Scientific Resources to Keep Your Child Busy in Spring
Spring is a time of great change.
With each day, there is more to discover and see. It is also fun to look for new sounds, smells, and colours outside – combined with activities for children to make and create. There couldn’t be a better time to get out in the garden or visit your local park to learn more about spring and how it affects animals, plants, and the weather.
We have plenty of resources to make learning fun for all. So much so, your child will want to get out and explore again the next day. Encourage your little ones to search for the signs of spring.
Search for pond life underwater
The Aquascope, which extends to 53cm, enables children to see underwater without getting wet. Visit a nature reserve and find a shallow pond or river/stream. Ask them to describe what they see. Fish? Worms? Dragonflies? Discuss the lifecycle of water-dwelling life forms. Why do frogs spend a few months underwater, concealed under piles of mud or leaves?
Study insects, leaves, and fossils in a portable magnifying pot
Encourage your child to collect and observe insects, leaves, and fossils. If they are feeling adventurous, why not also use the Giant Magnifying Pot as a mini-aquarium? Fill the pot 1/3 to 1/2 with pond water, then add fish and tadpoles. Study water-dwelling life forms up close. The lid provides 2.5x magnification and contains air holes. Don’t forget to return pond minibeasts back into the pond when finished.
Study spring flowers with magnifiers
Magnifying glasses with 3x magnification; ideal for those with little hands wanting to view plants and insects up close. We also have larger magnifiers suitable for older brothers/sisters and parents. Spring flowers such as daffodils, buttercups, and tulips bloom in gardens and fields. Discuss with your child why this happens in spring. Ask them to identify flowers. Plants need water, light, warmth, and soil or compost to grow. The showery weather gives them the water they need. The longer days mean they have more daylight and warmth from the sun which raises the temperature of both air and soil. Last year’s fallen leaves have decomposed into the soil, adding much-needed nutrients.
Capture and study flying insects and bugs
Insects flying too high? Use the butterfly net to catch them. Give the net to your child for them to view close up. Ask them to describe what they see and identify the insect or bug.
Examine bugs at 3x magnification
Using our Peephole Bug Viewers, simply put the peephole up to your eye and look through. Talk to your child about different types of bugs, from ladybirds to flies. Take this opportunity to discuss bees and wasps – why do they come out in spring? Seen a spider? Capture it with a cup and encourage your child to study it.
View things 30 TIMES CLOSER with our Powerscope
The Powerscope is an excellent resource for school trips and at home. Enables children to view objects, living things, and materials 30x closer. Put the magnifier side face down on whatever you want to study and look through the other side. Can even be used to examine ants on trees. What does an ant look like 30 times bigger? Encourage your child to look at a range of things, from their hand to plants to grass. Take this opportunity to look at trees budding and flowering as well as the life cycle of a tree. Also give an understanding of creatures that make trees their home, such as ants and birds.
EDUK8 Worldwide designs, develops and supplies a range of curriculum products to the education market both in the UK and abroad since 2001. We are acutely aware that the resources we supply have to meet the many challenges presented in our ever-evolving world. Our 'teach, learn and play' products for 3-14 mainstream and special needs are manufactured to the highest quality and durability standards using sustainable materials wherever possible.
We’d love to hear what you and your little ones get up to this spring. Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Use the hashtags #eduk8 #eduk8worldwide and don’t forget to tag us @eduk8worldwide!