Seasons
K5 Explore Lab
Introduction:
“And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the
night; and let them be signs, and for seasons and for days, and years.” Genesis 1:14
We know that there are four season in the year. Who can tell me what they are? (Summer, Fall,
Winter and Spring) Each season lasts about three months and brings changes in temperature,
weather, and the length of daylight. There are seasons because the earth goes around the sun,
and because the earth is tilted. It is summer when the part of the earth in which we live is tilted
toward the sun. Is is winter when the part of the earth we live on is tilted away from the sun. In
some parts of the world it is warm almost all year, and in other parts it is cold nearly the entire
year. Many people live in a part of the world where the weather changes with the seasons.
Supplies Needed:
Center #1: 8 clear glasses or plastic cups, cotton swabs, petroleum jelly, spoon, crushed ice and
salt, magnifying glasses
Center #2: 16 white poster boards, labels of the four seasons, magazines, scissors, glue
Center #3: globe, flashlight, sticky notes, rotating solar system
Center #4: 1 large clothes basket, 4 small clothes baskets labeled with the four seasons,
seasonal clothing items to place in the large basket: winter: snow boots, mittens, winter hat,
coat; spring: umbrella, rain jacket, rain boots, short sleeve shirt; summer: tank top, bathing suit,
shorts, sun glasses; fall: sweater, pants, jacket, thermometer, thermometer poster,
Center #1: Frosted Glass Experiment (Winter)
Fact:
Temperatures change during each season depending on where you live. In winter, the
temperatures drop, and the precipitation changes. Snow and ice often fall during winter. Ask the
children what weather they may see during winter. (Snow or ice)
Prepare the 8 glasses with ice and salt ahead of time so they form condensation on the outside of
the glass. Demonstrate how ice forms by drawing a star on the outside of the glass with the swab
and petroleum jelly. Next, fill the glass with crushed ice and cover with salt and stir. Wait a few
minutes. A pattern of frost slowly forms on the outside of the glass. Why? Water vapor in the air
condenses on the cold surface of the glass and freezes, forming a thin layer of ice crystals. Now
allow each child to draw a shape on the outside of his glass. Add ice and repeat the experiment.
Explain how condensation forms on the mirror in the bathroom when you take a shower.
Center #2: The Difference in our Seasons
Fact: We experience four seasons here in South Carolina. The seasons differ in temperature and
precipitation.
The children will make a poster to show the differences in our seasons. Have the children name
the four seasons and identify their order. Each group will label their four squares on the poster
with a season. They will then search through magazines to find pictures that would be associated
with a particular season. Guide the children through examples. An example would be to cut out
a picture with a child dressed in a hat and mittens. Another example would be an apple; ask the
children in which season we harvest apples. After a few examples, allow the children to each cut
out 4 pictures to place on their team’s poster.
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Center #3: Role Playing the Sun’s impact on the Seasons
Fact:
As the earth spins on its axis, producing night and day, it also moves about the sun in an
elliptical (elongated circle) orbit that requires about 365 1/4 days to complete. The earth's spin
axis is tilted with respect to its orbital plane. This is what causes the seasons.
Pose the question, why are there seasons? There are seasons because of the rotation of the earth
around the sun. If the earth was always perfectly straight, would we have seasons? No
Introduce the globe to the group. Ask them if they can find South Carolina. When they find it,
label it with a marker (sticky note, e.g.). Then show them a flashlight. Ask them what they think
the flashlight will represent if we shine it on the earth. (the sun) Now ask one child to hold the
globe at a slight angle and another to hold the flashlight. Stand them about 5 feet apart. Have
the child turn the earth around one time. When the light is shining on S.C., ask them what time
of the day? (Daytime) Continue rotating the earth, ask them to stop it when the light is not
shining on S.C. What time of the day is it? (Nighttime) How long does it take for the earth to
turn around once? (24 hours) But as it turns, it also rotates around the sun. Show the child how
to hold it at an angle. Then have them slowly walk around the sun. It takes 365 days for the
earth to rotate around the sun. This makes our 4 seasons.
Allow the other children in the group to be either the earth or the sun.
Center #4: Changing Seasons, Changing Clothes (sorting activity)
Fact:
As the seasons change, so does the temperature and weather. We have to adapt by changing our
clothing to fit the seasonal weather changes.
Begin by discussing how the weather changes in the different seasons. Ask what the weather is
in Summer (sunny, hot), Fall (windy, cool), Winter (cold, snowy), Spring (rainy, warm).
Introduce the children to a large clothes basket filled with clothing and items representing
various seasons. Then show the children the four smaller clothes baskets labeled with the four
seasons. Have them lined up in order of the seasons for those who can’t read, or have them
labeled with a picture and season name. Have the children take turns selecting items from the
large clothes basket. They must then find the correct basket to place the item in. Example: IF
they choose snow boots, then they place it in the winter clothes basket.
Conclude by discussing with the children why it is important to wear appropriate seasonal
clothing.
Questions for Review:
1. The earth travels around the sun. How many days does it take to go around
the sun one time? (365 1/4 days or one year)
2. Name the four seasons. (spring, summer, fall, and winter)
3. What two seasons is it when the earth is tilted toward the sun? (spring and
summer)
4. What two seasons is it when the earth is tilted away from the sun? (winter
and fall)
5. Seasons change when the earth moves around the _________. (sun)
6. What happened to the outside of the glass when the ice and salt were put
inside? (condensation or ice crystals formed on the outside of the glass)
Parents,
We use the Scientific Method in Explore Lab. Ask the students guided questions
that enable them to think and explore.
The Scientific Method
1. Ask a question
2. Gather information through observation
3. Make an educated guess or hypothesis about the answer to your
question
4. Design an experiment
5. Evaluate the results