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The Reason for the Seasons
Last updated Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Author: Ellie Peterson
Date of Publication: 2020
ISBN: 978-1635921366
Grade Level: 3rd (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Nov. 2020
Synopsis:
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall - we all have a favorite season. But what makes the seasons happen in the first place? Ellie Peterson's clear, concise language and bold, kid-friendly illustrations bring science to life through narrator Joulia Copernicus, a strong and adventurous kid scientist. Kids will laugh while learning at the same time about the science behind the changing of the seasons throughout the year.
| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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What is your favorite season and why?
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What season does it seem like we are in now?
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Have you used a globe before to locate a country or continent?
Vocabulary
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Hemisphere – a half of the earth, usually divided into Northern and Southern halves by the equator
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Imaginary – unreal or nonexistent (in the context of the book) or pretend and make-believe
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Equator – an imaginary line drawn around the earth equally distant from both poles
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Rotation - move or cause to move in a circle around an axis or center
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Tilt – move or cause to move into a sloping position
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Axis – an imaginary line about which a body rotates
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Dimmer (verb) – not shining as brightly or clearly
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Orbit – the curved path of a celestial object or spacecraft around a star, planet , or moon.
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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Why don’t we feel the earth moving as it rotates? (constant speed)
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What is the reason for the seasons? (the earth is tilted)
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How many degrees is the earth tilted?(23.5 degrees)
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| Craft ideas: |
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Seasons wheel – Draw a circle and divide it into fourths. Label each quarter with the name of a season and draw what type of activities or how nature typically looks during that season.
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Seasons Trees – Divide a piece of paper into fourths. In each box, start by drawing just the trunk of the tree. Next, label each box with a season. Then, add color depicting how each tree would look in the corresponding season. Winter might have a barren tree and fall might feature red, yellow colored leaves.
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Weather observation – On a piece of paper, draw a graph to reflect the days of the week and have the students predict by drawing what type of weather they expect to have in the coming week.
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Normally at the November reading clubs we give an item with a college logo to each kid, so this time we could have the kids create their own college logos based on the college logo the volunteer(s) share on something they are wearing or otherwise display.
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Thanksgiving month! - have the kids try to make a thank you card or write a thank you letter to someone
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| Special activities: |
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Page 19 features an activity, but it requires a flashlight to demonstrate
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If readers have the time and resources, they can print out (or draw) different types of clothing or activities that are typically done during each season. Then, they can ask the students which season it belongs to. Refer to Pinterest page Season Sorting activities.
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*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions.
You can use them, but you don't have to use them.
You can expand upon them, or add your own twist.
Remember, though, that the focus of your time should
not be on the development and execution of a craft;
the focus should be on the read-aloud and the
enjoyment of the book!
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