Trees Through the Year
How trees change through the seasons for kids: buds in spring, green leaves in summer, falling leaves in autumn and bare branches in winter, with a quiz.
Key takeaways
- A tree looks different in each of the four seasons
- In spring, buds open into new green leaves and blossom
- In autumn, leaves turn red, orange and brown, then fall
- Some trees stay green all year and are called evergreens
A tree's year
A tree does not look the same all year. As the seasons change, the tree changes too. Let's watch one tree through spring, summer, autumn and winter.
Spring 🌸
In spring the weather grows warmer. Tiny buds on the branches pop open. Out come soft, new green leaves. Some trees grow pretty pink and white blossom. Birds build their nests in the branches.
Summer ☀️
In summer the tree is full and green. The big leaves catch the sunlight and make food for the tree. The leaves give cool shade underneath, where you can sit on a hot day. The tree is busy growing.
Autumn 🍂
In autumn the days get shorter and cooler. The leaves change colour to red, orange, yellow and brown. One by one, they flutter to the ground. Crunch, crunch! Some trees grow fruit like apples, ready to pick.
Winter ❄️
In winter it is cold. Many trees have lost all their leaves, so their branches are bare. The tree is resting and waiting for spring. But some trees, like the pine or holly, stay green all winter. We call these evergreen trees.
Watch a tree grow
Choose one tree near your home, school or park. It will be your special tree! Visit it in every season. Look closely. Are there buds, green leaves, coloured leaves, or bare branches? Take a photo or draw a picture each time. Lay your pictures side by side to see how much your tree changes through the year.
A tree is a home for many animals. Find out where they live in Animals and Their Homes. To learn the parts of a tree, like roots and leaves, read The Parts of a Plant.
Quick quiz
Test yourself and earn XP
In which season do new leaves and blossom grow on a tree?
In spring the buds open and the tree grows new green leaves and pretty blossom.
What happens to many tree leaves in autumn?
In autumn the leaves turn red, orange and brown, and then fall to the ground.
What do we call a tree that stays green all year?
An evergreen tree, like a pine, keeps its green needles all year round.
What grows on some trees in autumn that we can eat?
Many trees grow fruit such as apples and pears, which are ready to pick in autumn.
FAQ
In autumn the days get shorter and colder. Many trees drop their leaves to save energy and water during the cold winter, then grow fresh new leaves again in spring.
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