Category: Teaching Tips

Teaching elementary students about the seasons is a fantastic way to bring science to life and foster a deeper understanding of the world around them. 

Kids are naturally curious about changes in weather, plant life, and animal behaviors, making the topic of seasons both relevant and exciting. If you are looking for seasons activities for kids, you’re in the right place! 

How do you teach seasons in kindergarten?

Here are three engaging activities to help your students explore the wonders of winter, spring, summer, and fall! 

1. Seasonal Craft Projects

One of the best ways to introduce little learners to the seasons is through hands-on craft projects! These activities are not only fun but also help students fully understand the characteristics of each season.

Winter: Create snowflake cutouts using white paper and scissors. Explain how every snowflake is unique, much like each student. 

Spring: Make flower pots with real or paper flowers. For a real experience, plant seeds in small pots and let the students take care of their plants, observing the growth process.

Summer: Design sun catchers with tissue paper and clear contact paper. Hang these in the classroom windows to simulate the bright, sunny days of summer! 

Fall: Collect leaves of various colors and create leaf rubbings using crayons and paper. Discuss why leaves change color and fall off trees, introducing concepts like chlorophyll and photosynthesis.

 2. Seasonal Storytime and Poetry

Winter: Read “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats. This classic book captures the magic of a child experiencing snow. Follow up with a writing activity where students describe their perfect snow day or write their own short story set in winter.

Spring: Share “And Then It’s Spring” by Julie Fogliano. This book is a gentle exploration of the transition from winter to spring. Have students write poems about what they see, hear, and feel during springtime.

Summer: “Summer Days and Nights” by Wong Herbert Yee is a great choice. This book captures the essence of summer adventures. Encourage students to draw or write about their favorite summer activities or memories.

Fall:  Read “Leaf Man” by Lois Ehlert. This creative book uses real leaves to form pictures and tells a whimsical story about the changing seasons. After reading, let students collect leaves and create their own “Leaf Man” characters, writing short stories to go with their artwork.

3. Seasonal Science Experiments

Winter: Conduct a simple experiment to explore how salt affects ice. Give each student a small piece of ice and some salt to sprinkle on it. Watch how the salt causes the ice to melt faster and discuss why this happens. This can lead to a conversation about how salt is used on roads in winter.

Spring: Set up a mini greenhouse in the classroom. Use plastic bags and damp paper towels to germinate seeds, like beans or peas. Place them in a sunny spot and let students observe the sprouting process. Discuss the conditions plants need to grow and how spring provides these conditions.

Summer:  Create a solar oven using a pizza box, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and black construction paper. Use it to melt s’mores or heat small treats. This experiment can be a great way to show the power of the sun’s heat and lead to discussions about solar energy and the longer daylight hours of summer.

Fall: Examine the process of decomposition by creating a compost bottle. Use a clear plastic bottle to layer soil, leaves, fruit scraps, and water. Observe over several weeks as the organic matter breaks down. You can discuss how decomposition is part of the natural cycle, particularly in fall when leaves and plants die off.

By incorporating these engaging activities, you can help your students gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of the seasons. 

Then to wrap up your lesson, you can do these seasonal writing prompts linked below or play a round of Would You Rather all about the seasons! Check them out below! 

1st Grade Morning Work | 2nd Grade Morning Work | Seasonal Writing Prompts

This resource provides a comprehensive set of materials to create seasonal writing journals for elementary students. It includes journal covers, a variety of writing prompts for each season, rubrics for assessment, self-checking prompts, and extra lined paper to encourage extended writing. The prompts cover narrative, persuasive, and opinion writing, making it a versatile tool to keep students engaged in writing throughout the year.

What you’ll get:

• Four journal covers (fall, winter, spring, summer)
• 60 writing prompts for each season (240 total)
• Rubrics for assessment
• Self-checking prompts
• Narrative, persuasive, and opinion writing included
• Extra lined paper for extended writing

Would You Rather Back to School Seasonal BUNDLE | Google Slides | Writing

This interactive resource uses seasonal “Would You Rather” prompts to make writing more enjoyable for students. It includes over 200 Google Slides with colorful, season-themed prompts, a moveable highlighter to mark choices, and digital writing prompt paper. Additionally, there are black and white ink-saving slides for handwriting practice. This bundle is designed to engage students in fun, seasonal writing activities that also serve as conversation starters and icebreakers.

What you’ll get:

• 200+ Google Slides with seasonal themes (fall, winter, spring, summer)
• Moveable highlighter for marking choices
• Digital writing prompt paper
• Eight black and white ink-saving slides for handwriting practice
• Interactive and fun writing prompts
• Useful as conversation starters and icebreakers

What is your favorite way to teach the seasons? Let me know in the comments! 

For more seasonal fun, check out these summer activities!