Fall facts for kids

Fall is a word with a few different meanings, but it is most often used to describe one of the four main seasons of the year. This season is also known as autumn. It comes after summer and before winter.

Fall is a time when the weather starts to get cooler, and many plants begin to prepare for winter. It's a season full of beautiful changes in nature and special holidays.

What is Autumn?

Autumn, or fall, is the season between summer and winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, this usually happens from September to November. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is from March to May. During autumn, the days get shorter, and the nights get longer. The amount of sunlight we get decreases.

Why Leaves Change Color

One of the most famous things about autumn is how tree leaves change color. During summer, leaves are green because of a chemical called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll helps plants make their food using sunlight.

As autumn arrives, the days get shorter and cooler. Trees start to make less chlorophyll. When the green chlorophyll breaks down, other colors that were already in the leaves, like yellow and orange, start to show through. Red and purple colors are made by new chemicals that appear in the leaves as well. Eventually, the leaves fall off the trees. This helps the trees save energy during the cold winter months.

Autumn Weather

The weather in autumn can be very changeable. It often starts warm, like summer, but quickly becomes cooler. You might experience crisp, sunny days, but also rainy and windy ones. The air often feels fresh and cool, and you might need to wear warmer clothes like sweaters and jackets.

Harvest Time

Autumn is also a very important time for farming. Many crops are ready to be picked during this season. This is called the harvest. Farmers gather fruits and vegetables like pumpkins, apples, corn, and squash. This is why autumn is often linked to feelings of abundance and thankfulness.

Autumn Holidays

Many cultures celebrate special holidays during the fall season. In North America, Thanksgiving is a popular holiday in autumn. Families gather to share a big meal and give thanks. Halloween is another fun autumn holiday, especially for children. People dress up in costumes and go trick-or-treating.

Other Meanings of Fall

While autumn is the most common meaning, the word "fall" can also mean:

• To move downwards suddenly, like when something falls to the ground.
• A waterfall is sometimes called a "fall" or "falls" for short, because water is falling over a cliff.

Images for kids

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  Autumnal scene with yellow, orange and red leaves on trees and fallen on the ground

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  "Jesień" (Autumn) by Józef Chełmoński in 1875, showing a typical autumn view in the Polish countryside.

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  Autumn colors at the Kalevanpuisto park in Pori, Finland.

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  Maple leaves changing color by a creek.

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  Pumpkin pie is often served around Thanksgiving in North America.

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  All Saints' Day at a cemetery in Sanok – flowers and lit candles are placed to honor the memory of deceased relatives.

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  Harvest straw bales in a field in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.

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  Halloween pumpkins.

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  Autumn in Sedniv, Ukraine.

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  Autumn, by Giuseppe Collignon.

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  Autumn, by Pierre Le Gros the Elder.

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  Autumn (1573), by Giuseppe Arcimboldo.

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  Autumn (1896), by Art Nouveau artist Alphonse Mucha.

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  Autumn (1871), by Currier & Ives.

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  This 1905 print by Maxfield Frederick Parrish illustrated John Keats' poem Autumn.

See also

In Spanish: Otoño para niños