That's What Happens When It's Spring!

Mrs. Nash's Second Grade
Cumberland Elementary School
Whitefish Bay, WI
Class Website

Spring Books That We Read:

Naomi Knows it is Springtime  by Virginia L. Kroll
Spring-An Alphabet Acrostic  by Steven Schnur
I Love Spring by Steven Kroll
Strawberry Dress Escape by Crescent Dragonwagon
Miss Rumpius by Barbara Cooney
A Pinky is a Baby Mouse by Pam Munoz
All the Places to Love by Patricia MacLachlan
The Reason for a Flower by Ruth Heller
I Wish I Were a Butterfly by James Howe
When Will It Be Spring by Catherine Waters

ACTIVITY # 1: 
Each child used a Kidspiration Template (created by Mrs. Lee, our technology coordinator) to brainstorm signs of Spring.
 

Activity # 2
We read the book Naomi Knows it is Springtime  by Virginia L. Kroll.  In this book, Naomi knows the season has arrived by hearing its familiar sounds, and savoring its tastes and smells. We compared our signs of Spring with Naomi's!   We also noticed that each page began with the words  "Naomi Knows It's Springtime When.." 

Activity # 3
We used the book pattern to write our own verses of how we know it is Springtime.  We then went to the computer lab where we illustrated our writings using Kidpix. Later, we will put our writings and drawings together to create our own BOOK ABOUT SPRING

by Madeline

Madeline knows it's Springtime when she can hear the birds chirping in the fresh warm morning air!
 

by Aaron

Aaron knows its springtime when he sees the newborn animals, some with reddish fur, walking through the meadows.

Parker knows it's Springtime when animals begin to shed their fur so they can be cooler.

Leo knows it's Springtime when he can smell the daisies as they bloom outside.

Christine know it's Springtime when she can smell fresh air all around when she is outdoors.

Thad knows it's Springtime when he can see the sun shine on the snow and the snow begins to melt.

Ali knows it's Springtime when people are running around in shorts and not bundled up in snow pants.

Karyn knows it's Springtime when she sees bumble bees collecting nectar and pollen from flower to flower.

Michael knows it's Springtime when he sees the young elks scratch the velvet off their antlers while rubbing against a tree.

Ryan know it's Springtime when he can see the tulips grow outside his window.

Tori knows it's Springtime when she can see ice-cream stands outside by the boats.

Jordan knows it's Springtime when he can go to the Outdoor waterpark and go under the water mushrooms.

Rosie knows it's Springtime when the Roses are blooming white and blue in her backyard garden.

Rolands knows it's Springtime when he can see he leaves bloom on the trees and they are no longer bare as in the winter.

Nick B. knows it's Springtime when he stars playing soccer outside on the Cumberland Fields.

Danielle knows it's Springtime when the temperature warms up to 70 degrees and you can play outside in short sleeved shirts.

Nick F. knows it's Springtime when the birds come to his feeder and they eat a lot of seeds.

Chase knows it's Springtime when lots of people are playing and flying kites at the beach.

September knows it's Springtime when she can go outside and play basketball with friends

Learning Standards

Reading - Demonstrates competence in general skills and strategies for reading a variety of literary texts.
Demonstrates competence in general skills and strategies for reading a variety of informational texts.

Writing - Demonstrates competence in the general skills and strategies of the writing process. Demonstrates competence in the stylistic and rhetorical aspects of writing.

Technology (NETS) - Uses technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity. Uses telecommunications to collaborate, publish, and interact with peers, experts, and other audiences.