Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Spring Jars Activity for Kids
- ForKids
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Spring Jars is a free printable art and gardening activity. Children make their own spring jar snow globe, a small spring scene inside a jar. It needs the printout and a few simple craft bits from around the house. Page 2 gives the grown up notes, help ideas and a stretch task.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children use the printout to make their own Spring Jar Snow Globe. Instead of a winter scene, the jar shows spring, so it is a chance to think about flowers, new growth and warmer weather. Children decide what goes into their scene and how it should look. It suits children who enjoy making and decorating, and it gives them something to show off when they have finished.
Ideas for your jar
Choose a jar
Pick a clean jar with a lid. A plastic jar is safer for younger children. An adult should choose and handle any glass jar, and check that the lid fits well.
Pick a spring scene
Think about what says spring to your child. It might be daffodils, tulips, a bee, a lamb, a rain cloud or a bright sun. Let them choose, then draw, cut or make each piece.
Think about water
Plain paper goes soggy in water. If your child wants a wet snow globe, use waterproof pieces and let an adult seal the lid. A dry jar with a scene and sparkle works well too.
Add the sparkle
Tiny white or silver flakes give the snow globe effect. Add them last, then shake the jar gently to see the scene come alive.
Why make a spring snow globe?
A snow globe is a small scene sealed inside glass or plastic. It often holds water and tiny flakes that swirl when you shake it. Most snow globes show winter. A spring jar keeps the shaking and the sparkle but changes the scene to something growing and colourful. That twist makes children stop and think about what spring really looks like.
Spring is the season between winter and summer. In the UK the days get longer and warmer, bulbs such as daffodils and tulips flower, trees come into bud and gardeners begin sowing seeds. Making a spring scene gives children a reason to look closely at the world outside, notice what is changing and talk about it.
Glass jars can break and cut. Adults should choose, handle and seal any glass jar, and plastic jars are safer for younger children. If hot glue is used, an adult does all of that part alone. Glitter, beads and small craft pieces can be a choking risk for very young children, so keep them in sight.
Spring facts to share
- Spring comes between winter and summer.
- Daffodils and tulips grow from bulbs. The bulbs are usually planted in autumn and the flowers appear in spring.
- In the UK the days get longer in spring, so there is more daylight.
- Lambs are often born on British farms in spring.
- Many bees and butterflies become more active as the weather warms and flowers open.
Skills and curriculum link
- Creative making
- Fine motor skills
- Following a plan
- Observing the seasons
- Colour and design
- Talking about nature
Ideas for the grown up helper
- Start outsideBefore you begin, take a short walk or look out of a window. Ask your child what they can see that says spring. Their answers can shape the scene.
- Gather firstCollect the jar and craft bits before your child starts. It stops the activity stalling halfway through.
- Keep the adult jobs separateHandling glass, using glue that gets hot and sealing a lid with water inside are jobs for adults. Children can plan, draw, cut safe pieces and decorate.
- Praise the choicesThere is no right scene. Ask why they chose each part. Their reasons show how closely they have noticed spring.
Key words
- SeasonOne of the four parts of the year: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
- SpringThe season after winter, when plants start to grow and the days get longer.
- BulbA plant part under the ground that grows into a flower. Daffodils grow from bulbs.
- SeedlingA very young plant that has just grown from a seed.
- BlossomThe flowers that grow on trees in spring.
- SceneA picture or model that shows a place and what is happening there.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has notes for you.
- Talk about spring first. Ask what your child can see, hear or feel outside that is different from winter.
- Gather your jar and craft bits. An adult checks the jar and handles anything made of glass.
- Let your child follow the printout and make their scene, choosing their own colours and spring ideas.
- An adult does any sealing or gluing. Then shake the jar gently and display it somewhere your child can see it.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Choose just one or two spring ideas, such as a flower and a sun. Draw them first on scrap paper, then copy them. Do the making in small stages with a break in between. Let the child decide which part to start with.
To stretch confident children
Plan a whole spring story for the jar. Add a beginning, such as a seed in the soil, and an ending, such as a flower in bloom. Make a small tag that names the jar and tells the story in one sentence.
Make it a game
Play spring I spy. Before you start making, go outside or look out of a window and find signs of spring. Take turns saying "I spy something yellow" or "I spy something growing". Then use what you found in your jar.
Talk about it
- What do you like most about spring?
- How is spring different from winter?
- Which flowers or animals would you put in a spring scene, and why?
- What colours make you think of spring?
- If you could shake the jar and make the weather change, what would happen?
- Who would you give your spring jar to, and what would you tell them about it?
Take it off the page
Spring walk
Go for a walk and look for blossom, buds, new leaves and birds. Draw or describe the three things you liked best when you get home.
Plant something
Sow a few seeds in a pot or tray on a windowsill. Water them gently and look each day for the first green shoots.
Spring collage
Cut or tear coloured paper into flower, leaf and sun shapes. Stick them on a sheet to make a spring picture to hang up.
Who it is for
Parents
Make the jar together but let your child lead the design. Keep glass, glue that gets hot and sealing for yourself. Talk about spring as you work, and keep the finished jar somewhere your child can see and shake it.
Teachers
Use it in spring as an art lesson linked to seasonal change in science. Children can plan a scene, make it and then explain their choices. Plastic jars are easier to manage with a class, and finished jars make a bright display.
Home educators
Pair it with a walk or time in the garden. Collect ideas outdoors, make the jar indoors and then plant a few seeds. Siblings of different ages can join in, with older children helping younger ones with the careful parts.
Where this fits
Before this, children have usually noticed the weather and seasons through play, stories and time outdoors. They will also have used simple craft skills like drawing, cutting and sticking. This activity brings those skills together in one small project.
Afterwards, children can go on to observe seasons across the year, make jars for summer, autumn and winter, or look at how plants grow from seeds and bulbs. It also links to art and design, where children use a range of materials creatively, and to science, where they learn about plants and seasonal change.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What is a Spring Jar Snow Globe?
It is a small spring scene made inside a jar, in the style of a snow globe. Children choose what goes in the scene, such as flowers or animals, and add some sparkle so it looks magical when shaken.
- Do children need special materials?
No. A clean jar with a lid, the printout and simple craft bits from home are enough. You can choose what to add, such as paper, pens, glitter or small natural finds. Keep things simple and let your child decide.
- Is it safe for young children?
It is safe with the right adult help. Adults handle glass jars, hot glue and sealing. Plastic jars are a safer choice for younger children. Keep glitter and small pieces away from children who might put them in their mouths.
- How long does it take?
It depends on your child and how much they want to decorate. Some children finish quickly, while others enjoy adding lots of detail. You can split the activity over two sessions and let the jar dry in between.
- What age is it for?
Many primary age children can enjoy it. Younger children need an adult to help with jars, cutting and sealing. Older children can plan their own scene and write a short story to go with it.
- Is it an art or a gardening activity?
It is both. Children make something creative, and the theme is spring growth. Talking about flowers, bulbs and the weather helps link the craft to nature, and you can follow it by planting real seeds.
- Can I use it in a classroom?
Yes. It works as an art lesson in spring, with links to seasonal change in science. Plastic jars and prepared materials make it easier with a group. Adults should handle any gluing or sealing.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.