Have you ever heard of Daylight Saving Time (DST)? It’s a special time of the year when we change our clocks to enjoy more sunlight during the day. In some places, people call it “summertime.” The idea is to move our clocks forward by one hour in the spring and summer so we can have more daylight in the evenings. In the United States and Canada, this starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. But not every country or region does this, and some places don’t change their clocks at all!
Daylight Saving Time was first thought of by a man named George Hudson from New Zealand in 1895. George loved collecting bugs and wanted more daylight to do it. He suggested moving the clocks ahead by two hours to have more time outside. Although we don’t move the clocks by two hours today, his idea helped create the Daylight Saving Time we know now.
There are some cool reasons why we use Daylight Saving Time:
Even though DST has benefits, not everyone likes it. Some people find it confusing or think it messes up their sleep. Farmers, for example, usually start their day early no matter what the clock says, so DST doesn’t help them much. In places like Arizona and Hawaii, they don’t use Daylight Saving Time at all and keep the same time all year round.
Daylight Saving Time is an interesting way we change our clocks to enjoy more sunlight. It helps us have longer evenings for fun activities, but it can also be a bit tricky for some people. Whether you like the extra daylight or find it a bit confusing, it’s fun to know why we do it. So, when you change your clock, remember to enjoy the longer evenings and maybe even go on a bug hunt like George Hudson!
Shadow Tracking: On a sunny day, go outside with a piece of chalk and a friend or family member. Stand in one spot and have your partner trace your shadow with the chalk. Come back every hour and trace your shadow again. Notice how the position and length of your shadow change throughout the day. Discuss with your partner why you think this happens and how it relates to the position of the sun in the sky.
Clock Crafting: Create your own paper clock using a paper plate, markers, and a brad fastener. Draw the numbers and add hour and minute hands. Practice moving the clock forward by one hour to simulate Daylight Saving Time. Think about how this change affects your daily activities, like when you eat dinner or go to bed. Discuss with your family how they feel about the time change.
Evening Adventure: Plan a special outdoor activity with your family or friends to enjoy the extra evening daylight. It could be a walk, a game of tag, or a picnic. Afterward, talk about how the extra daylight made your activity more fun and how it might help people stay active and healthy.
