UTAH families

Spring Learning Ideas

Spring is a great time for fresh ideas. Try something new...have an adventure.

Plant something
If you've never gardened, consider taking a class. Talk with a master gardner. Both of these can be located through your local extention office. Plant something you have never grown before. If you collected seed in the fall put them in the ground. Plant a tree. Learn to prune a tree. Learn about composting. Experiment with an herb garden. Learn to use fresh herbs in your kitchen. Plant some for their medicinal properties. Learn to landscape with flowers and other plants. If you have limited space, trycontainer gardening.

Go on a nature walk
Look for signs of spring. Listen for bird song. How many can you identify? Look for buds and bulbs beginning to grow. Watch for bugs and signs of animals life.

Start a nature notebook
Visit the canyon, Wheeler Farm, Hogle Zoo and parks for things to sketch. Try using pencils, watercolors and other mediums. Start watching the sky. When the sun comes up. Chart the weather.

Living science
Order a butterfly cage. Start an earthworm farm. If you are zoned for it, and have the space, get baby chicks or rabbits.

Get moving
Put the television away for awhile. Start walking or get out the bikes. Learn about heart rates as a family. Teach your kids to play hopscotch, four square, kickball, Duck-duck-goose. Take up a new sport: frisbee, badmitton, biking, hiking, basketball.

Spring projects
Spring cleaning: indoors and outdoor. Learn to repair a bicycle. Learn to make jam. Hang out a batch of laundry. Help a neighbor clean their yard.

Plan your family vacation
After all they are all educational, aren't they?

Reading Suggestions

How the Earth Works
This is part of Reader's Digest series. Watch for all of them. Fantastic hands-on science.

Anything by Holling Clancy Holling.

Field guides. Our favorites are by Golden Press and DK Publishing.

Look for nature books by Seymour Simon.

Eyewitness Books on weather, planets and lots of other nature subjects.

Carrots Love Tomatoes by Louise Riotte

Back to Basics, Published by Reader's Digest

Wild Days by Karen Rackliffe

Hang on mom, your almost there!