🌿 Discovering God’s Creation Through the Seasons: A Preschool Unit Study

Preschool is such a sweet and curious stage of learning—everything is new, exciting, and full of wonder! One of the best ways to nurture that wonder while gently introducing foundational science and literacy is through a unit study on the seasons. With each change in weather and nature, we can point our little ones back to the beauty and order of God’s creation.

Whether you follow a structured curriculum or love to plan your own learning adventures, a seasons unit study is a perfect fit for preschoolers. Let’s explore some fun ways to engage with the seasons and a wonderful book list to go along with each one.

🌷 Spring: New Life and Fresh Beginnings

Spring is a great time to talk about growth, planting, and God’s promise of renewal.

Fiction:

• And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano

• Spring Is Here by Will Hillenbrand

• The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle

Non-Fiction:

• Everything Spring by Jill Esbaum

• What Can You See in Spring? by Sian Smith 

• From Seed to Plant Paperback by Gail Gibbons

☀️ Summer: Sunshine and Exploration

Summer is full of outdoor fun, sunshine, and long days to explore God’s world.

Fiction:

• Summer Days and Nights by Wong Herbert Yee

• The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant

• Mama, Is It Summer Yet? by Nikki McClure

Non-Fiction:

• Summer by Sian Smith

• What Happens in Summer? by Sara L. Latta

• Let’s Look at Summer by Sarah Schuette

🍂 Autumn: Harvest and Change

Fall invites us to notice the changing leaves, celebrate harvest time, and cozy up with books.

Fiction:

• Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert

• We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger

• Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson

Non-Fiction:

• Why Do Leaves Change Color? by Betsy Maestro

  • This is from the Let’s Read & Find Out Series… one of our favorite!

• Fall by Sian Smith

• How Do You Know It’s Fall? by Lisa M. Herrington

❄️ Winter: Rest and Reflection

Winter teaches us about slowing down, the water cycle, and how animals survive the cold.

Fiction:

• Winter Sleep: A Hibernation Story by Sean Taylor

• Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner

• Owl Moon by Jane Yolen

Non-Fiction:

• What Can You See in Winter? by Sian Smith

• Animals in Winter by Henrietta Bancroft (another let’s-read-and-find-out favorite!)

• What Do Animals Do in Winter? by Melvin and Gilda Berger

🧺 Hands-On Ideas for Seasonal Learning

Pair your reading time with simple activities for each season:

Spring: Start a seed in a cup, go on a flower walk, make rain paintings
Summer: Collect nature treasures, explore water play, talk about sun safety
Fall: Create leaf rubbings, visit a pumpkin patch, learn about harvest and thanksgiving
Winter: Build a snowman (real or paper!), experiment with ice, learn about hibernation

📖 A Faith-Filled Perspective

As you explore the seasons, you can weave in Scripture and spiritual truths:

• Spring: “See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.” – Song of Songs 2:11

• Summer: “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.” – Psalm 113:3

• Fall: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1

• Winter: “He gives snow like wool; He scatters frost like ashes.” – Psalm 147:16

I hope this seasonal unit study brings joy and curiosity into your homeschool! Watching your preschooler discover God’s world one season at a time is such a beautiful experience.

Let me know in the comments: What’s your favorite season to study with your child?