Signs
of Spring: Make a Giant Timeline!
 What
does spring's journey look like in your hometown? You can show the
"big picture" of seasonal change by creating a huge classroom
timeline. Bring it to life with your observations of seasonal events
and data on weather, sunrise and sunset times, and more.
- Use
a roll of butcher paper or strips of chart paper to create a long
timeline. Tape it along one or more walls in the classroom. Use
a marker to divide the timeline into the number of weeks or months
your observations have covered, or will cover. (You can also make
a 3-layered timeline: One for sunlight data, one for weather data,
and one for plant and animal observations.)
- Organize
your signs of spring observations and data, beginning with the
earliest date. (If you've kept Signs of Spring journals
or checklists, start by pulling information from them.)
- Show
each sighting, bit of weather data, and other event on your timeline.
Use drawings, photographs, pictures cut from magazines, and other
materials to illustrate it. Use Post-it notes for
labels or written information, or simply write directly on the
timeline.
- Step
back and admire your creation.
- How
would you describe spring's arrival in your hometown? Look
for patterns.
- What
types of things happen around the same time?
- What
changes could have triggered other changes?
5.
Invite in other classrooms and families, and give them "tours"
of spring's journey! |
