Our new song on seasons go live

Maddy has just produced a great song for our seasons unit in year 1. 

Did you know...

Season: Definition

The Earth's axis is slightly tilted in relation to its orbit around the Sun. This is why we have seasons.

How exactly do seasons work?

In most cultures, including all western countries, the year is commonly divided into four seasons:

Spring

Summer

Fall or Autumn

Winter

Since the year has 12 months, each season lasts about three months. However, the dates when the seasons begin and end vary depending on whom you ask. Two methods are most commonly used to define the dates of the seasons: the astronomical definitionand the meteorological definition.

Astronomical terms & definitions

Astronomical Seasons

The astronomical definition uses the dates of equinoxes and solstices to mark the beginning and end of the seasons:

Spring begins on the spring equinox;

Summer begins on the summer solstice;

Fall (autumn) begins on the fall equinox; and

Winter begins on the winter solstice.

The beginning of each season marks the end of the last.

Because the timings of the equinoxes and solstices change each year, the length of astronomical seasons within a year and between years also vary.

Equinoxes and solstices dates worldwide

Northern Meteorological Seasons

According to the meteorological definition, the seasons begin on the first day of the months that include the equinoxes and solstices:

Spring runs from March 1 to May 31;

Summer runs from June 1 to August 31;

Fall (autumn) runs from September 1 to November 30; and

Winter runs from December 1 to February 28 (February 29 in a leap year).