A Spring Themed Speech Lesson Plan

by Erin Larsen
Hi Friends! 👋🏼
 

Spring is finally here, and that means it’s the perfect time to refresh your speech sessions with a fun, seasonal theme! The best part? Spring-themed activities can easily be adapted for kids of all ages, from Early Intervention to middle schoolers. Plus, with summer just around the corner, you can stretch this theme out for weeks!

If you're looking for fresh ideas to brighten up your sessions, keep reading for some of my favorite book suggestions, most reached for activites and games, and creative ways to incorporate speech and language goals into play and learning.



Spring-Themed Books for Speech Therapy 📖

Books are a fantastic way to introduce the spring theme and build background knowledge before diving into deeper learning. Whether you're working on vocabulary, sequencing, or comprehension, these books are great options for a variety of age groups. And remember, if the language is a bit complex for your younger kiddos, you can always simplify by describing the pictures and talking about what’s happening!

Here are some of my favorites:

  • Don't Touch That Flower! by Alice Hemming – A fun, engaging story with great opportunities for discussion about nature and springtime changes.

  • Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner – A beautifully illustrated book that explores what happens both above and below the soil in a spring garden.

  • Worm Weather by Jean Taft – A simple yet engaging story that highlights rainy spring days, perfect for working on descriptive language!


Spring-Themed Activities for Speech Sessions 💐

Now, let’s bring a little spring fun into our sessions with these hands-on activities. Whether you love using toys or prefer more naturalistic play, there’s something for everyone here!

1. Gardening Play Sets
For younger kids, pretend gardening sets are perfect for targeting speech and language goals. Use them to:

  • Work on sequencing by walking through the steps of planting and growing flowers.

  • Practice imitation skills by pretending to smell the flowers.

  • Build expressive language by describing colors, shapes, and textures.

2. Buildable Flower Gardens
If you work with preschool and early elementary kiddos, a buildable flower garden toy can be a game-changer! Try using it to:

  • Target following directions (e.g., “Build a flower with three yellow petals”).

  • Work on color and number concepts.

  • Encourage turn-taking and requesting during play.

3. Growing Real Plants
For a simple, no-toy-needed activity, grab some dried beans, clear cups, and potting soil to plant your own little sprouts! This is a fantastic way to:

  • Teach sequencing by discussing the planting process.

  • Work on predicting and inferring (e.g., “What do you think will happen next?”).

  • Encourage conversation as kids observe changes over time. (Bonus: Beans sprout super fast, so kids get excited to see progress between sessions!)


Virtual and Speech Resources for Spring

If you’re looking for low-prep or no-prep options, I’ve got you covered! These virtual and printable resources are great for targeting a range of speech and language goals while keeping things fresh and engaging.

1. Virtual Field Trip: Keukenhof Tulip Farms in the Netherlands
Middle schoolers love virtual field trips, especially when they get to explore places they wouldn’t normally visit! A tour of Keukenhof’s stunning tulip gardens is perfect for working on:

  • Descriptive language (e.g., “What do the flowers look like?”).

  • Compare/contrast skills (e.g., “How are tulips different from daisies?”).

  • Sequencing (e.g., “What steps do they take to prepare for the event?”).

2. No-Print Spring Drill Cards
For the SLPs who are always on the go (or just tired of lugging around a ton of materials), these no-print drill cards are a lifesaver! They target articulation, phonological processes, and language, all in one easy-to-use resource.

3. Spring Crafts for Speech Goals
If your students love crafts, why not use them to work on speech and language? Try:

  • Making flower crowns and working on following multi-step directions.

  • Creating paper flowers and stuffing them into a “speech pot” as kids practice target sounds or words.


I hope these ideas bring some fresh energy into your sessions this spring! Whether you’re reading books, planting seeds, or taking virtual field trips, there are so many ways to make learning fun and meaningful for your students.

Do you have a favorite spring-themed activity for speech therapy? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear your ideas!

Happy Spring and Happy Speech Sessions! 🌷✨

 

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