Go, Spring Babies! Lesson Plan

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What We Are Learning

 

Science Focus:

baby animals

 

Social-Emotional Learning:

trying new things

 

Movement:

gross motor skills

 

Prewriting:

fine motor skills

  • Tell children that many baby animals are born in spring. Then the babies spend time learning. Ask what big kids like them know how to do that babies don’t know. Write responses on chart paper. Do baby animals learn the same things? Then read the issue! text-to-self connections

Art: Look How I’ve Grown!

Materials: paper, crayons, two photos of each child

  • Children will draw baby and big-kid self-portraits to show how they’ve grown.
  • Have caregivers send in two photos of their child—one as an infant and one now. It is best if photos show them doing baby things (e.g., crawling) and big-kid things. If they do not have any to share, use magazine photos of babies and big kids.
  • Ask children, “Are you the same as you were as a baby?” No! Discuss how they have changed Are they taller? Can they walk and talk? How else are they different?
  • Set out one picture of each child. Is it of them as a baby or as a big kid? Then have children draw. After, they can draw the other picture. (This activity can be done over a few days.)
  • Put each child’s drawings side-by-side so they can see how they’ve changed! self-concept

Thank you to My Big World adviser Malka Blaustein for sharing this activity!

Example of a completed nest

Materials: natural materials (e.g., leaves, twigs), scrap materials (e.g., fabric, yarn) 

paper bowl, cotton balls

  • Look for bird nests outside or show pictures online. Explain that nests protect the eggs and are a home for the baby chicks that hatch. Nests need to be sturdy and strong! Talk about what the nests look like. Are they big or small? What shape are they?
  • Set out building materials. Give each child a cotton ball that will be their “egg.” You can also give each child a bowl to shape the nest.
  • As children build, ask questions: Does the nest have padding so the egg won’t crack? Is it sturdy?
  • When children are done, do a museum walk so everyone can see the nests. Discuss how they are alike and different. What makes them a good place for the egg to hatch? engineering