What are seasons?
Every year our planet experiences four seasons: autumn, winter, spring and summer.
As Earth moves around the Sun it spins in a slightly tilted position (on an axis tilted 23.5 degrees from a straight up, vertical position). This tilt is what causes our seasons because through the year different parts of the planet are closer to or further away from the Sun's light. More or less sunlight and heat impact on the length of each day and the average daily temperature in different seasons, as well as the amount of rainfall.
There are differences in the weather, length of day light available and plant life during the seasons. Typically:
- In autumn the amount of time it is light becomes less, the leaves start to change colour and fall off the trees. Autumn is called Fall in the United States of America.
- In winter we have colder weather, sometimes snow and frost, the trees have no leaves and the amount of time it is light during the day is at its shortest.
- In spring the weather usually turns warmer, trees begin to grow their leaves, plants start to flower and young animals such as chicks and lambs are born.
- In summer the weather is usually warm, trees have full green leaves and the amount of time is it light for during the day is longer.
How do children learn about seasons?
- Talk about and observe the changes in the weather and the seasons.
- Give children pictures to sort into the different seasons.
- Create pictures / paintings or artwork associated with the seasons.
- Children can collect information over the year, for example photographs of the trees to compare.
- Children can work scientifically to create charts and tables of the weather.
- During each season as it occurs throughout the year discuss the weather changes with your child. Why not take part in seasonal activities such as exploring the sound of crunching leaves during autumn, watching baby chicks hatch during spring, etc.
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