Weather and Seasons
Grade 1 · Social Studies · Study Guide
Learn how weather changes throughout the four seasons and how it affects the way we live.
Weather is what the air is like outside on any given day. It can be sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy, snowy, or stormy. Weather changes from day to day and even hour to hour! The temperature tells us how hot or cold it is outside. We measure temperature with a thermometer.
Seasons are longer periods of time when the weather follows a pattern. Most places on Earth have four seasons: spring, summer, fall (autumn), and winter. In spring, the weather warms up, flowers bloom, and many baby animals are born. Summer is the hottest season — great for swimming and playing outside. In fall, the air cools down and leaves change color and fall off trees. Winter is the coldest season, and some places get snow.
The seasons change because Earth travels around the Sun. Different parts of Earth receive different amounts of sunlight throughout the year, which causes the temperature to change. Knowing the seasons helps us plan what clothes to wear, what activities to do, and how to prepare for changes in nature.
| Season | Weather | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Warming up, rainy, flowers bloom | Flying kites, planting gardens |
| Summer | Hot and sunny | Swimming, playing outside |
| Fall | Cooling down, windy, leaves change | Raking leaves, apple picking |
| Winter | Cold, possible snow or frost | Building snowmen, sledding |
Key terms
- weather
- What the air is like outside — sunny, rainy, windy, or snowy
- season
- A time of year with a pattern of weather — spring, summer, fall, or winter
- temperature
- How hot or cold the air is, measured with a thermometer
- thermometer
- A tool used to measure temperature
Flashcards
- weather
- What the air is like outside — can be sunny, rainy, windy, or snowy
- season
- A time of year with a pattern of weather
- temperature
- How hot or cold the air is
- thermometer
- A tool used to measure how hot or cold something is
- spring
- The season when weather warms up and flowers bloom
- winter
- The coldest season — some places get snow
Practice questions
What tool do we use to measure temperature?
- Ruler
- Thermometer
- Scale
- Clock
Show answer
Answer: Thermometer
A thermometer measures temperature by expanding and contracting with heat — the reading tells us how hot or cold it is.
There are four seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Show answer
Answer: True
Most of Earth experiences four seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter, each with distinct weather patterns.
Which season is the hottest and best for swimming?
- Winter
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Show answer
Answer: Summer
Summer is the warmest season of the year, with the most daylight hours and the highest temperatures.
What the air is like outside — sunny, rainy, or snowy — is called ___.
Show answer
Answer: weather
Weather describes the current state of the atmosphere — whether it's sunny, cloudy, rainy, or snowy.
In fall, leaves change color and begin to fall from trees.
Show answer
Answer: True
In autumn, shorter days trigger chemical changes in tree leaves, causing them to turn red, orange, and yellow before falling.
Fun facts
- The hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 134°F (56.7°C) in Death Valley, California in 1913!
- Some places near the equator only have two seasons — wet and dry — instead of four!
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