Judy’s Spring Tool Kit

It is time to celebrate Spring. The excitement of renewal is in the air as the natural world around us is coming alive with birds, buds, and bugs. Farmers and gardeners are planting seeds. So, let’s learn all about the sources of our food, the cycle of life, and the importance of taking good care of our planet (Earth Day is April 22). We also celebrate Spring holidays, such as Easter and Passover, and in Japan, Sakura Matsuri, the Cherry Blossom festivals.

We bring all this to life in our preschool, parent/child music and twos programs with these books, songs, crafts, and recipes. Now you can celebrate and explore the enchantments of Spring with your kids at home!

Art Project: Cherry Blossom Collage

Books:

Andy Warhol's Colors by Susan Goldman Rubin

Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

Who’s Awake in Springtime by Phillis Gershator, Mim Green

Science:

1. How Does a Seed Become a Plant?

2. Finding Spring in Your Yard

Music:

In My Garden by Raffi

Sakura: Japanese Cherry Blossom Song

Inch by Inch: sung by Pete Seeger

Recipe by Chef Noah: Bobba's Poppyseed Cake This is one of my great grandmother Olia's recipes. She was a legendary cook and baker. As with all of her recipes, she never indicates how long it should bake. In fact, we are lucky to have any specific measurements at all. She was 100% old school--a pinch of this, a handful of that. This recipe also makes amazing muffins. 1/2 cup oil 3/4 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 2 eggs 1 1/4 cups flour 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 cup poppyseeds mixed with 1/2 cup buttermilk Zest of 1 lemon (optional)

Mix ingredients and put in greased cake pan. Bake at 350 till done.