Winter. Winter months. Winter natural phenomena. Winter signs about the weather. Winter phenomena in wildlife What can be observed in wildlife
What are natural phenomena? What are they? You will find answers to these questions in this article. The material can be useful both for preparing for a lesson on the world around us and for general development.
Everything that surrounds us and is not created by human hands is nature.
All changes that occur in nature are called natural phenomena or natural phenomena. The rotation of the Earth, its movement in orbit, the change of day and night, the change of seasons are examples of natural phenomena.
Seasons are also called seasons. Therefore, natural phenomena associated with the changing seasons are called seasonal phenomena.
Nature, as you know, can be inanimate and living.
Inanimate nature includes: the Sun, stars, celestial bodies, air, water, clouds, stones, minerals, soil, precipitation, mountains.
Living nature includes plants (trees), mushrooms, animals (animals, fish, birds, insects), microbes, bacteria, and humans.
In this article we will look at winter, spring, summer and autumn natural phenomena in animate and inanimate nature.
Winter natural phenomena
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Spring natural phenomena
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Summer natural phenomena
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Autumn natural phenomena
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Unusual natural phenomena
What natural phenomena still exist? In addition to the seasonal natural phenomena described above, there are several more that are not associated with any time of year.
- Flood called a short-term sudden rise in water level in a river. This sharp rise may be a consequence of heavy rains, the melting of large amounts of snow, the release of an impressive volume of water from the reservoir, or the collapse of glaciers.
- Northern lights- glow of the upper layers of the atmospheres of planets with a magnetosphere due to their interaction with charged particles of the solar wind.
- Ball lightning- a rare natural phenomenon that looks like a luminous formation floating in the air.
- Mirage- an optical phenomenon in the atmosphere: refraction of light streams at the boundary between layers of air that are sharply different in density and temperature.
- « Falling star" - an atmospheric phenomenon that occurs when meteoroids enter the Earth's atmosphere
- Hurricane- extremely fast and strong air movement, often of great destructive power and considerable duration
- Tornado- an ascending vortex of extremely quickly rotating air in the form of a funnel of enormous destructive power, in which moisture, sand and other suspended matter are present.
- Ebbs and flows- These are changes in the water level of the sea elements and the World Ocean.
- Tsunami- long and high waves generated by a powerful impact on the entire thickness of water in the ocean or other body of water.
- Earthquake- represent tremors and vibrations of the earth's surface. The most dangerous of them arise due to tectonic displacements and ruptures in the earth's crust or upper part of the earth's mantle
- Tornado- an atmospheric vortex that arises in a cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) cloud and spreads down, often to the very surface of the earth, in the form of a cloud arm or trunk with a diameter of tens and hundreds of meters
- Eruption- the process of a volcano throwing hot debris, ash onto the earth's surface, an outpouring of magma, which, pouring onto the surface, becomes lava.
- Floods- flooding of land with water, which is a natural disaster.
One season gives way to another - this is how nature works. Every year begins with winter, then spring will certainly come, which will give way to summer, and autumn will certainly come after it. The cycle of seasons is accompanied by signs that are inherent in each of them. In this article we will look at the main signs of winter. It is sometimes difficult for young children to understand why the season is called “autumn” (for example, at the end of November), but everything around is white and white with snow. It can already be explained to elementary school students that there are such concepts as “calendar” season and “climatic” season.
Note to parents
Everything is relative. This true expression should be taken into account by mothers and fathers when they tell their kids about nature and its phenomena. For example, when explaining to a child the signs of winter and summer, you need to give vivid examples.
- In the summer we swim in the river, the water in it is warm, the sun warms it up. And in winter it doesn’t heat well, the water freezes and becomes covered with a thick crust of ice.
- In summer, the trees are green, flowers are fragrant around, butterflies fly, birds chirp cheerfully. And in winter, the fallen leaves of the trees are covered with snow, insects hide in their holes until spring, and birds fly away to distant countries where it is warm.
- In summer we can walk for a long time, because the day is long and the night is short. The sun wakes up early and wakes up everything around. In winter it becomes dark early because the days have become short and the nights have become long. In the morning, you need to wait a long time for the sun to “wake up” and illuminate the earth.
Lesson "Signs of Winter" for preschool children
Here it is important to take into account the age of the child - the baby will be bored and uninterested in listening to your long story. The lesson should be conducted in a playful way, and tedious storytelling should be replaced with simple questions. The child, answering them, will definitely be involved in what is happening.
There is no need to ask to name the signs of winter (what it is like); instead, ask leading questions:
- What's the weather like in winter?
- What's happening to the trees?
- What animals hibernate in winter?
- What appears on rivers and lakes?
- What holiday happens in winter?
- What tales about winter do you know?
What to pay attention to
Remember that children aged 4-5 years are little “whys”. They definitely need to explain why this or that phenomenon occurs. Therefore, the next lesson should be based on questions that imply not only the children’s answers, but also your explanations and additions.
- Why did it get cold in winter? The sun has become further from our planet, so it now warms it up less.
- Why does snow lie on the ground and not melt? The temperature has become very low - “minus”, the ground is frozen, there is not enough heat - the snow lies and does not melt.
- Why do birds fly to warmer climates? Insects hibernated, plants also “froze” from the cold - the birds do not have enough food, so they tend to warm regions where there is no winter.
- Why do bunnies and squirrels change color? They try to be similar to the nature around them (snowy and white) so as not to fall into the clutches of predators. For example, a bunny that has exchanged its gray skin for a white one is more difficult for a wolf to notice in a snowy clearing.
Additionally, kids need to be told that there are three months of winter: December, January and February. Another of the first signs of winter is that the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting longer.
At the lesson "The world around us"
When teaching older children, you should focus on the fact that winter can be “calendar” and “climatic”. In the first case, the length of the season is determined by the months: December (31 days), January (31 days) and February (28 or 29 days). But this applies only to the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth; in the Southern Hemisphere, winter lasts from June to August.
The main sign of climatic winter is a persistent drop in temperature (below 0 o C). It is important to consider that in some regions (for example, near the equator) there may be no climatic signs of winter. Snow does not fall there, water bodies do not freeze, but the length of days decreases and the length of nights increases.
Knowledge that must be formed
During the lesson, children should be asked to talk about the signs of winter in their area. They can be different: students in the Krasnodar region will say that stable snow cover may not be established at all; children from schools in the Murmansk region will note that in November the first signs of winter appear. The day when cold winds blow may occur in October, December, or January (depending on the region).
In such a lesson, the following concepts must be explained:
- blizzard, blizzard, blizzard;
- black ice;
- thaw;
- frost.
The period that begins with the winter solstice and ends with the vernal equinox is called astronomical winter. Residents of the Northern Hemisphere count the time from December 22 to March 21, and the Southern Hemisphere - from June 22 to September 21. Astronomical winter almost coincides in time with the period that was considered winter in ancient times in Rus' - from the Nativity of Christ (December 25, old style) to the Annunciation (March 25, old style).
Outdoor exercise
The best reinforcement of the material can be obtained during an excursion lesson. The teacher and his class, dressed for the weather, go out into the school yard.
Here you can see signs of winter in living and inanimate nature. Take a closer look at the trees: they not only stand naked, but are covered with frost; the ground around the trunk is compacted to further protect the roots from frost and severe cold.
You can contact the guys with questions:
- Why is winter compared to magic?
- What birds remained to spend the winter in the city?
- How can we help them?
- Are animals that do not hibernate afraid of frost?
- What protects birds from cold and cold?
- What joys does winter bring to children and adults?
A person also changes his behavior in winter. We buy warm clothes and don’t go outside without mittens, scarves, hats and warm jackets. Many people make winter preparations: jams, pickles, and freeze berries and vegetables. We walk less to avoid freezing; We go to bed earlier and get up later and reluctantly. Villagers stock up on firewood.
Children should carefully consider everything that surrounds them. What you see can be presented in the form of a short essay or an oral story. Reflection is very important here - the child must learn to “pass through” new information, supplement it, analyze, think through, and draw conclusions.
Signs of winter in fairy tales and poems
Descriptions of this magical and fabulous time of year can be found in classical literature and Russian folk tales. Great Russian poets sang winter most in their poems: A. S. Pushkin, Sergei Yesenin, A. Fet, F. Tyutchev, M. Yu. Lermontov. Tyutchev, for example, humanized winter, attributing to it human emotions: “It’s not for nothing that winter is angry, its time has passed...”. Mikhail Isakovsky painted the following picture for the image: “Beyond the window in a white field - darkness, wind, snow…”. Nikolai Nekrasov's "... puddles turned into cold glass...". It is worth introducing children to such wonderful poems as “Winter Road” by Pushkin, “Winter” by Yesenin, “The Enchantress of Winter” by Tyutchev, “Wonderful Picture...” by Fet and others.
The most popular children's fairy tales about winter: “Frost”, “The Snow Queen”, “Mitten”, “Twelve Months” and many others.
Let's sum it up
So, we can list the following signs of winter:
- Decrease in air temperature to below 0 o C Celsius.
- Formation of stable snow cover.
- Low, heavy gray-lead clouds in the sky.
- Precipitation in the form of snow; blizzard, blizzard, blizzard.
- Frost on bare trees.
- Ice phenomenon.
- Birds fly away to warmer regions, and those that remain try to stay closer to human habitation in search of food.
- Animals go into hibernation (bears, hedgehogs, etc.), while others shed and grow warm undercoat.
- Fish under the ice of frozen reservoirs lead an inactive lifestyle, hiding in holes or under snags.
- People buy warm clothes, make preparations, and dream about summer.
Seasonal periodicity is one of the most common phenomena in living nature. It is especially pronounced in temperate and northern latitudes. At the heart of the seemingly simple and well-known seasonal phenomena in the world of organisms are complex adaptive reactions of a rhythmic nature, which have been elucidated relatively recently.
Seasonality in nature
As an example, consider seasonal periodicity in the central regions of our country. Here, the annual temperature variation is of leading importance for plants and animals. The period favorable for life lasts about six months.
Signs of spring appear as soon as the snow begins to melt. Some willows, alders, and hazels begin to bloom before their leaves have even blossomed; in the thawed areas, even through the snow, the sprouts of the first spring plants are breaking through; migratory birds arrive; Overwintered insects appear.
In mid-summer, despite favorable temperatures and plenty of precipitation, the growth of many plants slows down or stops completely. The number of flowering plants decreases. Bird breeding ends. The second half of summer and early autumn is the period of ripening of fruits and seeds in most plants and accumulation of nutrients in their tissues. At this time, signs of preparation for winter are already visible. Autumn molting begins in birds and mammals, and migratory birds gather in flocks.
Even before the arrival of stable frosts, a period of winter dormancy begins in nature.
State of winter dormancy
Winter dormancy is not just a cessation of development caused by low temperature, but a very complex physiological adaptation. In each species, the state of winter dormancy occurs only at a certain stage of development. Thus, in plants (depending on the species), seeds, aboveground and underground parts with dormant buds overwinter, and in some herbaceous plants, basal leaves overwinter. At different stages of development, winter dormancy occurs in insects. Malaria mosquito and urticaria butterflies overwinter in the adult insect stage, cabbage butterflies - in the pupal stage, and gypsy moth - in the egg stage.
The overwintering stages of plants and animals have many similar physiological features. The metabolic rate is significantly reduced. The tissues of organisms in a state of winter dormancy contain many reserve nutrients, especially fats and carbohydrates, due to which reduced metabolic processes are maintained during wintering. Usually the amount of water in tissues decreases, especially in seeds and winter buds of plants. Thanks to all these features, the resting stages are able to survive harsh wintering conditions for a long time.
Causes of biological rhythms. Photoperiodism
In the process of evolution, each species has developed a characteristic annual cycle of intensive growth and development, reproduction, preparation for winter and wintering. This phenomenon is called biological rhythm. The coincidence of each period of the life cycle with the corresponding time of year is crucial for the existence of the species.
The most noticeable connection of all physiological phenomena in the body is with the seasonal variation of temperature. But although it affects the speed of life processes, it still does not serve as the main regulator of seasonal phenomena in nature. Biological processes of preparation for winter begin in the summer, when the temperature is high. At high temperatures, insects still fall into a hibernating state, birds begin to molt and the desire to migrate appears. Consequently, some other conditions, and not temperature, influence the seasonal state of the body.
The main factor in the regulation of seasonal cycles in most plants and animals is the change in day length. The response of organisms to day length is called photoperiodism.
Fish in a frozen pond fall into torpor in winter, but continue to swim in deep waters. Frogs hibernate in ponds, buried in silt, and toads hibernate under the roots of old stumps. Birds that stayed for the winter and flew to us from northern places stay in forests, parks, and gardens. Some feed on seeds and fruits of trees and shrubs, others feed on insect larvae, which they find in the crevices of tree bark.
Animals adapt to unfavorable living conditions in winter in different ways. In some animals, all physiological processes decrease and they hibernate. The hedgehog sleeps under the roots of trees on a bed of leaves. Having accumulated reserves of fat even before the snow cover is established, the bear lies down in a den and sleeps there all winter.
Animals that spend the winter in an active state are covered with thick and long hair. By fresh tracks in the snow you can find out which animals are not sleeping. It is not difficult to observe small mouse tracks and the characteristic paw prints of a hare: two holes next to each other, two after each other. Sometimes it is possible to come across traces of a fox and a wolf, very similar to the traces of a small and large dog, prints of the hooves of an elk and the paws of a squirrel that descended to the ground to find acorns and nuts hidden in the fall.
The fox runs through fields and meadows, hunting for hares and mice. Hungry wolves wander in families through forests and fields, sometimes running into villages in search of food. Moose often live in deciduous forests, as they feed on tree bark in winter. Squirrels remove the seeds from the cones, leaving only the stems. In severe frosts, the squirrel is not visible: it climbs into its nest and sleeps there, covering itself with its fluffy tail.
Our planet experiences regular weather changes throughout the year. Such changes are usually called seasons. All seasonal changes in nature have their own separate name. These are winter, spring, summer and autumn. Changes in weather and changes in the behavior of the animal world during these periods depend on the amount of solar radiation distributed to different areas of the globe. The angle of incidence of the sun's ray on the Earth's surface is also of great importance. The more the angle of inclination tends towards a straight line, the hotter it becomes in a particular place where this beam falls. The length of the day also influences seasonal changes.
Dependence of seasonal changes on territorial location
In the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, seasonal changes are completely opposite. It depends on the location of the Earth in relation to the Sun. An imaginary red line on the globe separates the two hemispheres exactly in the middle. This line is called the equator. Throughout the year, the sun's rays fall on this territory almost at right angles. And therefore, in countries located on the equator, the weather is constantly hot and dry. Traditionally, the winter period is considered to be the beginning of the year.
Winter - cold and beautiful
It is located farthest from the Sun in winter. All seasonal changes in nature during this period freeze in anticipation of warming. A time of low temperatures, snowfalls, winds and abundant ice formation. Many animals hibernate to save vital energy. After the winter equinox, the Sun begins to rise higher above the horizon, and the length of the day slowly increases.
Winter time for nature is a period of struggle and beauty. Plants stop growing, some animals and birds move to warmer countries, and people escape the cold in sheltered areas. You can see abandoned bird nests, bare tree branches and large volumes of fallen snow.
Changes in winter weather
Winter weather is changeable and unpredictable. One week there may be severe frosts, and the next there may be a sudden thaw. When it’s cold, you can hear the trees cracking in the frost, and the water in rivers, lakes and ponds freezing. Ice crystals form a hard top layer of water on the surface of reservoirs, which reliably protects deep-seated inhabitants from the penetration of cold. In inaccessible mountainous areas, snowstorms cover roads, and people have to stock up on provisions in advance.
During thaws, seasonal changes in nature can manifest themselves in unexpected rains, which, when frost returns, create an ice crust on roads and plants. Ice covers trees, houses, cars and roads. This natural phenomenon is very dangerous for animals and people. Ice accumulation breaks trees, damages power lines and renders bridges and roads unusable.
Animal and plant life in winter
Most are at rest. Among the snow-white snow rubble, only some types of evergreen trees, such as spruce, cedar, pine or fir, grow green. At the end of winter, with warming, the movement of juices begins, and the first buds appear on the trees.
Many birds migrate to warmer regions, but more than 30 species remain in the Northern Hemisphere even during the worst frosts. These are, as a rule, birds that feed on the seeds of certain plants. Birds also remain for the winter - scavengers such as crows, seagulls and pigeons and hunters such as hawks and owls.
Winter is a time of long sleep for many animals, and seasonal changes in wildlife occur differently everywhere. Frogs go into hibernation mode and bury themselves in the mud, and small animals like voles and marmots hide in pre-opened holes. Earthworms, caterpillars and bumblebees also behave in the same way. Bears also lay down in warm dens. During hibernation, animals are in a state of suspended animation. Many other mammals also endure seasonal changes in nature. These are otters, muskrats, deer, hares and many other species of forest inhabitants.
Spring is the time to bloom
From March 20, the length of the day increases significantly, the average daily temperature rises, and the first flowers begin to bloom. Animals that have wintered in cold weather begin to molt, and those that hibernated begin to return to their previous way of life. Birds build nests and begin to have chicks. Numerous offspring are born and various insects appear.
In the Northern Hemisphere, spring arrives on the vernal equinox. The length of the day is compared with the length of the night. In spring, heavy rains and snow melt begin. Water basins overflow and spring floods begin. The first flowers bloom, and their active pollination by emerging insects begins. The first flowers to appear are snowdrops, irises and lilies. Leaves appear on the trees.
Awakening Wildlife
Gradually, the air is filled with the singing of migratory birds returning from hot countries. Toads and frogs wake up from hibernation and begin to sing their mating songs. Many mammals are exploring new territories.
Spring seasonal changes in wildlife begin with the appearance of various insects. Very early you can see mosquitoes and flies. Other insects wake up behind them at the beginning of spring. Various bumblebees, wasps and the like are reliably protected from spring frosts by a fluffy striped coat.
Summer - the ripening harvest
After June 21, real summer begins in the Northern Hemisphere. The development of all plants is rapidly progressing, and for herbivores the time of increased nutrition is coming. Predators, in turn, actively hunt lovers of green food. All seasonal changes in nature occur very quickly in summer. Excellent weather allows people to grow so many vegetables and fruits during the summer months that their supplies can last for a very long time. Perennial plants also gain their greatest strength during the summer months.
At the end of summer, the harvest of the ripe crop begins. Fruits ripen on many bushes, trees and other plants. But summer production of fruits and vegetables is sometimes reduced sharply due to soil dehydration and the inability to provide enough water to the plants.
In the summer, many birds train their chicks and prepare them for the long autumn migration. Summer and seasonal changes in nature in summer are a wonderful topic for studying the behavior of not only birds, but also many insects and other representatives of the animal world. The educational excursion “Seasonal Changes in Nature” will be very interesting for children.
Autumn - fruit picking
Starting September 22, new seasonal changes occur throughout the Northern Hemisphere, and cooling begins quite soon. There is a drop in temperature, and the midday sun no longer warms very much. The days are getting shorter and the life cycle of many plants is ending. The fauna is preparing for migration to the south or building warm shelters for long winter hibernation. Some animals and birds change their summer outfits for warmer winter ones. Among many animal breeds, the mating season begins. The grass dries up, and the leaves on the trees change color and fall off. The sun does not rise above the North at all, and the Arctic will be in complete darkness for the next six months. Autumn ends on the winter solstice.
You can trace the most interesting seasonal changes in nature in the fall during the short Indian summer. The return of warm weather for a few autumn days gives animals and plants a chance to finish preparing for the extreme cold. Gardeners and vegetable gardeners closely monitor the harbingers of frost in order to finish harvesting a bountiful harvest of vegetables and fruits.
Animal world in autumn
Many animals and birds are beginning to move south in search of milder temperatures and reliable food supplies. Some animal species hibernate. Bears go into deep winter sleep. In late autumn, a large number of insects die. Some insects burrow deeper into the ground or hibernate while in the state of larvae or pupae.
The various seasonal changes in nature in the fall will be clear to preschoolers if you explain to the children what is happening and supplement the story about autumn with illustrative examples. This is a demonstration of beautiful orange and red maple leaves, various crafts made from autumn leaves and twigs, and observations of the animal world. Children may also be interested in autumn seasonal changes in a corner of nature, which, as a rule, is created in any preschool institution.
Nature calendar
To consolidate knowledge about the changing seasons and get a better acquaintance with nature, you can create nature calendars with preschoolers. These can be children's themed drawings or applications using summer or autumn natural materials. Natural phenomena can be presented in the form of a schematic image or using a variety of stickers with thematic content.
Various subject pictures are placed on the calendar in accordance with the passing season.
In winter, these can be images of sleeping bears or animals with white fur. Spring can be illustrated with images and the arrival of migratory birds. There are many ways available to visually convey the summer season. This display of ripened fruits and various Autumn season is also demonstrated visually with the help of fallen tree leaves.
In general, a story about natural changes during different seasons and the creation of a calendar of observations of significant changes in the surrounding nature contributes to the development of children and instilling in them a love for their native land.
