preschool gold!
Rhyme: Butterfly, Butterfly
Butterfly, butterfly, flapping around.
Visiting flowers, not making a sound.
Flapping your wings, as you go.
Flapping your wings, up high, then low.
Butterfly, butterfly, flapping around.
Visiting flowers, not making a sound.
Book: Mañana Iguana by Ann Whitford Paul
This is a great retelling of the classic Little Red Hen story that my coworker, L, introduced to me. Iguana and friends are excited about their Spring party, but only iguana seems to want to do any of the work to prepare for it.
Felt: Hooray for Springtime (Tune: Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush). I use simple felt shapes for this song. We introduce each piece and talk about them or the way each item moves or sounds. Then I pass out scarves and we use them to mimic the felt items.
Now it’s time to fly our kites (fly scarves up high)
Fly our kites, fly our kites
Now it’s time to fly our kites
Hooray For Springtime!
Repeat with:
Now it’s time to plant our seeds (Pat scarves down on ground)
Watch the animals yawn and stretch (Stretch with scarves)
Watch the worms twist and wiggle (Twist up scarves or wiggle them)
Watch the lightning snap and crack (Clap hands above head)
Now it’s time to dance in the rain (Dance!)
Closing: We review our ASL sign of the day and then sing our Goodbye Song, Tickle the Clouds.
More Books to Check Out:
Librarian Ginny 