Seasons and day length · Grade R

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

Other years

• Seasons and day length · Grade 1
• Seasons and day length · Grade 2
• Seasons and day length · Grade 3