Hey there! Today, we’re going to learn about some fascinating cycles that happen in nature. A cycle is like a pattern that repeats over and over again. Let’s dive into the cycles of the seasons, the moon, water, and even salmon!
Have you ever wondered why we have different seasons like spring, summer, autumn, and winter? It’s because the Earth is tilted as it travels around the Sun. This tilt means that different parts of the Earth get different amounts of sunlight throughout the year.
When the part of the Earth you live on is tilted toward the Sun, it’s summer. When it’s tilted away, it’s winter. In between, we have spring and autumn. This is why it’s not always the same season everywhere on Earth at the same time!
The moon goes through a cycle of phases each month. It looks like it’s changing shape, but it’s really just our view of it that’s changing. The moon has a day side (lit by the Sun) and a night side (in shadow).
As the moon orbits Earth, we see different parts of its day side. This creates phases like the new moon, crescent, quarter, gibbous, and full moon. The cycle takes about a month, which is where the word “month” comes from!
Water on Earth goes through a cycle too. It starts as rain, which falls to the ground and flows into rivers, lakes, and oceans. When the Sun heats the water, it turns into water vapor (a gas) and rises into the sky.
High up, the water vapor cools and turns back into tiny droplets, forming clouds. When the clouds get heavy, the water falls as rain again, starting the cycle over. This is how water moves around our planet!
Salmon have an amazing life cycle with seven stages. They start as eggs in mountain streams. When they hatch, they’re called alevins, and they grow into fry, which swim around their home stream.
As they grow, they become parr, then smolts, and finally adult salmon in the ocean. When it’s time to lay eggs, adult salmon swim back to the streams where they were born. They lay eggs, and the cycle begins again!
Isn’t it amazing how nature has all these cycles? From the changing seasons to the phases of the moon, the water cycle, and the life of salmon, cycles help keep our world in balance. Next time you see the moon or drink a glass of water, remember the incredible cycles happening all around us!
Seasonal Scavenger Hunt: Go on a scavenger hunt in your backyard or local park to find signs of the current season. Look for things like leaves, flowers, or even the clothes people are wearing. Draw or collect items that represent the season you’re in. Discuss with your family or friends how these items might change in the next season.
Moon Phase Diary: Start a moon phase diary. Each night, look at the moon and draw what you see. Try to do this for a whole month. At the end of the month, look at your drawings and see if you can spot the pattern of the moon’s phases. Talk about why the moon looks different each night and how this cycle repeats every month.
Water Cycle Experiment: Create your own mini water cycle. Fill a clear bowl with a little water and cover it with plastic wrap. Place it in a sunny spot. Watch what happens over a few days. Can you see water droplets forming on the plastic wrap? Discuss how this is similar to clouds forming in the sky and how rain might fall from them.
