Day length in winter
I can observe what happens to day length in winter.
Day length in winter
I can observe what happens to day length in winter.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The amount of light we see each day changes throughout the year.
- Day length is shorter in the season of winter and this means that it is darker for longer.
- Day length can be investigated using observation skills.
- A clock can be used to help record what time it becomes dark each evening.
- The shortest day, when we have the least amount of daylight, in the UK is December 21st.
Keywords
Light - It is light during the daytime.
Season - Seasons are periods of similar weather. In the UK there are four seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter).
Winter - Winter is the coldest season of the year. It is between autumn and spring.
Day length - Day length is how long it is light for during a day. This happens between sunrise and sunset.
Time - Time tells you how long something takes to happen.
Common misconception
We have the same amount of daylight in every season.
Explanation of how day length changes throughout the year and is shorter during winter.
To help you plan your year 1 science lesson on: Day length in winter, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 1 science lesson on: Day length in winter, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 1 science lessons from the Seasonal changes: autumn and winter unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Watch or clock, a globe and torch may also be useful but not essential.
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions










Exit quiz
6 Questions







