Teaching the Seasons: Amazing Summer Worksheets For Kids

Summer this year may be a little different, but why not make the most of this extra time at home and dive into learning about the summer season?

We’ve got an array of fun summer worksheets, designed for kids who are curious about the season — from the science behind weather, to why watermelons are so delicious. In this guide, we’ll answer your burning summer-related questions, linking you up to a number of great resources if you want to find out more.

Why is it so hot during summer?

Earth orbits the sun on a tilt, and that’s why we get the seasons. Our planet is also split into two halves, known as the northern and southern hemispheres.

The hemisphere tilted toward the sun experiences summer, with warmer weather and longer hours of sunlight. At the same time, the hemisphere tilted away from the sun experiences winter, with colder temperatures and shorter days.

Want to know more about our solar system and how the planets work together? Here’s a 24-page Solar System worksheet pack.

Okay, so why isn’t it sunny and hot every day of summer?

Some summer days can be cloudy or rainy, and that’s a real bummer! But even when your part of the world is tilted toward the sun, the Earth’s weather system can still rain on your Fourth of July parade.

Rain is caused by water heating up and turning into vapor, which forms into clouds. If there are enough droplets in the clouds, they’ll fall back to Earth as rain. Clouds, as well as wind, can lead to lower temperatures, which is why there are some cold days even in summer.

You can explore the Earth’s weather system in great detail, with our 27-page worksheet pack and fact file.

What is the summer solstice and why do we celebrate it?

The summer solstice is the longest day of the year, occurring when the Earth reaches its maximum tilt toward the sun, resulting in the most amount of daylight.

This longest day actually takes place twice a year — once in each hemisphere. When the northern hemisphere is celebrating their summer solstice, the southern hemisphere is having their winter solstice (shortest day).

Many civilizations, dating back to ancient times, have held huge festivals around the summer solstice day. Pagans believed that celebrating the summer with a bonfire would feed the sun’s power and help their crops grow.

Our summer solstice worksheet and fact file has the lowdown on the history and science behind it all, and takes you on a trip around the world to explore solstice monuments, from Egypt to Peru.

What date does summer begin and end?

In the northern hemisphere, summer usually lasts from June 20th to September 23rd. But the exact date changes slightly every year, depending on the solstice. After summer, comes the autumnal equinox; when the sun is sitting directly above the equator.

Interestingly, meteorologists will claim that summer starts on June 1st, as this allows them to split the seasons evenly into three months. This makes collecting and analyzing climate data way easier as the seasons stay exactly the same every year.

Our bumper summer worksheet bundle has plenty more fun facts and activities about the season.

Why do Americans celebrate July 4th?

The Fourth of July is a national holiday for the USA, celebrating the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. On July 4th 1776, a document was signed declaring the USA as an independent country, free from British rule. The Congress’ vote for independence was actually passed on July 2nd, but the declaration wasn’t signed until the 4th.

At that time, America was made up of 13 states. A year later, Philadelphia held the first annual celebration of independence, and it’s been a tradition ever since. In 1870, July 4th was designated as a national holiday by Congress.

Check out our comprehensive 35-page worksheet bundle about the Fourth Of July for more information.

Why is climate change a bad thing?

Ice cream, BBQ grills, days at the beach or lakeside — warm weather brings so many great things, so why is it a bad thing that our planet is getting warmer? Well, while we might enjoy a year-long summer, plants, and other animals need different seasons in order to survive.

Higher temperatures also cause icebergs to melt, and sea levels to rise. This is not great for people who live on the coast, but even famous cities like Venice are seeing the damaging effects of rising water! Warmer and deeper water is bad for coral and other marine life, too.

Many plants we need for food can’t live through warm temperatures with less rainfall, so some communities experiencing climate change will be left without anything to eat. Our climate change fact file and worksheet bundle has a lot more information on this, and what we can do to help!

Why is watermelon so good in summer?

It’s not summer if you don’t eat at least one watermelon. The most popular melon in the US, they are made up of 92% water, which is why they’re so refreshing and delicious on a hot summer’s day.

The watermelon originated in West Africa but is now widely eaten across the world, especially in tropical places. They’re really good for you, with a lot of vitamin C and lycopene (an antioxidant that can reduce your risk of cancer).

But did you know that watermelons are the cousins of cucumbers? Find out more about the iconic summer fruit with our worksheet pack, which has 25 pages of facts and activities for you to enjoy.

What is Labor Day?

Labor Day marks the end of the summer season, as it’s celebrated on the first Monday of September, to commemorate the achievements of American workers.

Labor Day dates back to the Industrial Revolution of the late 1800s, when workers were expected to do long, hard hours every day of the week to earn a living. Labor unions formed to protest this, and eventually, fair wages and hours were introduced.

Since the end of the 19th century, states have recognized Labor Day as a holiday and official day off work. Our Labor Day fact and worksheet bundle has lots more information about the history of labor unions and fair work rallies.