Introducing young children to the beauty of the changing seasons provides multiple opportunities to incorporate read alouds, hands-on activities, and integrated subject matter. The following picture books and activities can be enjoyed in kindergarten and first grade classrooms.
Children's Picture Books about the Seasons
A Tree for All Seasons by Robin Bernard [National Geographic Society, 1999, ISBN 0792266749] is a visual feast for the eyes. The book follows the seasons from winter to fall by looking at one sugar maple tree and how it changes. The book utilizes vibrant, engaging photos along with brief but rich text.
The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons [Harcourt Brace and Company, 1984, ISBN 0152712453] is the story of a young boy and how he enjoys and uses his apple tree through the seasons. The story starts in the spring and follow through the various activities associated with each season.
Steven Schnur has created a series of alphabet acrostic books that beautifully describe the seasons. Autumn: An Alphabet Acrostic [Clarion Books, 1997, ISBN 0395770432] is the delightful look at the cozy fall. Illustrated in hand-colored linoleum cut blocks, the book also contains a rich variety of words in the acrostics. The other books highlight the additional three seasons.
Two books by Betsy Bowen highlight the changing seasons in the Northwoods of Minnesota. Antler, Bear, Canoe: A Northwoods Alphabet Year [Little, Brown and Company, 1991, ISBN 0316103152] and Gathering: A Northwoods Counting Book [Little, Brown Company, 1995, ISBN 0316103713] both follow the author's family through the seasons in the northern areas of Minnesota. Illustrated with woodcuts that were painted after printing, the books offer a rustic look at the four seasons.
Seasons Collage Activity
Provide students with an assortment of magazines with pictures of the various seasons. Travel magazines and brochures, gardening magazines, and home magazines tend to be seasonal and have lots of great photos. Have students divide a large sheet of paper into four sections and write one season as the title in each box. Student can then cut out examples of that season and glue the picture to the paper.
My Favorite Season Top Ten List
Have children list ten reasons why their favorite season is the best season of all. Prior to writing, create a word bank for each season and display on the board or wall. If appropriate, have the class vote on their favorite season based on who has compiled the most convincing list. If the students are too young to compile their individual lists, make the lists as a class.
The Seasons of the Tree Art Project
Provide each student with a large piece of construction paper divided into four sections with four bare trees with branches. Label the sections winter, spring, summer and fall. Have the children decorate each tree with appropriate stickers or cut outs. Winter can have snowflake stickers. Spring could have green and pink tissue paper leaves and apple blossoms stuck on with glue. Summer can include green leaves. The autumn tree could include falling colored leaves and/or apples.
Introducing children to the unique features of the seasons is a great part of primary or elementary school. Winter, spring, summer and fall each offer opportunities to appreciate the beauty of nature. Related to the changing seasons, kindergarten and first grade students also enjoy learning about scarecrows, pumpkins, apples, and fall.
Sallie Schaaf Borrink - Sallie Borrink is a professional writer with extensive experience with business clients, the consumer market, and online destinations.
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