Understanding the seasons is one of the first science concepts children encounter. It helps them make sense of the world — why trees lose their leaves, why days get shorter, or why we wear coats in winter.
Instead of just showing pictures, using hands-on activities helps kids see and feel how the seasons change around them.
Here are some simple, creative ways to teach the seasons through exploration and play.
1. Create a “Seasons Observation Journal”
Give each child a small notebook to record what they notice outside — changes in the weather, plants, or clothing people wear.
You can do one page per week with drawings, stickers, or short sentences.
👉 Combine this with Living and Non-Living Things Worksheets to help them connect nature and life cycles.
2. Build a Seasons Collage
Use magazines, colored paper, or printed pictures to create a collage for each season.
Children can cut out clothes, foods, or activities that represent winter, spring, summer, and fall.
This visual approach strengthens vocabulary while reinforcing science concepts.
👉 You can also check Animal Habitats Worksheets to show how animals adapt during different seasons.
3. Do a Weather Sorting Activity
Prepare cards or small objects that represent seasonal weather — for example, sunglasses, a scarf, a snowflake, or flowers.
Ask children to sort them into groups for each season.
This helps them link cause and effect, such as “It’s hot in summer, so we wear hats.”
4. Seasonal Art Projects
Art makes abstract ideas tangible.
Try projects like:
- Painting a tree in all four seasons on one sheet.
- Making paper snowflakes for winter.
- Using leaves for stamping in fall.
These activities are both fun and educational, helping children identify colors, textures, and seasonal patterns.
5. Nature Walks by Season
Take short walks around the neighborhood or playground every few weeks.
Ask kids what they notice — are the trees changing? Is it warmer or colder?
Encourage them to use their senses: What do they see, hear, or smell differently now?
You can record these observations in their journals and discuss them back in class or at home.
6. Story Time with a Seasonal Theme
Children’s books are a great way to explore science concepts in context.
Read stories that show how nature changes, like The Reasons for Seasons by Gail Gibbons or Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak.
Then ask children to describe what happens in their own words.
👉 For literacy-based reinforcement, try 1st Grade Reading Sentences Worksheets to connect reading with science learning.
7. Simple Science Experiments
You can use light and shadow to demonstrate how the Earth’s tilt causes seasons.
Shine a flashlight on a tilted globe or ball to show how sunlight changes angles during the year.
Kids love the hands-on discovery aspect — it turns abstract ideas into something visible.
Key Takeaway
Teaching about the seasons doesn’t need to rely on rote memorization.
By combining observation, crafts, and real-world exploration, children begin to understand patterns in nature — and enjoy science in the process.
For more resources that connect everyday life with science, explore: