Hooray, spring is almost here! As the earth moves around the sun, the amount of daylight or darkness we see changes, as do the seasons. This Saturday, March 20th is the first day of spring, and is marked by the Spring Equinox here in the Northern Hemisphere. The Spring and Fall Equinoxes are the two days of the year where the amount of daytime and nighttime are equal. As springtime begins we see the world transform around us as ice and snow melt, animals come out of hibernation, flowers and trees begin to bud and bloom, and the days get longer.

Celebrate the change of season with crafts, activities for indoors and out, and great educational resources and videos for all ages below. We’ll learn all about the Spring Equinox, explore what causes the seasons, and how everyone from humans to animals react to the warmer weather.

Then, next week, celebrate spring with Curious George and Pinkalicious and Peterrific on PBS Kids 24/7. And keep the learning going with our Learn Along Bingo.

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Learn About the Season

About the Seasons | Everyday Learning

Grades PreK-1
Happy first day of spring! Studying the weather is a great outdoor learning activity that teaches kids about the changes that come with each season.

Let’s Share a Story: “Spring is Here” | Let’s Learn

Grades PreK-2
In this video from Let’s Learn, Carlton Ellen reads Spring is Here by Taro Gomi, about the 4 seasons. After reading, Carlton plays a game with students about what to wear in different seasons.

Best Children’s Books for Celebrating Spring

Grades PreK-4
Showers, flowers, and books! Celebrate the arrival of spring with these great books for kids.

Baby Season | Untamed

Grades 5-12
Learn about the very busiest time of year for Wildlife Center staff, students, and volunteers — baby season! Spring is a time for new life; many species of wild animals are giving birth or laying eggs and caring for young throughout much of the spring. It’s also the time of year when people are more active. There are a number of misconceptions about young wild animals; learn from the Wildlife Center staff how to best help young animals stay in the wild with their parents. 

%$?# Allergies! | It’s Okay to Be Smart

Grades 6-12
Springtime means the arrival of green grass, bright flowers, and buzzing bees. But for many of us, it’s also about sneezing, watery red eyes, and a runny nose, thanks to allergies. In this video from It’s Okay to Be Smart, you’ll learn why we get allergies, how our immune system turns against us to attack pollen and pets, and why allergies seem to be on the rise in developed nations.

Why Seasons Make No Sense | It’s Okay to Be Smart

Grades 9-12
Day by day, country by country, we tend to measure seasons differently. This video explains why we divide the years into seasons here in the Northern Hemisphere, how it lines up with the weather, and where the practice has its roots.

The Equinox Isn’t What You Think It Is | It’s Okay to Be Smart

Grades 9-12
Is the equinox really when day = night, or is that a myth? Learn about this scientific occurrence, and why the equinox (or latin for “equal night”) might actually be more complicated than you thought.

Crafts, Games & Activities

6 Ways to Explore Nature With Preschoolers

Grades PreK-1
Exploring nature has many benefits for kids including reduced anxiety and improved sleep! It’s also a good way to learn about science and how to question things in an age-appropriate way.

Outdoor Explorer Bingo

Grades PreK-2
Are your little ones curious about the world around them? Have fun in the outdoors with these Outdoor Explorer Bingo cards! What wonders can your family find?

Pressing Flowers

Grades PreK-3
Bring the outside indoors by creating pressed flower art with your child while discussing the properties and appearance of different blossoms.

Grow Seedlings in an Egg Carton

Grades PreK-3
Growing seedlings in an egg carton is a great way to teach your child about plants.

Super Seasons Snapshot

Grades K-2
In this online game, your child can explore a park to learn how animals and plants change during spring, summer, fall and winter. Use the camera feature to snap a photo of each animal to earn Hero Elementary badges.

SciGirls | Season Seeking

Grades 5-8
Observing plants and animals often involves noticing and recording seasonal changes over time. Every species moves through a series of life cycle stages that are related to environmental cues. The study of these life cycle stages is called phenology and the observable stages are called phenophases. This SciGirls activity guides a group through identifying, observing, and recording phenophases nearby.

Why Do We Have Seasons?

Grades 5-12
Explore what causes seasons on Earth in this interactive adapted from NASA materials that features four cities at different latitudes. Use this resource to view how Earth’s axial tilt causes seasons from different perspectives and to develop and use models of sunlight received at Earth’s surface.

Learn Along Bingo

With Learn Along Bingo, children can view, explore, and play as they learn alongside their PBS Kids friends on the PBS Kids 24/7 channel. We hope your family will use it to inspire learning each and every day.

Next week, we’re celebrating spring! The changing of the seasons is a great time for children to compare and contrast objects and organisms. They learn how to describe similarities and difference in greater detail.

Grades PreK-K

Tune in: Watch Curious George at 5 PM on Tuesday, March 23rd.

Play & Learn: In this packet, there are printable activities and everyday learning ideas for you and your child to choose from. As you complete each square, mark it off to celebrate the learning!

Grades 1-2

Tune in: Watch Pinkalicious and Peterrific at 3 PM on Tuesday, March 23rd.

Play & Learn: In this packet, there are printable activities and everyday learning ideas for you and your child to choose from. As you complete each square, mark it off to celebrate the learning!

For even more games and educational resources for young learners, go to the Celebrating Spring Collection on PBS Kids for Parents.