In many places the year has four seasons: spring, summer, autumn (also called fall) and winter. In summer the days are long and warm. In winter the days are short and cold, and in some places it snows. In spring many plants start to grow and lambs and chicks are born. In autumn many trees lose their leaves.
The amount of daylight changes through the year. In summer the Sun rises early and sets late, so there are many hours of daylight. In winter the Sun rises late and sets early. Some animals change with the seasons: some birds fly to warmer places, and some animals, like hedgehogs, hibernate through the winter.
Worked example
Why is it still light at 8 pm in summer but dark in winter?
- Summer days have more hours of daylight.
- The Sun sets later in summer.
Answer:In winter it sets earlier, so 8 pm is dark.
Key words
- season
- one of the four parts of the year
- daylight
- the hours when the Sun is up
- hibernate
- sleep deeply through the winter
- migrate
- travel a long way to another place for part of the year
New questions every time.
NGSS-referenced: 1-ESS1-2