14 Apr Junior Scientist: Spring STEAM Activities
Spring is a great time to explore science with your young child! Here are a few simple activities you can easily work into your day.
Natural Science
So much is changing outside during spring! Walk around the same area multiple times over the course of a few weeks and see what your child notices. If possible, let their interests guide you. Do they stop to investigate a cluster of tulips? Point out how a tulip goes from a closed bud, to an open flower, to dropping petals, to just leaves and stems. Talk about the different colors of flowers. Pay attention to trees and how the light around them changes as their leaves open and grow.
Listen for the sounds of new creatures as they return or awaken after the winter! What kinds of noises do you hear? What is making them? See if you can identify which bird is singing or which insect is chirping. If your child is older, you can even do some research and learn the names of specific creatures or find out where they spent the colder months.
Meteorology
All kinds of weather happens during the spring – sometimes all in one day! Talk about the color of the sky and describe the types of clouds you see. Are they white and fluffy and scattered? Gray and covering the whole sky? Dark blue and bringing a storm? See what connections you can make between how the clouds look and what the weather does that day.
Track the temperatures over the course of a week or two, either formally with a thermometer or informally by noting how warm or chilly it feels outside. Keep your data somewhere visible and see if you observe any trends or drastic changes.
If (or when!) severe weather happens, talk about it in age-appropriate ways. What causes thunder, lightning, strong winds, hail, and tornadoes? What can you do to keep yourself safe when those things happen? It’s normal for children to have some fear around severe weather; understanding why it happens and knowing what to do can help children feel less afraid.
Read More
Here are some books to help you and your child learn more about the science behind the many things that happen in spring!
Written by Carolyn L., Youth Services Programming and Outreach Coordinator
