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Learning together Joyfully: March, 2025 – Sweet Breath of Spring.

Welcome back educators, parents, and grandparents! March bridges the gap between winter and spring. For farmers, the return of Daylight Saving Time brings hope for a bountiful harvest, while teachers gear up for a month dedicated to fostering a love of reading. What are all the important awareness events that happen in March 2025? St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17th. The Spring Equinox takes place on March 20th. You will find many songs, books, and activities about St. Patrick’s day, the Spring Equinox, and Springtime as you play, learn, and grow together in March.

Quick Links

Use these links to quickly navigate to specific sections within this blog!

  1. Read and Sing Together
  2. Create Together: Puzzles, Crafts, Drawing and Constructing
  3. Explore, Engage & Interact Together
  4. Healthy Living: Movement & Nutrition
  5. Reflect: Thoughts of the Day About Learning

1.  Read and Sing Together 📚

  • It is important for teachers and parents to focus on reading with students for the following reasons: It Shows children that reading is something achieved by focusing from left to right and that turning pages is essential for continuing; It Builds self-esteem, vocabulary, and even improves their sleeping patterns; It feeds their creativity and imagination; It Helps with language acquisition and stimulating the part of the brain that processes language; It Provides an opportunity to talk about real-world situations in age-appropriate ways.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY BOOKS: MARCH 17 – Help spread the luck of the Irish on March 17th as you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with your children! Listed below are several of our favorite St. Patrick’s Day books. Your students will love learning about Ireland, St. Patrick, and, of course, taking adventures with those mischievous little leprechauns!

  • St. Patrick’s Day  by Gail Gibbons. Every year on March 17th, people all over the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! In this bright picture book, nonfiction master Gail Gibbons tells you everything you need to know about this holiday. You’ll learn the story of Patrick’s life, legends about the saint, and the history of the holiday.From shamrocks to shillelaghs, Gail Gibbons’ signature combination of accessible text and clear, colorful illustrations creates a perfect introduction to a fun holiday.  A perfect introduction to the customs surrounding the holiday– parades, special meals, and of course wearing lots of green. Filled with facts, legends, and traditions, this book is ideal for kids learning about the holiday, Irish culture, and history.
  • Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie DePaola. An illustrated tribute to the Irish patron saint from the best-selling author of Quiet, Strega Nona, and many others.This timeless picture book, available in large-format paperback or as the board book Saint Patrick, is a perfect introduction to important Irish legends and an ideal St. Patrick’s day gift.Beloved children’s book author-illustrator Tomie dePaola recounts the life of Saint Patrick—from his noble birth in Britain, to his captivity in Ireland, to the visions which led him to return and found the first Christian church in Ireland. With his signature bold illustrations and engaging prose, Tomie dePaola recounts a number of legends about the Saint—including the well-known story of how he drove the snakes from Ireland, and his association with the shamrock.
  • Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato: An Irish Folktale by Tomie DePaola. A hilarious read-aloud inspired by Irish folklore that’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, featuring colorful artwork in Tomie dePaola’s signature style.Jamie O’Rourke is the laziest man in all of Ireland, far too lazy to help his wife on their farm. Then, after a chance encounter with a leprechaun, Jamie finds himself growing the biggest potato in the world. But what will happen when the potato grows too large for Jamie and the villagers to handle?
  • There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover! By Lucille Colandro.Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a twist on the classic song from the bestselling There Was an Old Lady series for kids! You’ll never guess what she’ll swallow next!There was an old lady who swallowed a clover.I don’t know why she swallowed the clover,But she didn’t roll over.It’s spring and the Old Lady is swallowing a clover, a butterfly, a daisy, and more! Herald spring with this joyful entry in the Old Lady series, full of bouncy rhymes and bright art!
  • Lucky Tucker by Leslie McGuirk. After rolling in a patch of four-leaf clovers on St. Patrick’s Day, Tucker the terrier goes from having nothing go his way to becoming the luckiest dog of the day.
  • The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day by Natasha Wing. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in this installment of Natasha Wing’s best-selling series, a fun read-aloud sure to keep kids engaged and laughing out loud! It’s the night before St. Patrick’s Day, and Tim and Maureen are wide awake setting traps to catch a leprechaun! When they wake the next morning to the sound of their dad playing the bagpipes and the smell of their mom cooking green eggs, they’re shocked to find that they’ve actually caught a leprechaun. But will they be able to find his pot of gold? Natasha Wing’s sweet story is once again told in verse to the same meter of Clement Moore’s classic.
  • Leprechaun in Late Winter (Magic Tree House Merlin Mission) by Mary Pope Osborne.The #1 bestselling chapter book series of all time celebrates 25 years with new covers and a new, easy-to-use numbering system!Jack and Annie are on a mission to find (and inspire!) creative people. This time, Jack and Annie meet an Irish girl and go on a magical adventure that changes the girl’s life—she grows up to be Lady Gregory, who helped bring back the Irish legends, started a theater, and helped the Irish people regain both their heritage and their pride.
  • Leprechauns and Irish Folklore: A Nonfiction Companion to Magic Tree House Merlin Mission #15: Leprechaun in Late Winter by Mary Pope Osborne.The #1 bestselling chapter book series of all time celebrates 25 years with new covers and a new, easy-to-use numbering system! Getting the facts behind the fiction has never looked better.Track the facts with Jack and Annie! When Jack and Annie got back from their adventure in Magic Tree House Merlin Mission #15: Leprechaun in Late Winter, they had lots of questions. What are leprechauns? How do we know many of the old Irish stories? How do fairies spend their time? Who speaks the Irish language? Find out the answers to these questions and more as Jack and Annie track the facts.Filled with up-to-date information, photos, illustrations, and fun tidbits from Jack and Annie, the Magic Tree House Fact Trackers are the perfect way for kids to find out more about the topics they discovered in their favorite Magic Tree House adventures. And teachers can use Fact Trackers alongside their Magic Tree House fiction companions to meet common core text pairing needs.
  • The Berenstain Bears’ St. Patrick’s Day by Mike Berenstain. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the Berenstain Bears! This 8×8 storybook is the latest holiday adventure for the bestselling Bear family.Join Papa, Mama, and the cubs as Gramps introduces them to some of the traditions most associated with the holiday, from gathering to enjoy a parade down Main Street to leprechauns and pots of gold.The silly fun starts with Gramps leading the family to dress all in green, with green clover leaves to wear. After he introduces the legend of the leprechaun, the cubs dream of traveling to a green and pleasant land… When they wake, they’re sitting in their folding chairs on Main Street in Bear Town. and there’s a parade to cheer! The parade includes marching bands and dancers; pipers piping and harpers harping; and the whole Bear Town police and fire departments.The parade winds up with a troupe of bears dressed as leprechauns, each carrying a pot of gold. Young Berenstain Bears fans will enjoy giggling along as the cubs learn about St. Patrick’s Day.
  • How to Catch a Leprechaun: A Saint Patrick’s Day Book for Kids by Adam Wallace.Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the #1 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Laugh-out-loud Holiday Adventure for Kids! You’ve been planning night and day, and finally you’ve created the perfect trap with shamrocks, pots of gold, and rainbows galore! Now all you need to do is wait. Is this the year you’ll finally catch the leprechaun? Start a St. Patrick’s Day tradition with this fun and lively children’s picture book and get inspired to build leprechaun traps of your own at home or in the classroom! Laugh along in this zany story for kids that blends STEAM concepts with hilarious rhymes and vibrant illustrations! How to catch a leprechaun?It’s tougher than you think! He’ll turn your whole house upside down. He’s quicker than a wink!
  • Ireland (Follow Me Around) by Wiley Blevins. Known as the “Emerald Isle,” Ireland is an island famous for its green, grassy fields.With tips and insights from an Irish native named Seamus, readers will take a trip across the Irish countryside and explore its biggest cities. Along the way, they will see how Irish people live, learn about Ireland’s fascinating history, learn to speak Gaelic, and much more!
  • Pete the Cat: The Great Leprechaun Chase By James & Kimberly Dean. ( Includes 12 St. Patrick’s Day Cards, Fold-Out Poster, and Stickers!) New York Times bestselling author and artist James Dean takes us on a St. Patrick’s Day adventure with Pete the Cat as Pete discovers how lucky he actually is!It’s St. Patrick’s Day, and it’s also the grand opening of Pete the Cat’s leprechaun catching business. Pete gears up to trap a leprechaun for his friends! But catching a leprechaun is never easy—especially if it’s Clover, who’s full of tricks. Will luck be on Pete’s side? Or will Pete learn luck is actually something earned? Pete the Cat: The Great Leprechaun Chase also comes complete with a poster, stickers, and twelve punch-out St. Patrick’s Day cards.
  • Fiona’s Luck by Teresa Bateman. An original Irish folktale full of wit, magic, and leprechauns, that’s sure to delight on St. Patrick’s Day and all year round.The luck of the Irish has disappeared after the greedy Leprechaun King has taken all the good fortune in Ireland and locked it away. Now it’s up to the clever and capable Fiona to devise a plan to take the good fortune back from the leprechauns to help the people of Ireland. Using her wits, Fiona outsmarts the powerful Leprechaun King to restore the luck of the Irish back to the Emerald Isle.Luminous and enchanting illustrations add to the wonder of this original folktale, that will charm readers young and old looking for a bit of magic on St. Patty’s Day and any day.
  • Green Shamrocks by Eve Bunting. A lucky St. Patrick’s Day paperback! Rabbit is growing shamrocks in a pretty yellow pot–he’s getting them ready for St. Patrick’s Day so he can wear them for the parade! When his pot of beautiful green shamrocks goes missing, he goes searching . . . will he find them in time?
  • The Luckiest St. Patrick’s Day Ever by Teddy Slater. Share in this leprechaun family’s charming St. Patrick’s Day celebration, complete with a fun parade and an Irish feast! The St. Patrick’s Day parade is off to a very fine start.The Leprechaun family is marching with lots of heart! Share in their dancing, share in their fun.You’ll have the luck of the Irish when this day is done!Top o’ the morning! It’s March 17th, and the Leprechauns are gathered for their favorite day of the year. Join them as they celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with music, dancing, and a parade!Teddy Slater’s delightful rhyming story is accompanied by lively illustrations from Ethan Long.
  • That’s What Leprechauns Do by Eve Bunting. What do leprechauns do? They bury a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, of course. But as Mrs. Bally Bunion’s ox, Miss Maude Murphy’s hen, and Old Jamie soon find out, they can’t resist having a little fun along the way. For, besides burying pots of gold, mischief is what leprechauns do!From this amazing picture book duo comes a lively fun tale that’s perfect for mischief makers of all ages!
  • The Leprechaun’s Gold by Pamela Duncan Edwards.Based on a classic Irish folktale, this is the perfect picture book to share on St. Patrick’s Day. In this classic Irish legend, two harpists—merry-hearted Old Pat and ill-spirited Young Tom—set off for a contest to name the finest harpist in all of Ireland. When Young Tom realizes that Old Pat is truly the better musician, he schemes to be the winner—but he doesn’t reckon with the clever trickery of a mischievous little leprechaun.Celebrated picture book creators Pamela Duncan Edwards and Henry Cole have imagined a joyful and fanciful tale with a priceless lesson.

SPRING TIME/EQUINOX BOOKS: The spring equinox is approaching – March 20, 2025. To inspire conversations about the beauty of this seasonal transition, here are several spring equinox books for kids. You tube links are included for your convenience. You can borrow these books from your school or public library or purchase them.  Enjoy!

  • An Egg Is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Aston. This stunningly beautiful and wonderfully informative book from award-winning artist Sylvia Long and author Dianna Hutts Aston makes for a fascinating introduction to the vast and amazing world of eggs. Featuring poetic text and an elegant design, this acclaimed book teaches children countless interesting facts about eggs. Full of wit and charm, this book will at once spark the imagination and cultivate a love of science.
  • The Gardener: (Caldecott Honor Book) By Sarah Stewart.  This book is a 1997 New York Times Book Review Notable Children’s Book of the Year and a 1998 Caldecott Honor Book.Lydia Grace Finch brings a suitcase full of seeds to the big gray city, where she goes to stay with her Uncle Jim, a cantankerous baker. There she initiates a gradual transformation, bit by bit brightening the shop and bringing smiles to customers’ faces with the flowers she grows. But it is in a secret place that Lydia Grace works on her masterpiece — an ambitious rooftop garden — which she hopes will make even Uncle Jim smile. Sarah Stewart introduces readers to an engaging and determined young heroine, whose story is told through letters written home, while David Small’s illustrations beautifully evoke the Depression-era setting.
  • Two Blue Jays by Anne Rockwell. Miss Dana’s class has front-row seats for one of nature’s most awe-inspiring spring performances. In the branches of the fir tree outside their classroom, two blue jays build their nest. Shortly after the nest is completed, the female blue jay lays her eggs. The male brings her all kinds of food-an acorn, a worm, even a piece of a cookie! She guards her eggs closely, but the children are able to get a quick glimpse of them. Days later the children see the newly hatched baby blue jays huddled together in the nest. Three weeks later, the children say good-bye as the blue jays leave the nest for the first time. Without a single lesson, the birds spread their wings and take flight. This charming story with spectacular three-dimensional illustrations will bring out the nature observer in every child.
  • A Seed Is Sleepy: (Nature Books for Kids, Environmental Science for Kids) by Dianna Aston. From the creators of the award-winning An Egg Is Quiet, A Butterfly is Patient, and A Rock Is Lively comes this gorgeous and informative look at the intricate, complex, and often surprising world of seeds. Now in paperback! A beautifully illustrated introduction to an aspect of the natural world. . . . Will encourage kids to wonder. This book introduces children to a fascinating array of seed and plant facts. Turn each page to explore the amazing world of these garden wonders through watercolor illustrations that bring to life nature landscapes filled with seeds, flowers, plants, leaves, and trees.
  • In Like a Lion Out Like a Lamb by Marion Dane Bauer. A fresh take on a familiar saying, perfect for the first rainy days of spring.Rattling windows with the roar of a late-winter storm, March shows up like a lion– wild and messy, muddy and wet.  In rhythmic, exuberant text, Newbery Honor-author Marion Dane Bauer conveys the changeable nature of spring weather, as the lion makes way for the lamb—with a huge sneeze!—as the trees and flowers spring into bloom. Full of humor and motion, Caldecott-winning illustrator Emily Arnold McCully’s soft watercolors bring the blustering lion and gentle lamb to life. From hail and wet snow to vibrant green fields full of blossoms, the illustrations grow brighter, springing into new life—and hinting and the summer to come. The lively text and paintings illustrate the ways in which we personify spring weather, making this book a perfect introduction to figurative language—and lots of fun to read as well.
  • And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano. Following a snow-filled winter, a young boy and his dog decide that they’ve had enough of all that brown and resolve to plant a garden. They dig, they plant, they play, they wait . . . and wait . . . until at last, the brown becomes a more hopeful shade of brown, a sign that spring may finally be on its way.Julie Fogliano’s tender story of anticipation is brought to life by the distinctive illustrations Erin E. Stead, recipient of the 2011 Caldecott Medal.
  • A New Beginning: Celebrating the Spring Equinox by Wendy Pfeffer. The spring equinox signals the time of year when the days are getting longer, the growing season has begun, and animals give birth to their young. With accessible, lyrical prose and vibrant illustrations, this book explains the science behind spring and shows how the annual rebirth of Earth has been celebrated by various cultures throughout the ages and the world. Teachers will appreciate the simple science, the multicultural history, and the hands-on activities in this book. Parents and librarians will enjoy sharing it with children at Easter and Passover time.
  • And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano. Following a snow-filled winter, a young boy and his dog decide that they’ve had enough of all that brown and resolve to plant a garden. They dig, they plant, they play, they wait . . . and wait . . . until at last, the brown becomes a more hopeful shade of brown, a sign that spring may finally be on its way. Julie Fogliano’s tender story of anticipation is brought to life by the distinctive illustrations Erin E. Stead, recipient of the 2011 Caldecott Medal.
  • A New Beginning: Celebrating the Spring Equinox by Wendy Pfeffer. The spring equinox signals the time of year when the days are getting longer, the growing season has begun, and animals give birth to their young. With accessible, lyrical prose and vibrant illustrations, this book explains the science behind spring and shows how the annual rebirth of Earth has been celebrated by various cultures throughout the ages and the world. Teachers will appreciate the simple science, the multicultural history, and the hands-on activities in this book. Parents and librarians will enjoy sharing it with children at Easter and Passover time.
  • Daylight Saving Time For Kids! Why in the World Do We Turn Our Clocks Forward? An Easy-to-Read Children’s Book by Brian Smith. When winter turns to spring, people in most areas of the United States turn their clocks ahead one hour to Daylight Saving Time.No daylight is actually being saved, of course.We just move an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening.But there’s much more than that, including… Who Thought of Daylight Saving Time (DST)? What Happens When the Clock Changes? Why Not Everyone Likes DST. Should There Be a Permanent Daylight Saving Time?Who First Started Changing the Clock?How to Prepare for DST (So You Don’t Feel Drowsy) An Easy Way to Remember Which Way to Turn the Clock.Why Farmers Don’t Like Daylight Saving Time Too Much. Are We Really Saving Energy by Changing the Time?The Benefits of Daylight Saving Time… and Much, Much More! So scroll back up and download this educational, easy-to-read children’s book about Daylight Saving Time.
  • Once Upon A Daylight Saving Time  by R. E. Skibiski. The transition to Daylight Saving Time (or Daylight Savings Time) happens every year, and yet among all the books of poetry for kids, and there are lots and lots of them, where can one find a fun rhyming children’s book on the topic? What’s more, where can one find such a book that also teaches a few lessons on manners for children? The time is ripe for one! And here it is. In this book, a rattlesnake needs a hand in winding his clock one hour ahead. But there’s a problem. Because he’s used to bossing all the critters around, he’s much too gruff, and each time he meets a potential helping hand, he loses things with his bad manners. After a long, unsuccessful day, the rattlesnake finds some prairie dogs and rightly sees them as his last hope. Unfortunately, he louses things up once again. However, something’s different this time. Instead of running away, a little prairie dog, shocked at the rattlesnake’s rudeness, decides to teach him the ABCs of minding his p’s and q’s. But with night drawing near, will the rattlesnake learn his lesson in time? There’s only one way to find out! Here’s how it all begins: “The day before the wacky change to Daylight Saving Time, there happened something sort of strange, which brought about this rhyme.”

  • I’m Not Tired: A Daylight Savings Bedtime Story by Renee Conoulty. Going to bed on time can be tricky but it’s even harder when time changes. A simple story to help sort out those daylight savings dramas.
  • Time for Change: A Tick-Tock Tale by Same Kuck. This book is an engaging and fun-filled children’s book that tells the story of Tick-Tock, a clock in the town square. When the townspeople begin moving their clocks forward by an hour for Daylight Saving Time, Tick-Tock becomes curious and sets out to learn more about the practice. Along the way, he discovers why Daylight Saving Time is important and which parts of the country participate in it. “Time for Change: A Tick-Tock Tale” is a heartwarming and educational story that will inspire children to learn more about the world around them and appreciate the importance of timekeeping.
  • Telling Time by David A. Adler. A group of young space travelers can’t wait for their pizza party later, but how many hours away is dinner? What are hours anyway?Readers follow along as a loveable crew of kid astronauts and their Martian friends go about their daily routine, exploring the differences between seconds, minutes, and hours; what A.M. and P.M. mean; and how to tell time on both digital and analog clocks. Ten seconds to liftoff! Are you ready? Veteran children’s nonfiction author David Adler incorporates math concepts, such as addition and subtraction, into this fun narrative with problem-solving exercises for readers to tackle at their own pace. Edward Miller’s vibrant cartoon art depicts the happy group of friends embarking on space walks, working together on projects, and settling in for bed.The sixteenth book in Adler and Miller’s math picture book series, this title is perfect for enthusiastic learners or kids who may need a little extra support in mastering this essential life skill. A glossary explains time zones, daylight savings time, and more. An out-of-this-world STEM book.
  • Four Seasons Make a Year by Anne Rockwell. Beloved author Anne Rockwell takes young readers through the year, as each season brings new surprises and discoveries. In the spring, leaves sprout, showers come, and it’s time for planting. Bees buzz and roses bloom as summer arrives. The fall turns pumpkins orange and leaves red and gold, and the wind grows cold. In wintertime, snow twirls down, and the flames in the fireplace leap and glow. Next year, it will all happen again, but it will be a little different, too. Everything is always growing and changing on a farm. Megan Halsey’s charming collage illustrations are the perfect complement to this delightful introduction to the wonders of the seasons.

 

MUSIC: Reasons why music is important for early childhood development. Your child possibly already loves music and has favorite songs. It is in the first three years of life that a child is forming the brain connections that will lay the foundation for the speech/language, motor, and cognitive skills they will use for years to come. Musical experiences are an important way to help young children create these pathways, also called neural connections. Not only is music a success oriented and engaging means of addressing these skill areas, music drives neuroplasticity by pairing non-musical skills with music. This engages multiple systems of the brain in synchrony and fosters communication between both hemispheres. While listening to music is certainly key to creating them, it’s when kids actively participate in music that they make the strongest connections. A study found that musical experiences in childhood can actually accelerate brain development, particularly in the areas of language acquisition and reading skills, learning to play an instrument can improve mathematical learning.  

2. Create Together: Puzzles, Crafts, Drawing and Constructing 🧩

SPRING EQUINOX ACTIVITIES: Why do we have Daylight Saving Time? Some people believe that Daylight Saving Time started for the purpose of giving farmers an extra hour of sunlight, but in reality, this is a common misconception. The original idea stemmed from our attempts to save energy. People believed that if we shifted our clocks forward by an hour in the Spring, then we would be able to maximize the amount of sunlight we utilize every day instead of relying on electricity.

ST. PATRICK DAY ACTIVITIES:

SPRINGTIME ACTIVITIES:

  • Bunch of Daffodils – Aren’t these daffodils pretty? Welcome spring with this pretty bunch of handmade daffodils – an easy craft for kids of all ages.

SPRINGTIME ACTIVITIES:

3. Explore, Engage & Interact Together 🌍

SPRING ACTIVITIES:

SPRING EQUINOX ACTIVITIES:

SAINT PATRICK’S DAY ACTIVITIES:

SPRINGTIME ACTIVITIES:

4. Healthy Living: Movement & Nutrition 👭

MOVEMENT:

NUTRITION:

  • Reasons Why Childhood Nutrition Is So Important: It strengthens Immunity; It is not just with exercise but also with proper nutrition; Promotes Lifelong Healthy Eating Habits; Provides Essential Vitamins and Minerals; Eating the Right Foods Encourages Physical Growth; Childhood Nutrition Enhances Brain Development; Facilitates Healthy Sleep Patterns; Nutrition Directly Affects Children’s Moods and Behavior.

St. Patrick’s Day:

Telling Time Yoga:

Spring Yoga:

ST. PATRICK’S DAY RECIPES: This St. Patrick’s Day, bond with your child over some delicious Irish food . The best part about making these pancakes is that they’ll work for any meal of the Irish holiday. Grab a potato and get cooking!

  • Make some Potato Pancakes – directions – This St. Patrick’s Day, bond with your child over some delicious potato pancakes. The best part about these pancakes is that they’ll work for any meal of the Irish holiday. Grab a potato and get cooking!

SPRINGTIME RECIPES: Whether you’re looking for an extra set of hands to help you meal prep or have a little one that loves to help in the kitchen, these simple, family-friendly recipes are the perfect way to get your kids cooking.

5. Reflect: Thoughts of the Day About Learning 💭

SPRING TIME

SAINT PATRICK’S DAY – MARCH 17 

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME

SPRING EQUINOX: