The Science of the Seasons

Has your curious kid ever wondered why we have different seasons throughout the year? Or have they asked why it’s snowing in one part of the world while beaches and pools are open in another? Keep reading to uncover the science behind our changing seasons.

Why Do We Have Seasons?

Seasons, periods of time following special patterns of weather and daylight, follow the same cycle each year. The winter solstice is the day of the year with the least amount of daylight. Each day after it includes a bit more daylight until the summer solstice – the day of the year with the most daylight hours. Spring and autumn are marked by equinoxes – days of equal daylight and darkness. Why does this change occur? Earth's axis is tilted so as the Earth orbits the sun, different hemispheres are closer or farther away from the sun!

Imagine the axis of the Earth as a line going through the middle of the planet from the North Pole all the way to the South Pole. The Earth completes a full rotation on its axis each day, giving us day and night across the globe. This axis has a tilt of approximately 23 degrees. This means that as the Earth orbits the sun, different hemispheres are pointed toward the sun at different times during the year. For example, when the North Pole is tilting toward the sun, the Northern Hemisphere receives more daylight and experiences summer. As one season begins in the Northern Hemisphere, the opposite season starts in the Southern Hemisphere – so winter in North America is summer in Australia!

Activities to Celebrate the Seasons

From weather changes to holidays and bucket list events, each season comes with its own celebrations! Appreciate each phase of the year for its own unique advantages with activity pages to inspire your exploration throughout the year.

• Fall can be a season of rich hues, crisp air and delicious treats. Make the most of this time with indoor and outdoor family fun.

• Winter is the coolest! Dropping temperatures don’t have to freeze the fun. Take on new adventures by filling this out checklist of memory-making experiences.

• Spring sets the world into bloom – from fluffy baby animals to fields full of wildflowers, it’s the perfect time to get outside and explore. What better way to uncover the wonders of nature than by xploring your closest national park?

• Summer really brings the heat! Cool off with a sweet treat, make a splash at the pool or find other new ways to bring STEM learning to life with this summer bucket list.

Learn More

Keep exploring our blog to uncover more everyday STEM in the world around us.