Sometimes, at this point in the year, we start just going through the motions of teaching rather than keeping things interesting for our students. I get it! It’s so close to the end of the school year, and a lot of us are just counting down the days until summer break! This is also the time of year when we see “spring fever” behaviors coming out – could it be that our complacency is creating a little boredom in children so they are figuring out their entertainment because you didn’t plan anything engaging?! Ouch, right?
So, today, I’m giving you just a few ideas to bring something new and fun into your classroom during these last few weeks without too much extra work. Hopefully, this will make the end of the year extra FUN for you AND your students:
For Infants (Tummy Time & Sensory Stimulation)
Spring-Themed Tummy Time Mat – Place baby on a blanket with textured fabric flowers, crinkly leaves, or soft toy animals. Encourage reaching and touching to develop motor skills and sensory awareness.
Bubbles & Breezes – Blow bubbles near the baby while they are on their back or tummy. Let them watch, reach, and react. If outside, gently let them feel a soft breeze. This supports visual tracking, hand-eye coordination, and early sensory exploration.
For 1-Year-Olds (Exploring Through Movement & Simple Sensory Play)
Springtime Sensory Bottles – Fill clear plastic bottles with spring-themed items like flower petals, colorful pom-poms, small plastic insects, or water with glitter. Seal tightly and let little ones shake, roll, and observe. This supports visual tracking, fine motor skills, and cause-and-effect learning.
Nature Basket Exploration – Provide a basket with safe natural materials like pinecones, large smooth stones, and fresh herbs (like rosemary or lavender). Let children feel, smell, and explore the different textures and scents. This fosters sensory development and early curiosity.
For 2-Year-Olds (Exploring with Senses & Simple Cause-and-Effect)
Springtime Water Play – Set up a shallow bin with cups, plastic flowers, rubber ducks, and toy frogs. Let little ones scoop, pour, and splash. This introduces concepts like sinking, floating, and cause-and-effect while providing a sensory-rich experience.
Spring Garden Sensory Bin – Fill a bin with potting soil and add plastic flowers, small shovels, and plastic worms or bugs. Let children dig, scoop, and “plant” flowers. This supports fine motor skills, imaginative play, and sensory exploration.
For 3-Year-Olds (Hands-On Discovery & Problem-Solving)
Bug Hunt in the Classroom – Hide plastic insects around the room and give children magnifying glasses to search for them. Once they find a bug, invite them to describe its color, shape, and number of legs. This encourages observation and classification skills.
Rainbow Science with Water – Provide clear cups of water with red, yellow, and blue food coloring. Give children droppers to mix colors in empty cups, discovering how new colors form. This simple experiment builds curiosity and early science understanding.
For 4-Year-Olds (Inquiry-Based Exploration & Early STEM)
Wind and Weather Investigation – Provide lightweight objects like feathers, cotton balls, and tissue paper. Let children predict which items will move in the wind, then test by blowing on them or using a small fan. Encourage them to compare and explain what happens.
Build a Bird’s Nest – Offer twigs, yarn, grass clippings, and mud (or playdough) for children to construct their own “bird nests.” Show real pictures of nests and talk about how birds gather materials. Maybe you can find a real nest to explore? This sparks creativity and encourages problem-solving.
I hope these ideas will give you a jumpstart on some additional things you could maybe add to your classroom to keep things FRESH for you and for them. Remember, if you’re bored in your classroom, the children probably are too!
You might also take a listen to our latest podcast episode, where Stephanie Rogers and I talk about seven different ways that children learn! You will definitely NOT be bored, and you’ll get tons of new ideas for filling every day with fun and learning!
Cheering you on this week!
-Your ECCN team
Listen to this podcast episode with host Monica Healer now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
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