10 Ways to Explore Nature in Spring

Spring is such a beautiful time of the year to get out and explore nature. Everything is fresh and new and there is so much to see and explore. Here are 10 fun ways to explore nature in spring.

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1. Look for signs of life. Look for tree buds, new flowers, fresh green grass, or a bird’s nest. Childhood Beckons recently went on a Signs of Spring Nature Hunt and found all sorts of beautiful things.

2. Look closely. Take a pair of binoculars, a magnifying glass, or your camera and look up close at nature. Examine a tree or a flower. Take a close look at a rock. I have some great tips for looking up-close at nature here.

3. Play in the rain. Jump in a puddle. Spring is the perfect time to play in the rain! Grab a rain coat and some rain boots and have a little fun. Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas recently had fun in the rain. Wordplayhouse shares five fun ways to play outside on a rainy day.

4. Plant a seed and watch it grow. There is no easier way to learn about plants and how they grow than to plant one yourself. It’s fascinating and kids love to water and care for their tiny little plants. Juggling With Kids show you how to make simple toilet paper tube planters, a great way to start those plants growing.

5. Dig for worms. Grab a small shovel or just use your hands and dig in the dirt. Examine the soil. How does it feel? What does it look like? And if you find a worm, yay! Your work paid off as you examine the worm and watch it wiggle. When you’re done, release it and watch it dig back into the soil. If you want to try to raise your own worms, Let the Children Play has a great post on creating worm farms.

6. Look for wildlife. Observe the birds in your backyard. Watch a turtle sunning itself on a log. Or, maybe you can find a toad hopping through your garden. Watch and learn. I have some great tips for teaching your children how to observe wildlife.

7. Do a weather experiment. Spring is an active time of the year for weather. Rain, thunderstorms, and often severe weather can occur. Weather Wiz Kids has a large selection of experiments you can try. Or, you can check out my post of 10 Ways to Learn About the Weather.

8. Learn about the wind. What makes the wind blow? Watch how it moves the trees or the grass. How does it feel on your skin? Fly a kite and see how the wind helps it stay up in the air. Or, make some homemade wind chimes, like these from Hands On: As We Grow, and listen to the beautiful music the wind makes.

9. Take care of your yard. Learn about nature by tending to it. Pull weeds and make a few dandelion chains while you’re at it. Plant seeds and tend to your garden. Plant flowers to beautify your yard. Learning to take care of nature teaches respect for it.

10. Collect nature. Look for flowers, sticks, or rocks. Nature is all around in spring and it’s fun to collect a few pieces. Set up a pretty nature display in the house. Or, make a nature wand like these from Sun Hats & Wellie Boots.

*Bonus Activity: Use your ears! Listen. what do you hear? Do you hear the birds? A cricket chirping? Strings, Keys and Melodies shares a great idea for a nature sounds walk.

How do you like to explore nature in the spring?