Free Printable - Animals in Spring - Montessori Nature Printables

Spring is a magical time of year when the world comes alive with new life. From baby mammals being born to birds chirping in the trees, there is so much to discover about animals in the spring season. Engaging preschool children in hands-on activities, providing them with resources, and offering free sorting printables can help them learn more about spring mammals and birds. By exploring these topics in a fun and educational way, children can develop a deeper appreciation for the wonders of nature. In this post, we will share some creative ideas and resources to help you teach preschoolers about spring mammals and birds through interactive activities and printable games.

About Spring Animals

Spring is a season of renewal and growth, and it brings about exciting changes in the animal kingdom. Mammals and birds are two types of animals that children often encounter during this time of year. While both mammals and birds can be seen in the spring, there are some key differences between the two that kids can learn about.

One main difference between spring mammals and birds is how they care for their young. Mammals give birth to live young and nurse them with milk, while birds lay eggs and care for their offspring by feeding them regurgitated food. This can be a fascinating topic for kids to explore and compare the ways different animals raise their babies.

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Another difference between spring mammals and birds is how they move and interact with their environment. Mammals, such as rabbits and squirrels, are typically land-dwelling creatures that walk, run, or hop on four legs. Birds, on the other hand, have wings and are able to fly, giving them a unique perspective of the world from above. Kids can learn about the different adaptations that mammals and birds have developed to survive and thrive in their habitats.

Additionally, spring is a time when many birds migrate to new areas for breeding and feeding opportunities, while most mammals tend to stay in their established territories. This can be a fascinating topic for kids to explore, as they learn about the journeys that birds take and the reasons behind their migrations.

Overall, learning about the differences between spring mammals and birds can help children develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the diversity of the animal kingdom. By observing these creatures in their natural habitats and engaging in hands-on activities, kids can gain a greater appreciation for the wonders of nature during the spring season.

Spring themed learning activities for children

In the springtime, the world comes alive with the sights and sounds of various animals, both mammals and birds, as they engage in activities such as building nests, foraging for food, and caring for their young. These seasonal changes provide the perfect opportunity for preschool students to explore and learn about the different animals that inhabit their environment. Through Montessori-inspired science activities, children can engage in hands-on experiences that encourage observation, exploration, and a deeper understanding of the natural world around them. Activities such as bird watching, creating bird feeders, studying the life cycles of mammals, and exploring animal habitats can nurture the curiosity and wonder of young learners while building important scientific skills. By connecting children to the natural world through these engaging activities, they can develop a greater appreciation and respect for the diverse wildlife that surrounds them during the spring season.

Animal Tracks Matching: Create a set of Montessori-style cards with images of different animal tracks, such as those of rabbits, squirrels, birds, and deer. Then, go on a nature walk and have preschoolers match the tracks they find in the dirt to the corresponding cards.
Bird Nest Building: Provide materials like twigs, grass, and leaves for preschoolers to create their own bird nests. Talk about the different types of birds that build nests and the materials they use. This hands-on activity promotes fine motor skills and creativity.
Mammal Sorting Activity: Create a sorting activity with pictures of mammals found in the spring, such as rabbits, squirrels, and deer. Have preschoolers categorize the animals based on different criteria such as size, habitat, or diet.
Bird Feeder Making: Help preschoolers make simple bird feeders using pine cones, peanut butter, and birdseed. Hang the feeders outside and observe the different types of birds that come to feed. This activity promotes caring for animals and teaches children about bird behavior.
Mammal Habitat Exploration: Set up a sensory bin with different materials representing habitats where mammals live, such as grass, twigs, and rocks. Include toy animals like rabbits, squirrels, and deer for preschoolers to play and learn about different mammal habitats.
Bird Watching Journal: Create a bird watching journal for preschoolers to record their observations of birds in the spring. Include prompts for drawing or writing about the birds they see, their colors, and behaviors. This activity encourages observation skills and fosters an appreciation for nature.
Animal Life Cycle Matching: Use Montessori-style cards to teach preschoolers about the life cycles of spring mammals and birds. Include pictures of baby animals, adults, and their habitats to help children understand the stages of growth and development in these animals.
Animal Sound Matching: Play recordings of animal sounds from spring mammals and birds for preschoolers to match with the corresponding animals. This activity helps children learn about the vocalizations of different animals and promotes auditory discrimination skills.
Outdoor Animal Scavenger Hunt: Create a scavenger hunt with clues related to spring mammals and birds for preschoolers to search for in the outdoor environment. Provide binoculars or magnifying glasses to help them observe animals from a distance.
Animal Storytelling and Puppet Play: Use puppets or stuffed animals to act out stories about spring mammals and birds. Encourage preschoolers to create their own animal stories to promote creativity and language development.

Free Spring Animals

You are invited to download our free spring printables – learning printables for preschool and kindergarten children with animals in spring. Use these resources Mammals and Birds sorting cards and Animals in Spring watercolor matching cards to create hands-on science activities for your students.

Children will learn to differentiate between mammals and birds and work to improve their concentration and fine motor skills. This resource will come in handy if you are planning to refresh your shelf work with spring-themed activities, learning about different types of birds and vertebrates in your Montessori and early childhood classroom.

Free printable Animals in Spring – Matching Cards

There are many uses for the printable. Teach new vocabulary, point out differences in conditions for animals between winter and spring seasons, and make glue-and-paste activities.

Younger children can be encouraged to match colored animal pictures to the black-and-white version.

Cut animal cards, laminate them, and attach hook and loop dots to add an extra challenge for little fingers. Older children, as I mentioned before, might be inspired to create their own book of animals in spring, glue cutouts, or draw and label the animals.

Here is what’s included:

Animals in spring watercolor cards for littles (pre-k and K students) – match, glue onto a watercolor spring background, and learn new words.

10 x spring-themed elements for matching
1 x spring-themed background
1 x animals in the spring page for matching

Print out the spring animals printable on cardstock or thicker paper for durability.
Cut out the individual spring-themed elements and animals on the Animals in the Spring page.
Show the spring-themed background to your child and have them identify the different elements on the background.
Ask your child to match each spring-themed element with the corresponding animal on the animals in the spring page.
Once the matching is complete, have your child glue the animals onto the spring background in the correct locations.
As your child is matching and gluing, encourage them to learn and say the names of the different animals and elements on the printable.
Display the completed Spring Animals watercolor cards in your child’s room or around the house to reinforce their learning and as a fun spring-themed decoration.

Cards for sorting that present birds and mammals in the spring season. Each card comes with a label.

2 x label cards
10 x labeled cards featuring birds in spring
10 x labeled cards featuring mammals in spring.

Print out the spring animals printable and cut out each card along the dotted lines.
Separate the cards into three groups: the label cards, the bird cards, and the mammal cards.
Show the label cards to your child and explain the difference between birds and mammals. Discuss some characteristics of each group, such as how birds have feathers and lay eggs, while mammals have fur and give birth to live young.
Have your child match each bird card to the bird label card and each mammal card to the mammal label card. Encourage them to talk about each animal as they place the cards in the correct categories.
As an extension activity, you can have your child sort the bird and mammal cards based on other characteristics, such as size, color, or habitat.
Use the spring animals printable as a spring-themed learning activity for your preschooler, helping them develop their sorting and categorization skills while learning about different animals that can be seen in the spring season.

Age: Preschool ages 3 – 6 years

Subjects and uses in the classroom: North America Study, Bird Unit, Nature Table, Science Centers