As the world comes alive in spring with buzzing bees, blooming flowers, and muddy puddles so does a child’s natural instinct to explore, question, and discover! This season of growth offers endless opportunities to nurture young learners' scientific curiosity through STEM-rich, play-based learning.
From testing how rainwater flows to building twig towers, spring invites little learners to engage deeply in hands-on, inquiry-driven exploration. These early STEM experiences help children make sense of their world while developing critical foundational skills for future learning. Let’s dig into why STEM in the spring is so powerful for young childrenand how to spark their curiosity through simple outdoor play.
Why Spring is the Perfect Time for STEM Play
Spring is nature’s classroom. Its shifting weather, growing plants, and active wildlife make it ideal for introducing young children to the wonders of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
STEM in early childhood supports:
Observation & Inquiry Skills: Children ask questions, make predictions, and draw conclusions.
Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking: Through trial and error, they build resilience and creativity.
Early Numeracy & Measuring: Math is explored through counting, comparing, and sorting natural materials.
Exploration of Cause & Effect: Puddle jumping, water pouring, or shadow play leads to “aha” moments.
Engineering Mindsets: Stacking, balancing, and constructing with found materials builds spatial awareness.
By embedding STEM into nature play, educators and parents help children develop confidence, language, and logic skills they’ll use long after spring has passed.
Springtime STEM Activities to Inspire Young Scientists
Here are simple, nature-based STEM invitations perfect for outdoor classrooms, schoolyards, or backyards.
Seed Sorting and Sprouting
Explore early science and math with seeds!
What You Need:
• A variety of seeds (different shapes and sizes)
• Magnifying glasses
• Small containers or trays
• Spray bottles
• Paper towels or soil
STEM Learning:
- Count and compare seed types
- Sort by size, colour, or texture
- Observe germination and plant growth over time
Questions to Ask:
- “What do you think this seed will grow into?”
- “How do the roots change each day?”
Puddle Science & Water Flow
Turn rainy days into rich STEM investigations!
What You Need:
- Buckets, cups, and natural materials (sticks, rocks, leaves)
- Water (rain or hose!)
- Outdoor space with slopes or puddles
STEM Learning:
- Explore sinking and floating
- Test water speed and direction
- Build mini dams or channels
Questions to Ask:
- “What happens when we add more water?”
-
“Can you make the water change direction?”
Bug Hunt & Classification
Encourage curiosity and classification with insect exploration.
What You Need:
- Bug viewers, magnifying glasses
- Clipboards or nature journals
- Printable bug tally sheets
STEM Learning:
- Compare bugs by legs, wings, colours
- Count types found
- Discuss habitats and adaptations
Questions to Ask:
- “Where do you think this bug lives?”
- “Can you draw a bug with 6 legs?”
Bug Hunt Printables
Build a Nature Tower
Test balance and structure through outdoor engineering!
What You Need:
- Sticks, bark, pinecones, stones
- Flat outdoor surface
- Optional: rulers for measuring
STEM Learning:
- Explore height and balance
- Problem-solve design stability
- Measure and compare towers
Questions to Ask:
- “How tall can you build it before it falls?”
- “What materials make the best base?”
Encouraging STEM Through Language & Play
Even the simplest nature walk can be filled with STEM talk when adults model curiosity:
- Use STEM vocabulary: words like observe, measure, compare, experiment, predict, balance.
- Ask open-ended questions: “What do you notice?” “Why do you think that happened?”
- Encourage reflection: “What could we try next time?”
- Celebrate all attempts, successes and failures are part of the scientific process!
The Power of Inquiry Outdoors
When children explore outdoors, they develop a deeper understanding of the world through active, sensory learning. Nature offers the perfect mix of challenge, wonder, and open-ended possibility. With the right prompts, tools, and encouragement, every child can become a tiny scientist with big ideas.
And best of all? These lessons in resilience, experimentation, and discovery are lifelong.
Nurturing Young STEM Thinkers, Naturally
Supporting STEM thinking in early childhood doesn’t require fancy labs or expensive tools, it simply requires time outdoors, space to explore, and adults who value play-based, hands-on learning.
So this spring, let your learners dig in the dirt, question the clouds, build with sticks, and follow the ants. Their minds will be growing right alongside the flowers.
Make sure to tag us on social media if you try any of our ideas and follow us for more play based learning activites, process art and craft ideas on social media @ScholarsChoice on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest
