Jumpstart Spring
No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn. – Hal Borland
Did the groundhog say you’re getting an early spring? Or were you in for ANOTHER six weeks of cloudy days and cold? The good news is Groundhog Day is four weeks ago and slush, mud, and rain are right around the corner. And that gloriously warm sunshine that makes you forgive all of spring’s faults.
If you’re anxious to get that lively spring feeling, there’s some things you can do to get it rolling!
Nothing feels more like spring than little seeds and plants. Buy some soil and seeds and have a seeding party with your students. Some fun plants to start indoors are:
- Pansies
- Stock – they smell incredible!
- Sweet peas – if they have somewhere to hang or climb
- Alyssum
- Short Zinnias
- Mini Sunflowers
- Mint – it’s just green but it grows fast and you can make tea!
If starting seeds is out of your comfort zone, find a local greenhouse and see if you can buy some seedling plugs off of them. Although most greenhouses don’t sell them, ask if they’d consider selling you a few so your students can grow plants.
If that option is available for you, you could always make a long term plan and grow plants for Mother’s Day planters. For a project like that you’d need plants like:
- Petunias
- Geraniums – for centres
- Verbena
- Calibrachoa
- Bacopa
- Potato Vine
Grow the plants in plenty of light and upsize the pots as needed. Get the students to help care for the plants so they feel like its their project. Then closer to Mother’s Day, plant up pots to give as gifts.
Another super fun learning experience is getting an incubator in the classroom. It can be a bit of an undertaking but again if you involve the students, caring for the eggs can be their delight. Incubators can smell a little damp but don’t have to stink if you keep them clean and remove shells after hatching. There’s nothing quite like watching a chick struggle its way into the world!
And if you don’t feel like doing a big project, do something easier.
- Move the desks aside, spread a blanket, and have a picnic on the classroom floor some sunny day. Add a bouquet of flowers to help the feel.
- Take a walk when it’s all sunny and melty outside.
- Open the windows and wear sweaters to breathe in the fresh air.
- Bring a drink or snack to go along with a class.
- Take your students to Tim Hortons.
- Do a show and tell.
- Have a dress up day.
Have some fun and then everyone is ready to get back to the grind harder than ever. No need to wait for spring to arrive. You can get the spring feeling started already!
