Spring

Books: The Best Nest by P.D. Eastman
Song: Little Purple Pansies
Craft: plant bean seeds in paper
Outside: if it's spring, show things that are starting to grow.  If it's not, talk about what it would look/feel like

Prepare in advance:

• bean seeds, paper towels, ziploc bags, tape
• bag full of spring clothes: long pants, rain boots, umbrella, etc.
• picture of trees with buds, leaves, flowers
• pictures of baby animals
• hide some flowers/pictures of flowers around the house

Begin with song, then books.

Today we'll learn about SPRING (have them repeat).  

• What is the weather like in the spring?
• What clothes do we wear in the spring?  Have them pull items out of the bag and say why they would need that item in the spring.

What do trees do in the spring? (show pictures)

• first buds show, then leaves start to grow
• some trees start getting flowers 

What do animals do in the spring?

• stop hibernating
• come back from where they went in the fall
• have babies/make nests (show pictures of baby animals)

What do people do in the spring?

• clean houses (pretend to clean--or really clean!)
• plant gardens (pretend to dig/plant seeds)
• look for flowers (find the flowers you've hidden)
• jump in puddles (pretend to jump in puddles)

Craft time: plant beans

• get a paper towel damp
• place damp towel into ziploc bag
• put one or two bean seeds into the bag, zip closed
• tape in a window where it will get lots of sun
• check to make sure paper towel isn't drying out or molding

Outside: observe/discuss spring scenes 

• show where flowers are/will be growing
• show some nests