Seasons and day length

A year has four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Each season has its own weather, and the length of the day changes too: summer days are long and warm, winter days are short and cold. Plants and animals change with the seasons.

Key facts

  • The seasons come in order: spring → summer → autumn → winter → spring again. In the USA autumn is called fall.
  • Summer is the warmest season and has the longest days. Winter is the coldest and has the shortest days.
  • In the north of the world (the UK, Europe, the USA) summer is in June, July and August. In the south (South Africa, Australia) summer is in December, January and February.
  • Spring: plants grow, blossom comes out and many baby animals are born. Autumn: leaves change colour and fall from deciduous trees, and fruits and seeds ripen.
  • Some animals hibernate (sleep through the winter) and some birds migrate (fly to warmer places).
  • Never look straight at the Sun. On sunny days protect your skin with sun cream and a hat.

Worked examples

Example 1

Which season comes after summer? Which season comes before spring?

  1. Spring comes first, with new leaves and flowers.
  2. After spring comes summer, the hottest season.
  3. After summer comes autumn, when leaves fall.
  4. Then winter, the coldest season – and after winter, spring again. So winter comes before spring.

Answer: autumn; winter

Example 2

In London on 21 June the Sun rises at about 5 am and sets at about 9 pm. On 21 December it rises at about 8 am and sets at about 4 pm. How many hours of daylight are there on each day?

  1. June: from 5 am to 12 noon is 7 hours, and from noon to 9 pm is 9 more. 7 + 9 = 16 hours
  2. December: from 8 am to noon is 4 hours, and from noon to 4 pm is 4 more. 4 + 4 = 8 hours
  3. A summer day in London has twice as much daylight as a winter day.

Answer: about 16 hours in June; about 8 hours in December

Example 3

What should you wear outside in winter, and in summer? Why?

  1. Winter is cold, and can be frosty, icy or snowy. A warm coat, hat and gloves keep the heat in.
  2. Summer is hot and sunny. Light clothes keep you cool; a sun hat and sun cream protect your skin.

Answer: winter: a warm coat, hat and gloves, because it is cold; summer: light clothes, a sun hat and sun cream, because it is hot and sunny

Example 4

Why do oak trees look bare in winter but pine trees stay green?

  1. An oak is deciduous. In autumn its leaves turn brown and fall; in winter its branches are bare.
  2. In spring the oak grows new leaves.
  3. A pine is evergreen: it keeps its thin, needle-like leaves all year.

Answer: oaks are deciduous: they drop their leaves in autumn and grow new ones in spring; pines are evergreen and keep their leaves all year