Spring Is Coming!

Posted by Karen | 1 comment

Hang on homeschool momma! Spring is coming! This is the tail end of what can be a very hard time for the homeschooling family. The cold weather and shorter days of winter makes for a little cabin fever for everyone.

The warmer weather is coming though, so push through. Get as much work finished now, so that once the warm weather hits you can get outdoors and enjoy the outdoor classroom that God has made for us in His creation.

Some of our very favorite things to do once spring is near are:

Signs of Spring Scavenger Hunt: There is a particular forsythia bush in our yard that I take note of each year. About the time I see those little yellow buds appear, I send the kids out to observe it. This to me always says, “Spring is coming!” I have the kids sketch what else they find on their scavenger hunt, or take photos with the camera. Other things to look for are: birds beginning to nest, insects reappearing, the location of the sun in the sky, little buds appearing out of the moist ground, etc.

Backyard Bird Count: Hang a bird feeder and watch as those birds return looking for food. Make a chart of what types of birds visit your feeder, how many visit each day, etc. The chart can be used for math as well. Sort the birds by color, kind, use tally marks, various tables, charts, etc. The possibilities are endless.

Constellations: Who says school ends at 3:00? Get out there in the warmer evenings and observe the locations of the constellations in the sky. There are lots of apps available for locating and naming the different ones. Discuss how God created the seasons and how every year, without fail the stars know their place in the sky.

Visit a local zoo. This is a great time of year before it gets too warm, and the animals are not active during the day. Enjoy the cool days and take a sketch book or nature journal to the zoo. Observe the different animals and record your findings.

Have a “Sun Day!” This is our family tradition each year. The first warm day of the year means we take off from school- just as those in public school take off for “snow days”-we take off for “sun days.” We picnic at a local farm or park and enjoy the first warm day of the year. Not to mention the playgrounds are empty because everyone else is in school! Oh, and don’t forget-no “sun day” is complete without ending the day right- enjoy an ice cream “sundae!”

So hang on…spring is coming…the winter and the cold will soon be a memory. Plan now for some fun spring activities!

Karen DeBeus is married to the love of her life, Steve, and a homeschooling mom of 4 children ages 10-2. She was called to homeschool when her oldest was kindergarten age after thinking, “I could never do THAT!” Now she is passionate about encouraging others on their homeschool journey. She is also working on simplifying all areas of her life,including homeschool, and putting God first in all she does. Read more about her journey to simplify at www.simplylivingforhim.com.

“For behold, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. The flowers have already appeared in the land…” Song of Solomon 2:11-12