Celebrate Spring with Highlights
By Margie Hayes Richmond
Weather is likely the world's most common topic of conversation. People--friends and strangers alike--are comfortable talking about the weather. And seasons are a part of that conversation, too. So let's get the most out of that comfort level to get families involved at school.
Seasons impact much of what we do at schools, from curriculum to special programs. Since spring is the season that symbolizes coming out or bursting forth with renewed energy, plan a Spring Fling Family Night. Invite your students' families to come out and join in the fun. You can mix some "business" into the event if necessary, but parents may especially appreciate being invited to school for no reason other than fun. Certainly that approach goes a long way in building and increasing positive rapport between families and school.
We've included spring activities-Hidden Pictures®, crafts, stories, poems, puzzles, and more--from the Highlights® magazine and other Highlights products. You can copy these activities and put them in various Spring Fling Centers around the room. You will know best how to structure the evening--letting families choose an activity or doing some type of rotation system are two possibilities. If you choose not to do a special event, you can still use the activity sheets to send home for families to do together.
Sample Hidden Picture 146KB
Sample Poem, Puzzle, and Craft 244KB
Sample Story 121KB
The one thing we aren't able to supply is food, and we all know that any successful event needs food. Ask volunteers to help you--hard-boiled or deviled eggs, jellybeans, items with coconut colored green to symbolize grass, charoses (a spreadlike mixture of apples, raisins, and grape juice) and matzoh--whatever makes you think of spring. So break out of your winter shells for lots of fun and family relationship building.