“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. . .” Ecclesiastes 3: 1
“Spring is the time of plans and projects.” – Leo Tolstoy
We are three months into 2025, and winter is wearing thin. Even we homeschoolers are beginning to feel the stirrings of spring fever. March does more than hint at the arrival of spring! It shouts it! Who isn’t ready for the first day of spring on March 20th?
Spring is a special time when flowers and trees bud and bloom, birds return to our feeders, and the days grow longer. If you haven’t noticed the impact of spring fever on your homeschoolers yet, you might this month. Spring fever may prompt your kids to complain more about their schoolwork and to show less focus. They get antsy. They find any excuse to get outside as the weather warms up. Even parents are eager to enjoy the outdoors! While March brings us many activities and celebrations, parents can sometimes feel pressured to balance their children's academics with the other great extracurricular activities available this month.
So, how do parents manage homeschooling and other activities when spring fever sets in? Let me assure you, it has nothing to do with the luck of the Irish! As always, it takes careful selection and planning.
In March, I have always enjoyed incorporating a few fun activities into my students’ planned coursework so that they can burn some energy while enjoying learning. For starters, let’s consider these projects:
Conduct a nature study of birds or frogs
Explore a topic such as Pi Day and give a presentation
Plan a hands-on project such as planting or constructing
Act in a Shakespeare play like Julius Caesar Act 3
Read aloud or memorize poetry
With that in mind, I’ve compiled a few tried-and-true extracurricular activities for March that my homeschoolers and I have enjoyed.
Pi Day
Congress designated March 14 as Pi Day to encourage interest in math and science. The date corresponds to the numerical value 3.14, which represents the first digits of Pi. When we see a circle, we see Pi. Pi is a constant that allows us to calculate the circumference of a circle. It is also used in various physics, astronomy, and engineering formulas. Interestingly, this day is also Albert Einstein's birthday!
Pi is captivating because it continues indefinitely, reminding us of God's eternal nature. Psalm 93:2 states, "Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity.” It’s good to know that our Eternal God cares about every detail of our lives, including homeschooling.
In our homeschool, we had a great time celebrating Pi Day. We set up math centers for the kids to engage in. These centers included measuring the circumference, diameter, and radius of pizzas, pies, or cakes, among others. We also organized contests to see who could memorize the most digits of Pi.
For free Pi Day activities, downloads, and videos, visit:
The Ides of March
The Ides of March is the day on the Roman calendar that marks the midpoint of March—March 15th on the Gregorian calendar. In 44 BC, it became known as Julius Caesar's assassination date. My middle school and high school homeschool students enjoyed researching Caesar’s rise to power, his military conquests, his dictatorship, and his assassination.
For videos and activities, such as Lessons from Caesar’s Life, the Student Role Play of a Roman Senate Simulation, Digital Learning, and Free Julius Caesar printables, visit:
My homeschoolers loved acting, so they performed Act 3 of Julius Caesar using a modern English version. This can be done with a family if you modify or a few homeschool co-op kids. They had fun putting together costumes and props and learning their parts.
For a free download of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and an option to choose a modern version of the play, visit No Sweat Shakespeare at:
Celebrate Poetry
March 21st is World Poetry Day. Reading poetry is an excellent way to encourage creativity, broaden vocabulary, and improve reading comprehension and writing skills. Reading poetry aloud develops the skill of reading with expression and emotion. Here are a couple of suggestions for reading poetry aloud (both on Amazon):
Read-Aloud Poems for Young People: Readings from the World’s Best Loved Verses by Glorya Hale
Poetry for Young People: Walt Whitman by Jonathan Levin
Memorization and recitation used to be essential requirements of a typical education. Today, some believe memorizing is no longer necessary since information is readily available online. However, did you know that memorization is beneficial for the brain? In fact, the more we exercise our brains, the better we can retain general information. One primary reason to encourage our students to memorize poetry is that it enhances focus. Three fun classic poems to memorize can be found at https://www.poetryfoundation.org/search:
My Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson
A Bird Came Down by Emily Dickinson
Jabberwocky by Lewis Carol
Poetry books with poems that I have used for memorizing are:
Poems to Learn by Heart ed. by Caroline Kennedy
A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson
For information on how to memorize poetry, visit this link: https://charlottemasoninternational.com/how-to-memorize-poems-the-charlotte-mason-way/
Celebrate Spring!
Gardening
Kids love pizza, so they might enjoy creating a pizza garden! A pizza garden is like any other, but nearly every vegetable grown can be used on a pizza—including vegetables and herbs. For helpful tips on everything from choosing the right spot to what to plant and how to care for and observe your garden, visit: https://therootgardener.com/how-to-grow-a-pizza-garden-with-your-kids/
Our kids also loved planting seeds in egg cartons for a little easier project. We planted everything from beans to herbs. Just save your egg cartons, buy some seeds and potting soil, and have fun! For visuals and ideas visit: https://rainorshinemamma.com/2015/03/06/egg-carton-seed-starter-fo
Nature Study
What better month for a nature study than March, when birds return to our backyards and the world blooms? Nature study is the observation of the world around us. This exploration can last a few days, weeks, or even longer. God’s creation serves as a remarkable teacher. Our nature studies expanded our focus from plants and animals and included birds and frogs. I let kids choose a subject they wanted to focus on.
· Bird Unit Study
While many bird studies are available online, I especially like Audubon for Kids. It is user-friendly and offers kids a variety of options.
Visit https://www.audubon.org/ for details about specific birds and local species in your area.
For a free bird observation journal, go to https://natureinspiredlearning.com/
We have enjoyed making hummingbird feeders and making our own nectar. For tips on making your own feeder and nectar, visit this website: https://www.audubon.org/news/how-make-hummingbird-nectar
· Frog Unit Study
Our family knows spring has arrived when we hear frogs croaking. A unit that stimulates excitement is studying and observing the lifestyle of frogs, from tadpoles to adults.
For steps in the life cycle of a frog and free downloads, visit:
Hands-on Projects: Construction
Building Birdhouses
Construction projects develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They also enhance fine motor skills and coordination and boost creativity and confidence. Best of all, they are a great way to bond with our kids! To find out which birdhouse works for birds in your area and to download free birdhouse plans, visit: https://nestwatch.org/news/nest-box-plan-upgrade/
If you wish to purchase a book of birdhouse plans, consider this one:
The Complete Book of Birdhouse Construction for Woodworkers (Dover Crafts: Woodworking) by Scott D. Campbell (https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Birdhouse-Construction-Woodworkers-Woodworking/dp/0486244075?&linkCode=ll1&tag=diyhsr-20&linkId=0da202da1075e1e2cb1a6046a5121488&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl).
Building a Raised Garden Bed
For how to construct a raised garden bed, visit this Lowes page:
As you can see, spring fever doesn't have to disrupt our planned coursework if we incorporate a few exciting extracurricular activities into our lesson plans. These activities allow us to maintain high academic standards for our students while having fun along the way. Active learning engages our students and harnesses all the extra energy that spring fever inevitably brings.
God Bless and Happy Spring!
Patricia (Patty) Huey founded Hill Creek Christian, a program for homeschoolers in Mount Vernon, WA, where she taught and directed for 25 years. Her memoir, A 21st-Century One-Room Schoolhouse, is a testament to the power of faith and the calling to homeschool. Patty is a regular contributor to Grace Publishing’s Short and Sweet series. She is currently writing her second book, Tripp’s Time Travels, which invites the reader into a deeper relationship with God.
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