The Four Seasons and All Sorts of Weather

Hi! The year has four seasons: spring, summer, fall (autumn) and winter. Each season brings different weather. Let’s learn about them in a fun, simple way.

What the four seasons are like

• Spring – The weather gets warmer, flowers start to grow, and baby animals are born. Sometimes it rains a lot.
• Summer – It is usually the warmest season. We wear shorts, play outside, and maybe go swimming.
• Fall (Autumn) – Leaves change color and fall from trees. The air gets cooler and sometimes windy.
• Winter – It is the coldest season. In some places it snows and we wear coats, hats, and mittens.

Why seasons happen (a simple demo)

Seasons happen because Earth is tilted and moves around the Sun. Here is an easy way to show it:

1. Get a ball (Earth) and a flashlight (Sun).
2. Hold the ball a little tilted, not straight up and down.
3. Shine the flashlight on different sides of the ball while you move the ball in a circle around the flashlight.
4. When the top part of the ball tilts toward the flashlight, that side gets more light and is like summer for that half of the Earth. When it tilts away, it gets less light and is like winter.

Different kinds of weather

• Sunny – Bright and warm.
• Cloudy – Sky is covered with clouds, less sun.
• Rainy – Water falls from the sky; bring an umbrella.
• Snowy – Cold water falls as snowflakes; fun for snowmen.
• Windy – Air moves fast; kites fly well.
• Stormy – Thunder and lightning can be scary; go indoors and stay safe.

How plants and animals change

• Leaves turn colors and fall in autumn.
• Some birds fly to warmer places in winter (migration).
• Some animals sleep most of the winter (hibernation), like bears.
• In spring, flowers bloom and bees come back.

Fun, simple activities to try

1. Weather chart – Make a paper chart with days of the week. Each day, draw the sky (sun, cloud, rain, snow) and write the temperature.
2. Season wheel – Cut a circle, divide into four parts, and draw things you do in each season (snowman, beach, leaves, flowers).
3. Rain gauge – Put a clear jar outside, mark the side with a ruler, and measure how much rain falls.
4. Cloud watching – Lie on a blanket, look up, and describe the clouds. Are they puffy like cotton (cumulus) or thin and wispy (cirrus)?
5. Dress-up game – Pick outfits for each season from a pile of clothes. Talk about why we wear each item.

Safety tips

• During thunderstorms, stay inside and away from windows.
• Wear sunscreen on sunny days and warm coats on very cold days.
• If there is heavy snow or ice, play where an adult says it is safe.

Try these questions

• Which season is your favorite and why?
• What clothes would you wear today for the weather outside?
• Can you find one thing outside that changes with the seasons (a tree, a bird, or a flower)?

Have fun exploring the seasons and the weather! If you want, I can give a printable weather chart or step-by-step instructions for the rain gauge or season wheel craft.