New
New
Year 4

Environments and seasonal changes

I can recognise that environments can change as the seasons change.

New
New
Year 4

Environments and seasonal changes

I can recognise that environments can change as the seasons change.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. An environment is the surroundings of any living thing.
  2. Different environments provide the requirements for the life and growth of the living things within them.
  3. Seasons are a natural pattern of change. Environments can change naturally as the seasons change.
  4. Seasonal changes to environments can be observed throughout the year.
  5. Some living things need to make changes in order to survive in changing environments.

Keywords

  • Environment - The environment is the surroundings of a living thing, including other plants or animals and the conditions they live in.

  • Seasons - Seasons are periods of similar weather. In the UK there are four seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter).

  • Migrate - When animals migrate, they move from one environment to another in different seasons.

  • Hibernate - To hibernate, an animal goes into a deep sleep; usually in winter when food is scarce.

Common misconception

Pupils may think that the environment is just another word for nature.

Encourage pupils to become aware of many different environments and refer to the surroundings that an animal or plant lives in.

Remember that environments need to contain the requirements that plants need to live and grow, as well as animals including humans. Encourage pupils to make their own observations of how the local environment changes across the seasons.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Pupils may wish to take photographs of seasonal changes in the local environment throughout the year.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these are seasons of the year?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: summer
January
Correct answer: winter
Correct answer: autumn
Friday
Q2.
Starting with spring, put the seasons in the correct order.
An image in a quiz
1 - spring
2 - summer
3 - autumn
4 - winter
Q3.
Match the months of the year to the seasons in the UK.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:spring,March, April, May

March, April, May

Correct Answer:summer,June, July, August

June, July, August

Correct Answer:autumn ,September, October, November

September, October, November

Correct Answer:winter ,December, January, February

December, January, February

Q4.
Which of these are living things?
An image in a quiz
a car
Correct answer: a human
a river
Correct answer: an animal
Correct answer: a plant
Q5.
Which of these things are made by nature?
Correct answer: the ocean
Correct answer: a rock
a bicycle
a television
Correct answer: a plant
Q6.
What does it mean when an animal hibernates?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: an animal goes into a deep sleep for a long period of time
an animal sleeps all day and becomes active during the night
an animal is active during the day but sleeps all night
an animal lives in a dark place
Q1 herle_catharina/Shutterstock

6 Questions

Q1.
The surroundings that an animal or plant lives in is called an .
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: environment, environment., Environment
Q2.
Which of these are environments?
An image in a quiz
sunshine
Correct answer: mountains
Correct answer: park
fire
Correct answer: pond
Q3.
Which of these do living things need, or require, for life and growth?
An image in a quiz
mobile phone
Correct answer: air
internet
Correct answer: water
games
Q4.
True or false? Environments can change naturally as the seasons change.
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: true
false
Q5.
Match the season with some of the changes you might observe throughout the year.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:spring,There is blossom on some trees.

There is blossom on some trees.

Correct Answer:summer,Deciduous trees are covered in green leaves.

Deciduous trees are covered in green leaves.

Correct Answer:autumn,The fruit on some trees start to produce seeds which are dispersed.

The fruit on some trees start to produce seeds which are dispersed.

Correct Answer:winter,Many plants stop growing in the colder weather. Some plants may die.

Many plants stop growing in the colder weather. Some plants may die.

Q6.
Match the living thing to what it needs to do to survive as the seasons change.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:swallows,migrate to warmer environments to find food

migrate to warmer environments to find food

Correct Answer:hedgehogs,hibernate as there is not enough food in their environment in winter.

hibernate as there is not enough food in their environment in winter.

Correct Answer:horses ,grow a thicker coat in winter to protect them from the cold

grow a thicker coat in winter to protect them from the cold

Correct Answer:frogs,burrow under the ground as the ponds freeze

burrow under the ground as the ponds freeze

Q5 herle_catharina/Shutterstock

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