Seasons and day length · Year 1
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?
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?
Answer: about 16 hours in June; about 8 hours in December
Example 3
What should you wear outside in winter, and in summer? Why?
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?
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