Changes of the Season Teaching Resources

Browse printable changes of the seasons worksheets, seasonal weather activities and more for teaching about all four seasons, how they change and the characteristics of each in your elementary classroom.

This collection of teaching resources is aligned to the Common Core curriculum, and each resource has undergone careful review by an expert teacher on the Teach Starter team to ensure they’re ready for your classroom. With printable and digital options at hand, you’ll save important lesson planning time.

New to teaching about seasons or looking for fresh ideas to engage your students? Read on for a primer from our teacher team!

What Are the Seasons? A Kid-Friendly Definition

To explain the seasons to your students, this kid-friendly definition can help: Seasons refer to the different times of the year when the weather and nature around us change.

Each season is associated with different weather conditions, and the seasons each affect the environment, such as changes in plant growth and animal behavior.

What Are the Four Seasons?

Of course, there are four seasons, but when are they, and what makes them different from one another? These are all questions you’re bound to explore with your students this school year. So let’s dive in!

Summer

Summer runs from June 20 or June 21 to September 22nd or 23 in the Northern Hemisphere, and it’s the hottest season here in US.

Many of us try to spend some time at the beach or in a pool because it’s so hot! School is closed for most of the summer as families (and teachers!) enjoy their holidays. July 4th is one celebration that happens during summer.

Fall

Right after summer is fall, the season that lasts from September 22 or 23 and runs until December 21 or 22.

Fall — sometimes called autumn — is the time when temperatures start to cool down and the days get shorter. In many places in the US the leaves on the deciduous trees start to change colors creating a stunning show of reds, oranges and yellows.

Fall brings us back-to-school season, Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Winter

Winter in the Northern Hemisphere typically begins around December 21st or 22nd and ends around March 20th or 21st. American experience cold temperatures, snow and ice in many parts of the country.

Days are shorter during winter, and the nights are longer, meaning many people spend more time indoors. Winter holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year's Eve are celebrated during this time.

Spring

The fourth and final of the four seasons is spring. This typically begins around March 20th or 21st and ends around June 20th or 21st when we welcome summer (starting the list all over again!).

As we get deeper into spring, the weather begins to warm up, trees and flowers start to bloom and the days become longer. Many people enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, gardening and picnicking during the spring. Holidays like Easter and Mother's Day are spring holidays.

What Is an Equinox?

An equinox is a special time of year when the day and night are almost the same length all around the world. This happens twice a year, around 20 March and 22 September — the start of spring and the start of fall in the United States!

During an equinox, the Earth is not leaning towards or away from the sun, which means that the sun is shining directly over the Earth’s equator.

What Is a Solstice?

The start of winter and the start of summer are welcomed with special times of the year called solstices.

A solstice occurs twice a year, around June 20th or 21st and December 21st or 22nd. This marks the time when the sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky.

The June solstice marks the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere and the beginning of winter in the southern hemisphere.

The December solstice marks the beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere and the beginning of summer in the southern hemisphere. This is the shortest day of the year here in America.