Seasons and How They Affect Us

Kindergarten · Social Studies · Study Guide

Explore the four seasons and discover how they change the world around us and what we do every day.

There are four seasons in a year: spring, summer, fall (also called autumn), and winter. Each season brings different weather, and the weather changes what plants look like, what animals do, and how people dress and spend their time.

In spring, the weather gets warmer after winter. Flowers bloom, trees grow new leaves, and animals come out of hiding. Rain showers help plants grow. In summer, the days are long and hot. Children play outside, swim, and enjoy vacation. In fall, leaves on trees turn beautiful colors of orange, red, and yellow before dropping to the ground. The air gets cooler and farmers harvest their crops.

In winter, the weather is coldest. In many places, snow falls and ponds freeze. Animals like bears hibernate, which means they sleep through the whole cold winter. People wear coats, scarves, and boots to stay warm. Every season is special and important for nature and for the people who live through it!

The Four Seasons
Season	Weather	What People Do
Spring	Warm and rainy	Plant gardens, fly kites, watch flowers bloom
Summer	Hot and sunny	Swim, go on vacation, play outside all day
Fall	Cool and breezy	Rake leaves, pick apples, go back to school
Winter	Cold, sometimes snowy	Wear coats, build snowmen, celebrate holidays

Key terms

season: One of the four times of year: spring, summer, fall, and winter
spring: The season after winter when it gets warmer and flowers bloom
summer: The warmest season with long, sunny days
fall: The season when leaves change color and fall from trees; also called autumn
winter: The coldest season, often with snow and short days
hibernate: When an animal sleeps through the cold winter months

Flashcards

Season: One of the four times of year: spring, summer, fall, and winter
Spring: The season after winter when weather warms and flowers bloom
Summer: The hottest season with long sunny days
Fall/Autumn: The season when leaves change color and temperatures cool
Winter: The coldest season, often with snow and short days
Hibernate: When animals sleep through the cold winter months

Practice questions

How many seasons are there in a year?
1. Two
2. Three
3. Four
4. Five
Show answer
Answer: Four
There are four seasons in a year: spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Winter is the coldest season.
Show answer
Answer: True
Winter brings the coldest temperatures, and in many places it also brings snow and ice.
What happens to tree leaves in fall?
1. They grow bigger
2. They turn green
3. They change color and fall off
4. They disappear overnight
Show answer
Answer: They change color and fall off
In fall, deciduous trees change their leaves to orange, red, and yellow before the leaves drop.
Animals that hibernate are active and busy all winter long.
Show answer
Answer: False
Animals that hibernate sleep deeply through winter to conserve energy during the cold months.
The four seasons are spring, summer, fall, and ___.
Show answer
Answer: winter
The four seasons cycle in order: spring, summer, fall, and winter.

Fun facts

In some parts of the world, it is summer when it is winter in the USA — the seasons flip!
The word 'autumn' comes from an old French word meaning 'the fall of leaves'.
During winter hibernation, a bear's heartbeat slows down to just 8 beats per minute!

Get a personalized course on Seasons and How They Affect Us built around your child.