Happy First Day of Spring: Classroom Activities for You

Spring is here, and your students can feel it. Longer days, warmer weather, and fresh starts make the first day of spring the perfect moment to lean into learning. With the right lessons, you can turn that excitement into real engagement.

Whether you call it the spring equinox or just the start of a new season, this is a chance to explore science, reading, and writing in ways that feel timely and fun. They’re sure to help you set up a happy first day of spring in your classroom.

Jump to:

• Discover the science behind the spring equinox
• Prepare for spring with ELA activities

[Discover the science behind the spring equinox](id-sci)

Key takeaways:

• Seasonal science lessons help students explain real-world changes they notice outdoors.
• Spring phenomena connect Earth science, life science, and weather concepts.
• Hands-on STEM activities make abstract seasonal ideas more concrete.

Spring and other changing seasons create natural curiosity. Students notice longer days, new plants, and more animals outside. Use those observations to anchor science instruction in ways that feel timely, meaningful, and connected to students’ lives.

What is the spring equinox, and when does it happen?

The spring equinox is the moment when day and night are almost equal length. It usually happens between March 20 and March 22 in the Northern Hemisphere. These resources help students understand what the equinox is, why the date shifts, and how changes in daylight shape our lives on Earth. Dive into topics like:

• The etymology of the word “spring”.
• Why daylight and darkness balance out during the spring equinox.
• How plants adapt and reproduce as seasons change.

How can students tell the difference between butterflies and moths?

Butterflies and moths both come out in the springtime, and it’s easy for students to mix them up. This lesson helps students compare physical traits and behaviors while practicing close reading and observation skills. Follow these steps to implement the lesson:

• Assign an article comparing the physical and behavioral characteristics of butterflies and moths.
• Share an article about how insects use sensory organs.
• Have students complete a Venn diagram as they read to track similarities and differences.

Why do seasons change throughout the year?

Spring doesn’t happen by chance. Earth’s tilt and orbit control how much sunlight different regions get. These resources help students connect the equinox to bigger ideas about Earth’s movement and seasonal patterns across the globe:

• An article that explains the science behind changing seasons.
• An infographic that shows how the Earth’s tilt affects the change of seasons in different hemispheres.
• An article explaining why the northern and southern hemispheres have flipped seasons.

Why do plants and animals change during spring?

Spring signals growth, movement, and survival strategies. These resources help students explore how living things respond to changes in temperature, daylight, and food availability. With this lesson, they can:

• Explore why monarch caterpillars get aggressive when they don’t eat enough.
• Read about the role earthworms play in our ecosystem.
• Learn why daylight saving time affects humans, insects, and animals.

Which insects are most active in the spring?

Warmer temperatures bring insects back to the surface. These resources help students learn how insects survive, adapt, and function in different environments. They can:

• Discover how ants use adaptation methods to survive in extreme environments.
• Learn how bees navigate their environment at night using visual cues from their surroundings.
• Review the different ways insects breathe.

Celebrate the arrival of spring with STEAM projects

Hands-on projects allow students to test ideas and see science in action. These activities work well as class demonstrations, small-group challenges, or enrichment opportunities.

How does a cloud form during spring weather?

Spring often brings rain, making clouds a good focus for a science lesson. This activity helps students visualize how precipitation forms using simple materials and clear steps. They can:

• Read about six different types of clouds and what they can reveal about the weather.
• Discover how precipitation—like rain, snow, hail, and sleet—forms.
• Create a cloud in a cup using a glass, water, shaving cream, and food coloring.

Can an egg survive a high drop?

Spring traditions make eggs a familiar material for engineering challenges. This activity blends life science reading with design thinking and problem-solving. Follow these steps to use it in your classroom:

• First, have students read about a bug’s life cycle and egg development.
• Then, read about how scientists have solved the debate of whether the chicken or the egg came first.
• Finally, ask students to create an egg safety device to protect an egg from a high drop.

Why use seasonal science videos in spring lessons?

Videos support visual learning and help simplify complex ideas. Using Newsela STEM with Generation Genius videos reinforces standards while keeping lessons engaging and accessible. Try these video selections:

K-2 Science:

• Four Seasons and Day Length
• Patterns in the Sky
• Introduction to Weather
• Heating and Cooling
• Introduction to Light
• Pollination and Seed Dispersal
• Plant Growth Conditions
• Plants Need Water and Light
• Sunlight Warms the Earth
• Parts of a Plant

3-5 Science

• Water Cycle
• Earth’s Orbit and Rotation
• Sun and Other Stars
• Extreme Weather Solutions
• Light Reflection & Vision
• Weather vs. Climate

6-8 Science

• Plant & Animal Cells
• Causes of Seasons
• Water Cycle
• Reproduction of Living Things
• Photosynthesis & Respiration
• Climate Zones & Ocean Currents
• Air Masses & Weather Fronts

Have a room full of students who prefer to read? Check out our spring articles collection instead!

[Prepare for spring with ELA activities](id-ela)

Key takeaways:

• Spring-themed texts help students explore change, renewal, and perspective.
• Paired fiction and nonfiction strengthen comprehension and critical thinking.
• Seasonal topics create natural ways to practice research, discussion, and writing.

Spring shows up everywhere in literature. Authors use the season to explore growth, reflection, and new beginnings. These ELA activities help you tap into that symbolism while building reading, writing, and analysis skills across genres.

Which poems help students capture feelings of spring?

Poetry offers short, powerful ways to explore seasonal imagery and mood. These selections invite students to notice language, tone, and how writers describe change in the natural world:

• “Spring Morning” by Marion Strobel
• “Instructions on Not Giving Up” by Ada Limón
• “The Spring Has Many Silences” by Laura Riding
• “Solstice” by Caroline Starr Rose
• “Lines Written in Early Spring” by William Wordsworth

How can paired texts deepen understanding of seasonal themes?

Paired texts help students compare ideas across genres while building critical literacy skills. These activities ask students to analyze how authors approach the same topic in different ways.

What can students learn from fictional and informational texts?

This paired text set blends storytelling with factual context. Students explore how seasons shape experiences while comparing a fictional narrative with a nonfiction explanation. Follow these steps to implement the lesson:

• Share the fictional Japanese story “Spring and Autumn” by Angela McAlister.
• Assign a nonfiction article that explores the characteristics of the four seasons and how they vary across regions.
• Have students complete a Venn diagram to compare and contrast how each represents seasonal elements.

How do myths explain the changing seasons?

Many ancient cultures used myths to explain natural events. This paired text analysis helps students contrast mythological explanations with scientific understanding. Follow these steps to implement the lesson:

• Assign the Greek myth of Persephone as retold by Angela McAllister, where students can learn how ancient people thought gods controlled the life cycle on Earth.
• Share a nonfiction article about the scientific principles that cause seasons to change.
• Ask students to complete a paired text analysis worksheet while focusing on the guiding question, “How do the genre and style of each text impact the author’s message?”

Why are insects a strong topic for spring research projects?

Spring brings bugs out from their winter hiding places. That makes them a timely research topic for ELA lessons. These resources support informational writing while helping students gather evidence from multiple sources:

• A video that lets students get up close and personal with insects.
• Articles that explore the job duties of an entomologist, or a person who studies bugs.
• Articles that show how different types of bugs eat, breathe, and protect themselves in nature.

Which spring holidays help students explore culture and tradition?

Spring has many holidays tied to renewal and hope. These topics give students opportunities to learn about different beliefs and traditions through informational reading. They can explore holidays like:

• The Jewish holiday of Passover
• The Christian holiday of Easter
• The Hindu holiday of Holi
• Iranian New Year, Nowruz

Celebrate a happy first day of spring with Newsela

Spring brings fresh energy into your classroom. When you pair that excitement with timely science and ELA content, learning feels more meaningful and connected. The right texts help students explore seasonal change while building reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.

If you’re not a Newsela customer yet, sign up for Newsela Lite and start your 45-day free trial. You’ll get access to high-quality spring resources that meet students where they are, so you can focus on creating a happy first day of spring that lasts well beyond one lesson.