Day length in winter

I can observe what happens to day length in winter.

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Year 1

Day length in winter

I can observe what happens to day length in winter.

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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.

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.

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.

Turn off lights in the classroom to demonstrate the impact of artificial lights and remind pupils that even when it is dark outside, it can still be light inside but this light is not coming from the sun but from artificial lighting.

Teacher tip

Equipment

Watch or clock, a globe and torch may also be useful but not essential.

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).