Changing seasons

A unit to be taught across the year: observing how the natural world transforms through the year and recognising how these changes affect the weather, plants and animals.

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Across the year

These six standalone lessons should be taught at the end of each half-term. The timing is flexible but they should be planned to coincide with typical seasonal changes.

EYFS outcomes

Development matters

  • Explore the natural world around them.
  • Describe what they see, hear and feel whilst outside. 
  • Understand the effect of changing seasons on the natural world around them.

See Development Matters (non-statutory curriculum guidance) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. 

 

Early learning goals

ELG: Understanding the world – The natural world

  • Explore the natural world around them, making observations and drawing pictures of animals and plants.
  • Understand some important processes and changes in the natural world around them, including the seasons and changing states of matter.

See Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage.

Teacher video: Changing seasons

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Lessons

Lesson 1: Autumn treasures

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Lesson 2: Whatever the weather

To recognise different types of weather. Teach this lesson at the end of Autumn 2.
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Lesson 3: Winter wildlife

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Lesson 4: Springtime magic

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Lesson 5: Sandcastle science

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Lesson 6: Summer senses

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Key skills

  • Beginning to
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Key knowledge

To know:

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Key vocabulary

autumn

season

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Continuous provision

Equipment list

Equipment needed across all lessons in this unit.

This list does not include equipment which is usually readily available in the classroom (e.g pencils, A4 paper etc)

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Full equipment list for the subject

Quantities marked × will update. Items without quantities are unaffected

Lesson 1: Autumn treasures

  • Carrier bags or bags for life for collecting autumn objects.

         ×15

  • Access to a variety of autumn objects like twigs, leaves and conkers

         ×1

  • Long strips of paper for leaf rubbings

         ×30

  • A selection of leaves for leaf rubbings

         ×1

  • Brown, yellow, red and orange crayons

         ×15

Lesson 3: Winter wildlife

  • Paper plates ×30
  • Modelling dough ×30

  • Twigs and sticks

         ×30

  • Peppercorns or sunflower seeds

         ×30

Lesson 4: Springtime magic

  • Bluetooth music system to use outside (optional).

         ×1
  • Device for taking photographs ×8

Lesson 5: Sandcastle science

  • Large sand tray ×1

  • At least 20 kg dry sand

         ×1

  • Plastic/paper cups

         ×30

  • A range of media for colouring flowers, e.g. oil pastels, chalk pastels, coloured pencils and felt tip pens.

Lesson 6: Summer senses

  • Large plastic tray filled with sand and seashells

         ×1

  • Large plastic tray filled with cold water and seaweed

         ×1
  • Chalk ×30

  • Blindfolds (optional)

         ×8
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    Resources

Unit resources

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Science

Continuous provision ideas – Science EYFS: Changing seasons

Continuous provision activities to complement the EYFS unit 'Changing seasons'.

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