Materials:
4 shallow trays
Grass seed
Water
Small animal and people figures
Crushed leaves
Small bowl
Sand
Masking tape
Instructions:
1. Beforehand, prepare the trays. For the spring tray, spread dirt on a tray, sprinkle it with grass seed and water the seeds. It will take a few days for the grass to grow. For the winter tray, freeze water in a tray. To make the fall tray, collect dried leaves, crush them and put them on a tray. For the summer tray, spread sand on the last tray and add a shallow bowl of water for a beach area. Add to the trays any other seasonal items, such as flowers, a plastic snowman or evergreen tree, a pumpkin and seashells.2. Divide the science table into four parts using masking tape. Label each section with a season. For very young children, add pictures to depict the seasons. Place the trays on the appropriate section. Encourage the children to touch and handle the materials in the trays.
3. Use this hands-on approach to help children distinguish and interact with the seasons.
More to do
Games: Once the children can distinguish between the seasons, mix up the picture/word cards, and play a season identification game.
More science: Put the trays on the floor and let the children explore the sense of touch by feeling the contents of the trays with their bare feet.
