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.
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Seasons, Weather and Our Choices Worksheets
Hand out these eight great seasons worksheets to help your students learn all about the seasonal changes and the way they affect our everyday choices.
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Season Characteristics Task Cards
Give your students the clues and watch them select the mystery season with this set of 24 task cards.
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My Favorite Season First Grade Worksheet
Activate your First Grade students' prior knowledge about the seasons using this worksheet which prompts them to state which is their favorite season and justify their choice.
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Seasons, Weather and Our Choices Interactive Activity
Complete this whole-class interactive activity to teach students the connection between the seasonal conditions and their daily choices.
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Seasonal Changes Display Banner Lettering
Create a science display board for your Seasons lessons, beginning with this visually engaging Seasonal Changes banner.
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What's the Season? Teaching Slides
Help your students explore the four seasons and how they affect everyday life using this colorful teaching presentation.
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The Changing Seasons Comprehension Worksheets
Read and write about the changing seasons with a comprehension passage and worksheet.
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The Seasons - Classroom Posters
A set of beautifully illustrated posters that depict the four seasons and the differences between them.
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Seasonal Changes - Worksheet
A worksheet the explores the observable features of the seasons.
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Seasons Sorting Activity
Teach students in K-2 the proper clothing, activities, and objects for different types of weather with this four seasons activity.
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Seasons and Months Posters
Use these four months and the seasons posters to help your students to learn the seasons and their corresponding months.
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Seasonal Changes Words and Definitions Display
Display this easy-to-read seasons word set in your classroom as you investigate seasonal changes with your young students.
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Seasonal Changes Worksheets
Engage your young learners with this set of fun season worksheets. Included are 12 activities to keep them actively learning!
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Seasonal Changes Differentiated Word Search
Get your students’ minds buzzing with this word search seasons activity, while they build their scientific vocabulary about Earth and space sciences.
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Seasonal Changes Teaching Presentation
Show your students this 26-slide teaching presentation all about the changing seasons, and develop their understanding of seasonal changes in the environment.
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Kindergarten Seasons Worksheet
Practice identifying characteristics of each season and how to write them using this one-page worksheet.
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Characteristics of Seasons Interactive Activity
Use this activity-packed interactive resource to explore with your students the names and characteristics of summer, autumn, winter and spring!
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Order of Seasons Task Cards
Use these task cards to allow students to practice ordering images of seasonal changes across the year.
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Order of Seasons Interactive Activity
Explore the order of the seasons with your students by traveling through times of the year in this interactive adventure.
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Four Seasons Mini Book
Make learning about the four seasons fun with this marvellous minibook for your Kindergarten students!
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The Earth's Seasons Teaching Slides
Use this fact-packed digital teaching resource to show your students the names and characteristics of Earth’s four seasons.
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Seasons in the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere
Use these posters in the classroom to give students a visual representation of the seasons (and which months they inlcude in both the Northern Hemishpere and the Southern Hemisphere).
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Four Seasons Tree Activity
Use this template with your students to create a visual display of the different seasons.
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Four Seasons Picture Sorting – Cut and Paste Worksheets
Sort pictures according to the season they represent with this cut-and-paste worksheet.
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Spring Writing Prompts for Beginning Writers
Celebrate a new season with Spring writing worksheets for primary grades.
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Dressing for the Physical Environment Sorting Activity
Help children learn about dressing for the environment by sorting clothing items into categories for warm climate and cold climate.
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Four Seasons Spinner Activity - Northern Hemisphere
Spinner resource to consolidate your students' knowledge of the different seasons.
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Seasons of Change