Spring into Math! Identifying the Season and Counting Signs of Spring

Math Grades 1st Grade 3:38 Video
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Lesson Description

Let's explore spring, learn about the seasons, and practice our counting skills with signs of spring!

Video Resource

Grade 1: Saxon Math Lesson #115 Identifying Spring Taking Math Outside

The Eagle's Nest - Our Online Classroom

Duration: 3:38
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Key Concepts

  • Identifying the season of spring.
  • Comparing and contrasting seasons.
  • Counting objects in nature.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify at least three signs of spring.
  • Students will be able to compare spring to other seasons (winter, summer, autumn).
  • Students will be able to count objects found in nature up to 20.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by watching the YouTube video 'Grade 1: Saxon Math Lesson #115 Identifying Spring Taking Math Outside'. Discuss with students what they already know about spring. Ask them what their favorite things about spring are.
  • Identifying Signs of Spring (10 mins)
    After watching the video, discuss the signs of spring that Mrs. Lawson found (pussy willows, maple sap, daffodils, wind, bird songs). Have students brainstorm other signs of spring (e.g., blooming trees, rain, warmer weather, insects). Write them on the board.
  • Season Comparison (10 mins)
    Discuss how spring is different from winter, summer, and autumn. Use Mrs. Lawson's examples of clothing. What clothes do we wear in each season? What activities do we do in each season? Create a simple chart comparing the seasons on the board.
  • Spring Scavenger Hunt (15 mins)
    Take the students outside for a short scavenger hunt to find signs of spring. If going outside isn't possible, have students draw pictures of signs of Spring and count each item. Have each student count how many of each thing they found and share with the class.
  • Word Problems (10 mins)
    Write Spring themed word problems on the board and have the students solve them either individually or in groups. Example: I saw 7 flowers at recess and 6 flowers after school. How many flowers did I see in total?

Interactive Exercises

  • Spring Drawing and Counting
    Have students draw a picture of a spring scene and then count different objects in their drawing (e.g., number of flowers, number of birds, number of trees).
  • Season Sorting Game
    Create cards with pictures of activities, objects, and clothing associated with each season. Have students sort the cards into the correct season.

Discussion Questions

  • What are some things you can only do in the spring?
  • How is spring different from winter? What about summer or fall?

Skills Developed

  • Observation skills
  • Counting skills
  • Comparison skills

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Which of these is a sign of spring?

Correct Answer: Blooming flowers

Question 2:

What month does spring start in?

Correct Answer: March

Question 3:

Which of these clothes would you NOT wear in the spring?

Correct Answer: A heavy winter coat

Question 4:

Maple sap can be collected from trees in which season?

Correct Answer: Spring

Question 5:

Which of these is something you might HEAR in spring?

Correct Answer: Birds singing

Question 6:

I saw 3 blue birds and 2 yellow birds. How many birds did I see in all?

Correct Answer: 5

Question 7:

If I find 10 flowers and give 4 away, how many do I have left?

Correct Answer: 6

Question 8:

What season comes AFTER Spring?

Correct Answer: Summer

Question 9:

What is the opposite of cold?

Correct Answer: Warm

Question 10:

How many months does Spring last?

Correct Answer: 3 months

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

One sign of spring is ___________ blooming.

Correct Answer: flowers

Question 2:

Spring comes after __________.

Correct Answer: winter

Question 3:

In spring, the weather gets ___________.

Correct Answer: warmer

Question 4:

Collecting maple ___________ is a sign of spring.

Correct Answer: sap

Question 5:

Birds build their ___________ in the spring.

Correct Answer: nests

Question 6:

We can count the ___________ we see in our backyard.

Correct Answer: flowers

Question 7:

___________ is the month that spring starts in.

Correct Answer: March

Question 8:

During Spring we see a lot of ___________.

Correct Answer: rain

Question 9:

I saw 5 bees and 2 butterflies. I saw ___________ insects in total.

Correct Answer: 7

Question 10:

The trees have new green ___________ in Spring.

Correct Answer: leaves

Educational Standards

CCSS.Math.Content.1.MD.C.4:Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories; ask and answer questions about the total number of data points, how many in each category, and how many more or less are in one category than in another. CCSS.Math.Content.1.NBT.A.1:Count to 120, starting at any number less than 120. In this range, read and write numerals and represent a number of objects with a written numeral. CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.A.1:Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

Teaching Materials

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