If you live near the Atlantic coast in North America, then you know that summer is both a lovely time to spend by the shore and holds the possibility for some dangerous storms. In the North Atlantic, hurricane season is June 1 through November 30, with activity peaking between August and October. Nearly all tropical storms in the Atlantic area occur during this window, which very nearly lines up with the summer season (June 20-September 22). So why is that?

Let’s learn all about hurricane season and then capture a storm in a bottle by making a hurricane in a jar!

This Saturday marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere—and this week’s distance learning theme is seasons. Join one of our museum educators as she learns what causes these periodic changes in Earth’s conditions by reading The Reason for the Seasons, written and illustrated by Ellie Peterson!

This Saturday—June 20, 2020—marks the official beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, with the occurrence of the June solstice. In celebration, we’re focusing this week’s Distance Learning offerings on seasons. Today we’ll revisit a previous lesson about what causes the Earth’s seasons—with bonus content added to focus on the solstices!

As we get ready for the start of summer, you might be thinking about how this June compares with last June or a June from years in the past- maybe it feels warmer or colder, greener or full of more colors, wetter or drier. Maybe the baby robins in a nest near your house are getting ready to fly or the beans in your garden have just barely sprouted, and you’re wondering if that is happening earlier or later than last year. If you are thinking about wildlife and plants, then you are thinking about phenology- the study of events in plant and animal life cycles and how they change with the seasons and years.

In this timely multimedia lesson, we explore what causes Earth’s seasons, and what it means to experience an equinox.

Geared toward upper elementary-level students.