Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Mike Smith:
People have wondered about the reasons for the changing seasons for thousands of years. To explain the change from winter to spring, the ancient Greeks created a story about a beautiful queen who came back to earth from exile every year. Many other cultures have seasonal legends too.

This year, you can delve into the science of spring with your child. Read about the Vernal Equinox or count how many extra minutes of daylight there are in each day. Make it hands on—use a ball for the earth and a lamp for the sun, and you can explain how the tilt of the earth lets us enjoy spring!

Spring weather offers the opportunity to study the types of clouds. You could go on a picnic and spend a balmy afternoon identifying the clouds passing overhead. And why is spring so often windy? Find the answer, and then take advantage of the wind and go fly a kite!

Spring is also tornado and cyclone season! Get your young meteorologist started by studying how those storms start up and where they go. Incorporate geography with a map and stickpins to mark the progress of current weather events.

Take a little time this spring to just go outdoors. Go on a picnic, find a new walking trail, visit a park, arboretum, or scenic place. Have fun! And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.