"That is one good thing about this world ... There are always sure to be more springs."
- L.M. Montgomery

Spring holds a special place in my heart. I truly enjoy all four seasons in moderation (I live in the south, so winters are not extreme though summer is a different story). However, there is something special about spring.

I love feeling the warm sun on my face, watching the flowers grow, and enjoying the extra birds in our yard. Full disclosure, as a mom, I also appreciate the little bit of quiet that comes from my boys spending so much time playing outside in the spring after the cold days of winter.

The new plant and animal life gives me hope and joy. As Laura Ingalls Wilder once said, “Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat.”

Benefits of a Spring Scavenger Hunt

A spring scavenger hunt is a perfect way to get everyone outside in the warm fresh air. It is a fun activity that can be enjoyed by the whole family or a group of friends. In this post I will give you ideas for how to use this scavenger hunt with MULTIPLE AGES.

In addition to being fun and getting children (and adults) outside, there is a lot of learning with a spring scavenger hunt. It can be a great way to spark interest in nature study (and music, literature, and more!), a chance to expand on learning about different nature topics, and an opportunity to encourage physical activity.

Spring Scavenger Hunt Directions

You can pick a time that works well for your family or save it for a day when things are not going well, and you need a homeschool reset. (You could even call an official “day off” and head out on a field trip to a local spot with a picnic lunch, read alouds, and the scavenger hunt printable.

Simply print out the scavenger hunt printable, grab a pencil to mark off what you find, and get going.

This scavenger hunt will use more than just sight - we will be encouraging our children to LISTEN for signs of spring, too.

You can choose to do the scavenger hunt in your backyard or take a ride to a local park or hiking trail. It might even be fun to try it in a couple of different locations and discuss the differences in what you can find.

Spring Scavenger Hunt Modifications and Variations

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant."
- Anne Bradstreet

Depending on your location, the ages and interests of your students, and how much time you want to spend on your scavenger hunt, you may want to make some simple modifications.

For example, if you have young children, you may want to keep it very simple and look for a bird, a leaf, a flower. You may have older children look for more specific items, such as a cardinal or a blue jay.

You can also incorporate more nature study into your scavenger hunt by having them identify the specific types of plants and animals. Students can use field guides and other resources to identify the birds, trees, flowers, etc.

For preschoolers, you could work together and do a color hunt. Spring is full of new colors from flowers, birds, and more.

If you want students to complete the project independently or make it a little more exciting for them, you can turn it into a photo scavenger hunt. Give each child or team a camera and have them take a photograph of the items on their list.

You could do the scavenger hunt together as a family or turn it into a friendly family competition to see who can find the most items on their list in a given time.

In this free scavenger hunt download you can print two different versions - one with words for your readers and one without words for your pre-readers!

Downlaod the Printable

Additional Resources and Extensions

One of the great benefits of a spring scavenger hunt is that it requires nothing more than a pencil and a piece of paper. However, if you enjoy the scavenger hunt and want to extend your learning, a few resources could be helpful.

Reading picture books about spring and gardening is a great way to engage young children before or after your hunt. Some of our favorites are the Tales of Beatrix Potter, Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert, and When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes.

Favorite Books for Spring also has many book suggestions.

Field guides can help you learn more about what you found on your scavenger hunt. There are many excellent guides, but we like the Peterson First Guides. They are small and easy to carry, and they are also simple enough for elementary students to use.

SQUILT LIVE! Music Appreciation is offering an entire month of nature and music studies in April 2022 (available afterward in their archives, too!). Lessons include Vivaldi’s Spring, Schubert’s Trout Quintet, and an entire month of listening selections having to do with “The Nature of Music”. There will even be a nature study lesson from Miss Cindy at No Sweat Nature Study!

Finally, if your children are interested in the insects they find on their scavenger hunt, I recommend Pets in a Jar .

We have used this book for years in our home, and it is a favorite for helping my children safely keep the insects they find. It explains what each insect needs for shelter, food, and water. We provide the insect with a safe home for a few days while the children get to observe it up close. Then when they are done, we can release the insects back into the wild.

Beatrix Potter: The Complete Tales Planting a Rainbow When Spring Comes Pets in a Jar: Collecting and Caring for Small Wild Animals (Puffin Science Books)Peterson Field Guide To Birds Of North America, Second Edition (Peterson Field Guides)Birds (Peterson Field Guide Color-In Book)Peterson First Guide to Butterflies and Moths Vivaldi's Four Seasons Thornton Burgess 26-Book Set

I hope you enjoy this spring scavenger hunt as much as our family.

What other signs of spring do you see in your neighborhood?

This post is from contributing writer, Dawn Peluso.

Dawn is a passionate follower of Jesus, wife to Chris, and homeschool mom of four. In her spare time she loves to read, hike, and write on her blog Schoolin’ Swag. She enjoys reviewing curriculum and helping moms find the right fit for their families. Some of her favorite parts of homeschooling are hymn studies, living history, and read alouds. She and her children also enjoy incorporating food into their studies as often as possible.

Spring Fun: Activities for All Ages

Let Them Be Little: Cultivating Wonder in Your Homeschool

October 31, 2017 marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

Whether you decide to have an enormous celebration, or just touch on the life of Martin Luther, it is a subject that is important to share with our children. The Reformation shaped the landscape of Christianity and civilization for the next 500 years - and the Reformation continues to this day.

Martin Luther was ANYTHING but boring - he was fiery, humorous, and shocking. His personal quirks were interesting to say the least. Because of this, kids always enjoy learning about him!

(I also just finished a wonderful Martin Luther biography - well worth your time to read!)

This subject can be HUGE, however, so I like to break it down for kids.

Luther was known for three things:

The doctrine of salvation by faith alone
The belief that Scripture should be translated into the people's language
The birth of congregational singing. He felt that music was of God, not of man. He was determined to restore congregational singing in the German language to the Church.

I've put together this list of resources and also a special free gift for you to help you celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Enjoy!

“You are the worst rascal of all the rascals on the earth!”

— from Against the Roman Papacy, an Institution of the Devil (Martin Luther)

Martin Luther was NOT meek or mild. He could sometimes be offensive. He challenged the religious order of the day.

When I began teaching my children about him, I turned (as I always do) to good books. And remember, I always keeps things SIMPLE. Less is more.

Once we discovered a subject through a book I could then tell if my children wanted to explore further - I would add in notebooking, lapbooking, projects, field trips - as their interest continued.

Books About Martin Luther For Kids

When my children were young we read Martin Luther: A Man Who Changed the World over a span of two weeks during our Morning Time. I then used the book with my 4th-6th grade Sunday School class. It's a fabulous read aloud and accurate depiction of Martin Luther's life.

Martin Luther: A Man Who Changed The World Did Martin Luther Go On a Diet of Worms? (Church History for Kids) (Volume 2)Luther: Echoes of the Hammer [(Martin Luther : A Reforming Spirit)] [By (author) Tamara Leigh Hollingsworth] published on (July, 2012)The Barber Who Wanted to Pray

Movies About Martin Luther

Another simple way to get an overview of a subject is through a good documentary or movie.

The Torchlighters video (if you haven't watched these they are GREAT - and included with an Amazon Prime membership) is perfect for all ages, and the other two videos I recommend are better for upper elementary and older.

Torchlighters: The Martin Luther Story Here I Stand: The Life and Legacy of Martin Luther Martin Luther

This video is EXCELLENT! The Story of Luther & The Reformation -- great for the entire family.

Notebooking & Martin Luther

Notebooking is the perfect way to delve a bit deeper into a subject. Take the knowledge from those books and movies and have your children document what they are learning. (We love to look back at our notebooks now that my children are older!)

We always turn to Notebooking Pages - they have a beautiful set about Martin Luther and other famous people of the Reformation.

Learn About Martin Luther and the Reformation

Learn About Martin Luther & The Reformation

Martin Luther & Music

Luther's first hymnal was published in 1524. It contained eight hymns, four written by himself. Later hymnals were also published for congregational use. He urged people to use the hymns at home and encouraged parochial schools to teach them to their students.

Working with skilled musicians, Luther also created new music for church choirs, organ, and other instruments during his life. And after his death in 1546, the first line of "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" was inscribed on his tomb.

Here's a simple organ arrangement of the hymn:

Another hymn by Martin Luther - done in a more contemporary style:

For a full listing of Martin Luther's hymns, visit Hymnary.org.

Other Activities to Learn About the Reformation

Free Reformation Unit Study & Lapbook from Homeschool Share

Teach Children a Reformation Hymn -- practical ideas to get your kids singing!

Make a Diet of Worms Cake!

Art Activities and Craft Ideas for Reformation Day

Luther Rose Coloring Sheet and The Meaning of the Luther Rose

Free Printable Martin Luther coloring book (for littles)

The Reformation in LEGOS (kids can build while you read aloud about Martin Luther!)

Make a Luther Rose Snowflake Cut Out

The Words of Martin Luther Copywork

I've created a FREE download to help you teach your children about Martin Luther.

There are print and cursive downloads available. Each download contains 10 quotes from Martin Luther.

Combine this copywork with an engaging read aloud, a craft, and some hymn study and you have a simple celebration of Martin Luther for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation!