The Seasons in Nature

Earth has four seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. Each season brings changes in weather, temperature, and daylight. Plants and animals change their behavior with the seasons. The seasons happen because Earth is tilted on its axis as it orbits the sun.

How Seasons Change Nature

In spring, flowers bloom and baby animals are born. Summer brings long, warm days and green leaves. In fall, leaves change color and animals prepare for winter. Winter is cold and many trees lose their leaves while some animals hibernate.

Why We Have Seasons

Earth is tilted at an angle as it travels around the sun. When one half of Earth tilts toward the sun, that half has summer. When it tilts away, that half has winter. This is why seasons are opposite in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Fun Facts

• Near the equator, there are only two seasons: wet and dry.
• The tilt of Earth is about 23.5 degrees, which is what causes our seasons.
• In the Arctic, summer days can have 24 hours of sunlight.

Did You Know?

Without Earth's tilt, we would have no seasons at all! Every day of the year would have the same amount of daylight, and the weather would stay mostly the same.