Mar 17, 2025
by Dena Bless
Looking for something to do outside and enjoy the weather as it warms? We are so blessed with our weather in California (even the areas where it snows, we don’t usually have horrendous storms), but even we get spring fever! If you’re wanting to get out more, here are some ideas to incorporate spring into your schooling. You can use one or two just to mix things up a little or do the entire unit study over the course of a few weeks. (Don’t you love the freedom of home educating your children?!)
Science
What is the vernal equinox? Draw a picture or make a model to show what happens.
How is the first day of spring determined?
Nature walk: How many signs of spring can you find in 5 minutes? 20 minutes?
Make it a contest among your children.
Take pictures or pick a bit of the actual items and make a collage or notebook or poster.
Can you balance an egg on its end? (See this article from National Geographic)
A total lunar eclipse occurred last week (March 13/14, 2025). If you didn’t experience it live, find pictures of it online. What is an eclipse? How does it happen? When will it happen again? Are there different kinds of eclipses?
Plant a garden or some flowers. Research what grows best in your area of the state and where on your property (sun vs. shade, etc.). Calculating temperatures, angles, and spacing will utilize math as well.
Math
Do actual calculations of angles, etc. for figuring out the equinox.
Bake fun springtime recipes. Choose some family favorites or something like one of these. You can then double or half the recipe for fractions practice.
Literature/Fine Arts
For those rainy days of spring (April showers!), enjoy some great books. Many of them can be enjoyed by all ages if you read aloud together. While the majority of this list are stories that cover many seasons (or even years), there are significant events or parts that happen in spring. Use discussion while reading or during dinner instead of a written book report.
Most of the suggestions below have been adapted to film, stage, and/or TV. If appropriate, you can include some fine arts and watch one or two and discuss how accurately they adapted the story, as well as topics like setting, costumes, etc. For an even more immersive experience, find a theater company (local or traveling) that is performing a great story and see how they handle staging, costume changes, and the differences and challenges of performing live.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
A Poem for Every Spring Day by Allie Esiri
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (followed by Little Men and Jo’s Boys)
Sinister Spring by Agatha Christie
Every Creature Great and Small series by James Herriot
The Mitford Years series by Jan Karon
History
Check out this article and choose an event to research (together as a family or each child individually). Depending on ages and abilities, have everyone write an article or do a news report like they were a journalist witnessing the event they chose. If it was an event that started or ended a long-term event (like the Civil War), research/report on what had already happened or happened later.
For older students: Why does 2 Samuel 11 say, “In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war”? Why was there a specific time to go to war? How do we see the truth of Romans 8:28-29 in the rest of the story?
PE
It’s spring training! Follow the exercise routine that the athletes of any given team are doing (adapt as needed!).
Go out and play some baseball or just toss the ball around.
If your students don’t know how to play baseball, go over the rules and then go to a game to see the rules in action. Major league games can be expensive (although sometimes have deals for students), but if you have a minor league team nearby, you can get good deals, and often free games to see.
Study the stats to incorporate math as well
Hope you have a wonderful time incorporating these ideas into your homeschool - rain or shine!
