How to Teach Second Graders About the Seasons: Fun Ideas and Activities

Understanding the seasons is a key part of second-grade science—and it’s a topic that’s full of opportunities for real-world observation, creative exploration, and cross-curricular learning. Whether you’re in the classroom or teaching at home, this blog post will give you engaging, age-appropriate ways to help second graders learn all about the four seasons.

A group of kids outside learning about the seasons

Why Do We Have Seasons?

Start by introducing the basic concept: We have seasons because the Earth is tilted on its axis as it moves around the sun. But keep it simple! You don’t need to go deep into astronomy—what matters most is helping students notice and understand seasonal patterns in weather, daylight, plants, and daily life.

1. Start with a Seasonal Read-Aloud

Begin your unit with a collection of books—one for each season. Choose titles that are rich in visuals and easy to relate to. Some favorites include:

• “Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter” by Kenard Pak

• “When Spring Comes” by Kevin Henkes

• “Summer Days and Nights” by Wong Herbert Yee

• “Winter is Here” by Kevin Henkes

Ask students: What do you notice about the weather? The animals? The clothes people wear?

2. Make a Four-Seasons Mural

Create a large wall display or foldable where each panel shows one season. Students can draw trees, weather, holidays, or activities they do in each season. This visual activity reinforces observation and comparison skills.

3. Track the Temperature

For a real-world science connection, have students record the daily temperature and weather for a week (or month). Use a chart to note patterns: Which days were warm? Which were cold or rainy? What season are we in right now?

4. Sort Clothes, Foods, and Activities

Use printed images or magazine cut-outs to sort things that belong in each season. For example:

• Winter: coats, snowmen, hot chocolate

• Summer: swimsuits, ice cream, sunglasses

• Fall: apples, sweaters, rakes

• Spring: flowers, rain boots, kites

This sorting activity helps students make personal connections with each season.

5. Write About the Seasons

Give your students simple seasonal writing prompts like:

• “My favorite season is ___ because…”

• “In fall, I like to…”

• “The weather in winter is…”

You can also write poems or short stories with seasonal themes!

6. Create a Seasons Wheel

Make a paper plate “seasons wheel” with four quadrants—one for each season. Students can draw pictures or glue small symbols that represent each season. Attach an arrow with a brad so they can spin and review!

7. Learn Through Songs and Videos

Songs like “Four Seasons in a Year” or “What’s the Weather Like Today?” are great for auditory learners. Find short educational videos that explain the tilt of the Earth, seasonal weather changes, and how animals adapt.

8. Explore Seasonal Animals

Talk about animals that migrate, hibernate, or grow new fur in different seasons. Pair this with a nonfiction reading or a research project on how animals survive cold or hot weather.

9. Plan a “Season Day”

Choose a day to focus on just one season. For example, during Spring Day you might:

• Read a spring story

• Paint flowers

• Make a mini bird’s nest

• Write about baby animals

• Go outside and look for signs of spring

This makes the season come alive and encourages hands-on learning.

10. Review with a Game

End your unit with a fun review game! You can try:

• Seasons BINGO

• “Guess the Seasonal Activity” Charades

• Matching cards (weather → season, activity → season)

• True or False? (“People build snowmen in summer” → FALSE!)

Games reinforce learning in a low-stress, high-energy way.

Teaching second graders about the seasons is more than just covering science standards—it’s about helping them observe the world, connect with nature, and build a sense of time and rhythm. With books, art, writing, and play, you can make the changing seasons meaningful and memorable for every learner.