Weather and Seasons
Grade 2 · Science · Study Guide
Why is it hot in summer and cold in winter? Discover how weather changes with the seasons!
Weather is what the air outside is like each day. It can be sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy, or snowy. Scientists who study weather are called meteorologists. They use tools like thermometers to measure temperature and rain gauges to measure rainfall.
Earth has four seasons: spring, summer, fall (autumn), and winter. Each season brings different kinds of weather. In spring, weather gets warmer and flowers start to bloom. Summer is usually the hottest season. Fall brings cooler air and leaves change color. Winter is the coldest season, and some places get snow.
Seasons happen because Earth tilts as it travels around the Sun. When your part of Earth tilts toward the Sun, you get summer. When it tilts away, you get winter. That is why it is summer in one part of the world when it is winter in another!
| Season | Typical Weather | What Happens in Nature |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Warm, rainy | Flowers bloom, baby animals born |
| Summer | Hot, sunny | Trees are full of green leaves |
| Fall | Cool, windy | Leaves change color and fall |
| Winter | Cold, snowy | Some animals hibernate, trees are bare |
Key terms
- weather
- What the air outside is like on a given day — sunny, rainy, cloudy, etc.
- season
- One of the four times of year: spring, summer, fall, winter
- temperature
- How hot or cold the air is, measured with a thermometer
- meteorologist
- A scientist who studies and predicts weather
- precipitation
- Water that falls from clouds as rain, snow, sleet, or hail
- thermometer
- A tool used to measure temperature
Flashcards
- Weather
- What the outside air is like each day — sunny, rainy, windy, etc.
- Season
- One of four times of year: spring, summer, fall, winter
- Precipitation
- Water falling from clouds as rain, snow, sleet, or hail
- Thermometer
- Tool used to measure temperature
- Meteorologist
- Scientist who studies and predicts the weather
- Temperature
- How hot or cold the air is
Practice questions
How many seasons does Earth have?
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
Show answer
Answer: Four
Earth has four seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter.
A meteorologist studies and predicts weather.
Show answer
Answer: True
Meteorologists are weather scientists who forecast what weather is coming.
The season that comes after summer is called ___.
Show answer
Answer: fall
The seasons in order are: spring, summer, fall, winter.
Which tool measures how hot or cold the air is?
- Rain gauge
- Thermometer
- Compass
- Magnifying glass
Show answer
Answer: Thermometer
A thermometer measures temperature — how hot or cold the air is.
Seasons are the same everywhere on Earth at the same time.
Show answer
Answer: False
Because Earth tilts, when the Northern Hemisphere has summer, the Southern Hemisphere has winter.
Fun facts
- The hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 134°F in Death Valley, California!
- Snowflakes always have six sides — no two snowflakes are exactly alike!
- Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth and is actually a desert because it gets very little precipitation!
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