That's What Happens When It's Spring!
  About the Project 

Students will share signs of spring in their different communities through writings and illustrations.

  Does spring begin in your community while snow still covers the ground?

  Does the arrival of the season  mean it's time to open the swimming pool?

  Are you ready to get out shorts and sandals or do you still need hats and mittens? 

Let's share how spring looks where we live - it might look different somewhere else!

What To Do

After identifying signs of the new spring season, students will  illustrate and write a descriptive poem or paragraph ending with

"That's What Happens When It's Spring!"

Examples of student work will be displayed on a project webpage.

This wonderful book, written by Elaine Good and illustrated by Susie Wenger, inspired our project.  It depicts examples of nature's returning activity as the new season comes to life around us.   It shows simple, everyday, predictable things - things we know well and are happy to see again.

There are many terrific books about spring. It's not necessary to read this particular book, but I hope you will.
"That's What Happens When It's Spring!"

  Project Specifics
February 25 - April 25, 2002

• Register your K - 4 class.   A waiting list will be kept after 25 classes are registered.  Send teacher's name, grade, school, town, state/province, country to marcimcg@aol.com.

• Read about spring, pick a favorite book title to share with project participants.

• Identify signs of spring in your community, share with your class, engage in lessons/activities related to spring.

• Write a poem or descriptive paragraph about a sign of spring, ending the writing with the line:
            "That's What Happens When It's Spring!"

  At the pond a family swims, Momma Duck her 5 babies in a row. That's What Happens When It's Spring!

• Illustrate the writing or take related photographs.

  Send to marcimcg@aol.com no later than April 20th, 2002: * a favorite book title you recommend for spring reading * two (2) examples of student or whole class writing about a sign of spring or springtime activity in your community, ending the writing with the line:           "That's What Happens When It's Spring!" * no more than three (3) images as jpg or gif files * the state and technology standards your class contribution reflects * address of class website showing your students' work; a link will be made to your webpage

Project Homepage   

   An Online Collaborative Project  hosted by Marci McGowan
Spring 2002
~  Visit Mrs. McGowan's First Grade  ~
marcimcg@aol.com