Summer Theme
Fun Info on Summer
Summer Web Sites
Books with Summer Themes
Fun Info on Summer
The first official day of summer is June 21.
Summer Science
Summer is the warmest season of the year. Summer days are long and sunny and the
nights are short. When you go to bed during the summer, it is probably still light outside.
The season is related to the movement of our planet. As the Earth rotates around the sun,
it is tilted on its axis, so parts of the Earth face the sun at different times during the year.
The United States is in the Northern Hemisphere, and our summer season occurs when
the North Pole is tilted toward the Sun. Europe and India also share our summer season.
View the earth’s rotation: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5041127474937930014
Thunderstorms occur more often in the summer. Because the sun is closer to the earth, it
warms bodies of water more quickly. The water then evaporates into the air. The process
of condensation then occurs. The water vapor cools and creates droplets. Then the warm
summer air mixes with the colder air, producing a thunderstorm. Afternoon
thunderstorms are a regular occurrence in the summer, due the build up of heat over the
course of the day.
Learn about condensation: http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercyclecondensation.html
The increase in sunlight and the warm temperatures create a green summer landscape.
The color is sparked by chlorophyll. Leaves collect light through this green pigment. In
addition, the process of photosynthesis is in full force during summer months. It occurs
when the sun transforms carbon dioxide and water into sugar. Sugar is a carbohydrate
and plants use it to grow.
Learn more about photosynthesis:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-us%3AIEAddress&rlz=1I7GGLD_en&q=photosynthesis
Summer flowers also benefit from color. The rainbow spectrum of flowers attract insects
that carry pollen. The insects carry pollen from one flower to the next, “fertilizing” it, so
it can produce seeds and the seeds can create new plants. Flowers are pollinated by
insects, as well as, by birds and even some bats.
Learn about pollination: http://www.mbgnet.net/bioplants/pollination.html
Summer around the world
In Australia or South America, the summer is in December or January, when we might be
making snowmen and celebrating the holidays.
In the summer, the sun does not set at the North and South poles. It will shine in the
middle of the night. The countries of Greenland and Iceland also share this phenomenon.
The United States celebrates Independence Day in the summer on July 4.
Many Native Americans hold powwows in the summer. A powwow is a celebration of
heritage through traditional dancing, music, crafts and other rituals important to the
community.
Learn about powwows: http://www.powwows.com/
People around the world celebrate the summer solstice. It recognizes the longest day and
shortest night of the year on June 21. The word comes from the Latin “sol” or “sun” and
“stice” or “stands still.”
Summer Wildlife: Fun Trivia
Most animals and plants thrive in the summer.
Acorns grow on the tips of branches. Red poppies, roses, daises and buttercups bloom.
Because of the blooming flowers, bees spend the summer traveling among the flowers to
make honey that they can store for the winter.
Sunflowers grow best in the summer. And they move! The sunflower will move to follow
the sun’s position in the sky.
During the summer, birds replace all their feathers. It is a process called “molting.”
Ducks and geese will loose them all at once and will be grounded for a few weeks.
Butterflies need energy from the sun to fly.
Humans sweat to cool down their bodies. Dogs pant and rabbits loose heat through the
skin of their ears. Pigs don’t have sweat glands, which is why they bury in mud – to keep
cool. Elephants use their big ears to cool themselves down.
Fireflies or “lightning bugs” light up the summer sky. Fireflies are actually a type of
winged beetle. A chemical reaction that happens in their bellies produces a “light” that is
used to attract mates. It produces 90 percent more energy than a light bulb.
Penguins don’t like the summer heat so they head for the water. At night, when the
temperature drops, they will come onto land.
Reds stand out to birds. So, they tend to pollinate red flowers. Insects do not see red well
at all, and instead, flock to yellow or blue flowers.
Crickets make lots of music in the summer nights, because a cricket won’t sing if the
temperature is below 55 degrees. There are actually many types of cricket songs. But the
sound is produced by what is called stridulation.
The cicada is also a summer insect that makes noise. The males sing songs to the females
through their two voice boxes that are made from a chemical called chitin.
Reptiles really get hungry in the summer. They’ve worked up an appetite after spring
“spawning.”
In the summer, birds who have returned to the North during the spring to lay eggs are
now raising their young.
Most baby animals are born in the summer and are learning how to survive in the wild.
Fruits and Veggies
Summer fruits include berries, melons, peaches, nectarines, plums, and mangoes.
Summer veggies include avocado, green beans, beets, collard greens, corn cucumber,
eggplant, okra, squash, peppers, and many more.
Summer in History
The Aztecs who lived in Mexico over 500 years ago worshipped the Sun as a god. In
summer they made sacrifices to him to keep him happy.
Before fridgerators and freezers, people would buy a block of ice and keep it in their barn
or in a box. It would slowly melt over the summer months.
In the 1800s rural areas, students went to school from December to March. The rest of the
year was spent helping their families on the farm. Urban schools, however, had schools
for up to 11 months a year as a way to assist working families.
However, in the 20th Century, the agricultural calendar merged with concerns about
crowded schools, lack of air-conditioning, hygiene and psychological illnesses, leading to
the summer as we know it.
Most children in industrialized countries go to school more months per year than children
in America.
Summer Dangers
Ozone is a gas in the air and when it approaches the ground it can be dangerous to those
who breathe it in. In the summer, the extra heat and sunlight can intensify ground ozone
and the concentrations in the air can reach unhealthy levels. People are encouraged to
drive less, stay indoors more, not mow grass, and avoid putting gas in their cars.
In hot weather, water escapes from you body when you breathe and sweat which is why
you need to drink plenty of water to keep from getting dehydrated. Signs of dehydration
include thirst, loss of appetite, dry skin, skin flushing, dark colored urine, dry mouth,
fatigue, weakness, chills, and head rushes.
If you stay outside too long, your skin will get sun burned and sore. The sore skin will
sometimes peel off.
Wearing white in the summer keeps you cool, because it reflects the Sun’s heat.
Drought can be a summer danger. When there is not enough moisture it affects both
animals and plants. During a dry season, plants die and water sources dry out. The chance
of fire increases and becomes a major threat.
|
