Science 1: Changing Environments: Seasons

Why do we have seasons? Learn more about how the tilt of the earth gives us seasons and how different parts of the world experience seasonal change.

Check out this NASA link that explains why we have seasons. It's all about Earth's tilt. You can also learn why Earth is tilted.

This one and half minute video explains equinoxes and what causes them. Learn how equinoxes influence the seasons and hours of daylight on each planet.

Have you ever moved? Some animals move too! And if an animal moves from one place to another for weather or food, it’s called migration!

Here is a TED video about phenology (the seasonal cycle of plants and animals) and how climate change is having ripple effects in nature.

Learn how the shape of the Earth's orbit around the Sun and the Earth's tilt on its axis affect the amount of sunlight we get in winter and summer.

Do you know why we have seasons? This YouTube video from SciShow Kids explains how the tilt of our Earth in space makes our seasons.

Facts for kids! Which animals hibernate? Do the animals really sleep for month? And why do they do that? What is actually the difference between hibernation and brumation?

This online book about snow has beautiful pictures of snowy scenes and audio for early readers.

In this 1-minute video from CBC, Elder Wilfred Buck explains how the Cree observe the shortest day and the longest night of the year.

This article has some amazing magnified images of snowflakes, showing the detail of their shape. The article also describes snowflake research in the 1880's.

Here's a short online book about all of the fun activities of winter, with wintery pictures and audio for early readers.

Build a virtual snowman in this reading activity for beginning readers.

This online book has fun illustrations about winter and spring activities as well as audio for early readers.

Students learn about winter celebrations all around the world and the fun that people have

This video comes from the American Chemical Society YouTube channel and offers a good description of the chemistry involved in the process of leaves changing color.

This three-minute video explores why leaves change colors. Canopy Meg will explain the science of leaves and seasonal changes.

This 4-minute video from the SciShow Kids channel describes the spring equinox and how the earth moves.

Enjoy this animated poem about little seeds and the growing season.

It's finally spring where Jessi and Squeaks live! Join them as they take a look back at some of their favorite springtime subjects like why it rains, how plants grow, and all the amazing bugs you can find in the spring!

Spring is almost here, and that means daffodils are blooming around the fort. But how do these flowers survive the long cold winters?

This site explains spring and reviews some of the key events of the season: baby animals, nesting birds, frog life cycle and plant growth. Watch for the green Next arrows on the pages.

This online book has fun illustrations about winter and spring activities as well as audio for early readers.

A video with text that students can read along with the narrator all about the things that happen in summer.

This site has a slide show for 7-14 year olds. The slide show answers: when is the solstice, what does solstice mean, and why is this interesting?

The Singing Walrus presents "The Summer Song", a funky summertime song for young children.

This document provides teachers with sample instructional activities, curriculum planning, assessments, and resources to support teaching Science Grade 1 (Earth Systems).

The Learning Circle is a resource elementary-level learning exercises about First Nations knowledge and culture. You will find lesson plans focused on Indigenous storytelling, the use of colours, and seasons.

site description for PBS: Spring Crafts
PBS has a collection of crafts that you can do in your classroom to welcome spring and celebrate Easter. Some of the crafts include short video instructions.

Resources for teachers to use with students that explain how and why the seasons change. You can bypass the sign-in by clicking the image.

Follow the instructions and use the patterns to cut out five different snowflakes.

This artist (who works with students at Alberta schools as the Artist in Residence) has listed some wonderful spring and Easter art projects.