Spring is upon us. Beautiful sights, sounds, colors and smells of spring are a great inspiration for writing. Try out these spring writing activities designed for third graders. These spring writing ideas are all perfect for decorating bulletin boards too.
Spring Mystery Poems
Show not tell is an important concept for descriptive writing. Thus, have students think up a vibrant symbol of spring and write about this object in detail. Some ideas are flower, butterfly, kite and garden. Here is an example of a poem using the word Seed. Students can read the poem without the title and students guess the mystery word.
Seed
Planted in the ground
Peeking through the soil
Green shoots of nature
Bursting full of color
Teachers, these poems are easy for students to write on a word processing program. Print them out, back them on bright construction paper and display.
Simile Petals
Give students cardboard petal and circle templates. Have students trace and cut out various flower petals from different colors of construction paper. The circle will be used for the flower’s center. Then have them write a simile on each petal. Here is an example: My flower’s petals are like a lion’s mane. For the flower center, have children write simile in big letters and then its definition: A comparison of two unlike things or ideas using like or as. Have student’s cut out a stem and leaves. On the stem they can write Figurative Language vertically. Finally, have them decorate the leaves and flower.
Descriptive Paragraph
Have students describe their ultimate garden. It could be a flower garden, a butterfly garden, a vegetable garden or even a cactus garden. In their paragraph, students should include figurative language, such as personification or a simile. They should also include an adjective and adverb. Have student’s underling the figure of speech, circle the adjective and put a box around the adverb. After they are done, they can glue their final draft onto a big piece of construction paper. On the top half of the construction paper, allow them to make a picture of their garden. Or choose from one of these beautiful gardening printables.
Summary
Choose a children’s book about spring and read it to children orally. Discuss with children major themes and concepts. The next day read it to the children again. This time give students a story map or other graphic organizer to help them find the main events. If the story is a narrative, students will need to know the setting, main characters, conflict, sequence of events and resolution. After filling in a story map, students should write a short summary about the story. If the story is an expository, students will need to write about the main ideas and details. Here are some more tips on how to write a summary.
Spring is in the air!
