A group of children find out about the four seasons - spring, summer, autumn, winter - and what is special about each.
What are the seasons?
Maddie Moate: Hi everyone, are you exploring the outdoors?
Child: Yes we are having some winter fun!
Maddie: Yes it looks very wintery where you are. Winter is one of my favourite seasons.
Child: Mine too!
Maddie: A season is a section of the year. Every year in the UK we experience four seasons. Spring in the UK is March, April andMay. Summer is June, July and August. Autumn is September, October and November. And winter is December, January andFebruary. These seasons come at different months in other parts of the world. Each season looks and feels different from theothers. In spring, the weather in the UK is usually mild and wet. Nature starts to wake up after a long winter sleep. We see budscoming on trees and bushes and some flowers begin to bloom. Spring is when lots of baby animals are born and many birds laytheir eggs!
Child: I love to see the little lambs in spring!
Maddie: But don't forget to bring an umbrella - those spring showers can come at any time! Summer brings warmer weather and more hours of daylight. Plants and crops quickly grow thanks to the light and and warmth. Lots of flowers are in bloom and insectsmake the most of them. It's the perfect time to have a picnic in the park or head to the beach!
Child: In summer I love to splash my feet in the sea!
Child: And it's nice to keep cool in t-shirts, shorts and sandals!
Maddie: Don't forget the sun hats! When autumn arrives, the leaves on the trees turn golden, then brown and fall to the ground. It's harvest time, when lots of fruits, vegetables and grains are collected for food. The temperature starts to cool in autumn and there can be strong winds. There are fewer hours of daylight than in summer.
Child: That means it gets dark earlier in the evening.
Child: And it can still be dark in the morning when we wake up!
Maddie: Winter brings frost and colder temperatures and sometimes it snows. Lots of animals hibernate and many species of birds fly away to warmer places for the winter. The days are at their shortest in winter.
Child: Deciduous trees are trees that lose their their leaves by winter - like this one!
Child: But evergreen trees like this holly keep their leaves all year!
Child: In winter when it's cold we need to wrap up in warm coats, hats, scarves and gloves.
Maddie: You look toasty!
Child: I love winter when it snows!
Maddie: I love the snow too! For most of the UK it only snows occasionally, but in some parts snow is more common. Like in themountains of Scotland, where Mitchell lives.
Child: Today me and my mum are going to show you what winter is like in the Scottish Highlands. It gets really snowy, especially on the top of the mountains. In the winter it gets so cold that the loch freezes. Look! Here is some ice. It gets very stormy here and that causes trees to blow down. I live here because I love snow and I love to ski. This is where I ski the most, at our local mountain. Thanks for exploring winter in the Scottish Highlands with me. Bye everyone!
Maddie: Each season in the UK is special and unique. Most of the time we see cold winters and warm summers in the UK, but because of climate change we are beginning to see big changes to our seasons, where summers can get much hotter. We can alsoexperience long periods of rain, which can cause some areas to flood. We all need to do what we can to keep our beautifulseasons. What are you lot up to?
Child: We're making collages!
Maddie: Beautiful work!
Video summary
Download/print a transcript of the video.
In this video, narrated by Maddie Moate, children explore the four seasons, discovering the unique characteristics of spring, summer, autumn and winter and activities associated with each.
The children make observations about changes in temperature, types of weather, length of daylight and the behaviour of plants and animals at different times of the year.
Teacher Notes
Discussion points:
1. Understanding seasons:
- Discuss the concept of seasons as different sections of the year.
- Identify the months associated with each season in the UK.
- Ask pupils to detail what happens in nature during the different seasons and how the weather changes from one season to another.
2. Exploring spring:
- Emphasise the mild and wet weather.
- Highlight the awakening of nature, including budding trees, blooming flowers, and the birth of baby animals.
3. Enjoying summer:
- Explore the warmer weather and longer daylight hours.
- Discuss the rapid growth of plants, blooming flowers, and the perfect opportunities for outdoor activities like picnics and beach visits.
4. Admiring autumn:
- Talk about the changing colours of leaves, harvest time, and cooler temperatures.
- Note the decrease in daylight hours and how it gets dark earlier.
5. Cherishing winter:
- Describe the frost, colder temperatures, and occasional snow.
- Highlight how some animals hibernate, while others migrate to warmer places.
6. Climate change awareness:
- Briefly mention the impact of climate change on seasons, including hotter summers and changes in weather patterns.
- Ask pupils how we can take care of our environment throughout the year.
Suggested activities:
1. Seasonal sorting activity:
- Provide pictures of seasonal items and ask children to sort them into the appropriate season.
- Encourage discussions about why certain items belong to specific seasons.
2. Seasonal calendar activity:
- Create a simple calendar for the year and have children label each season with its corresponding months.
- Discuss the activities and changes they associate with each season.
3. Seasonal weather sounds:
- Play sounds associated with each season and ask children to match the sounds to the corresponding season.
- Discuss how the sounds represent the characteristics of each season.
4. Seasonal art and craft:
- Encourage children to create seasonal collages, depicting elements and activities specific to each season.
- Share their artwork and discuss the different representations of each season.
Curriculum notes
This video aligns with Science in the National Curriculum in England, Northern Ireland, and 1st Level in Scotland. It also supports the Science and Technology Area of Learning and Experience within the Curriculum for Wales.
What causes the seasons? video
Exploring the relationship of the Earth to the sun, and how the seasons occur in the UK.
Weather around the world. video
An exploration of the differing weather patterns around the world.
