{"id":19470,"date":"2021-05-10T08:04:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-10T08:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kidpillar.com\/?p=19470"},"modified":"2024-10-20T14:16:29","modified_gmt":"2024-10-20T14:16:29","slug":"solstice-facts-activities-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kidpillar.com\/solstice-facts-activities-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Solstice? Facts, Activities & Books for Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"

Solstice is observed every year and marks the beginning of the next season. But wait! Do you know what is a Solstice? Why we have solstice?<\/strong> Is it because of the revolution of the Earth around the Sun or is it due to the tilt of the Earth?<\/p>

If that\u2019s what your kiddo (and you!) wants to know, you have come to the right place. We promise to simplify the \u2018academic\u2019 stuff with some great Solstice Activities for Kids<\/strong> and interesting Solstice Books for Kids<\/strong>.<\/p>

Hop on to the sections that interests you most (or better read them all!!)<\/p>

  1. What is a Solstice<\/a><\/li>\n\n
  2. Why Do We Observe Solstice Every Year?<\/a><\/li>\n\n
  3. Solstice Fun Facts<\/a><\/li>\n\n
  4. Solstice Activities for Kids<\/a><\/li>\n\n
  5. Summer Solstice Books for Kids<\/a><\/li>\n\n
  6. Winter Solstice Books for Kids<\/a><\/li><\/ol>

    What is a Solstice?<\/strong><\/h2>

    Summer days are long and hot. With more sunlight hours, we observe the longest day of the year during this time in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, is mostly observed on 20th or 21st June<\/strong>. The same day is also the shortest in the Southern Hemisphere, coinciding with the onset of winter season.<\/p>

    The opposite of Summer Solstice is Winter Solstice that occurs between 20th and 23rd December. Winter Solstice marks the shortest day of the Northern Hemisphere and the longest day of the Southern Hemisphere<\/strong>.<\/p>

    Why Do We Observe Solstice Every Year?<\/strong><\/h2>

    The reason we experience solstices every year is because our planet is tilted at an angle of 23.4 degrees on its rotational axis. That means that instead of being straight in its orbit around the Sun, Earth is inclined at an angle.<\/p>

    As it revolves around the Sun, every year around June 20th or 21st, it is at a point where the North pole is closest to the Sun. <\/p>

    Being closest to the Sun also means plenty of light and that is why during Summer Solstice, we receive sunlight for maximum time during the day. Thus, making Summer Solstice the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere.<\/p>

    \"Solstice\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>

    Now since the North pole is tilted towards the Sun, it implies the South pole must face away from the Sun. Hence, indicating less light and winter season in the Southern Hemisphere.<\/p>

    Fun Facts About Solstice<\/strong><\/h2>

    1. The word Solstice originates from Latin words Sol <\/em>meaning Sun and Sistere <\/em>that means to stand still.<\/p>

    2. During Summer Solstice, North Pole gets 30% more energy from the Sun than the Equator.<\/p>

    3. Despite being the longest day, Summer Solstice is not the warmest day of the year. This is because it takes Earth and its water bodies a lot of time (almost a month) to reflect the extra heat received on Summer Solstice and the days after.<\/p>

    4. Days start getting shorter after Summer Solstice in Northern Hemisphere and longer in Southern Hemisphere.<\/p>

    5. The region north of the Arctic Circle witnesses 24 hours of continual sunlight during summer solstice and no sunlight during winter solstice.<\/p>

    \"Artic<\/a><\/figure><\/div>

    6. Around midday on Summer Solstice, the Sun is directly overhead the Tropic of Cancer. On Winter Solstice, the Sun is directly above the Tropic of Capricorn.<\/p>

    7. Ancient people built monuments to celebrate the winter solstice. These include Newgrange of Ireland, Nasca Lines of Peru and Egypt’s temple of Karnak.<\/p>

    8. Iran’s Yalda festival, China’s D\u014dngzh\u00ec festival celebrate Winter Solstice.<\/p>

    9. A Sundial<\/a><\/strong> located at the Ecole Sup\u00e9rieure des Mines de Paris in Valbonne Sophia Antipolis of south-eastern France, reads out the word \u2019SOLSTICE\u2019 on the shortest and longest day of the year.<\/p>

    Love these fun facts? We have got loads more\u2026check out Fun Facts For Kids \u2013 Weird But True!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

    Solstice Activities for Kids<\/strong><\/h2>

    1. Sundial<\/h3>

    Making a Sundial is a perfect STEM inspired craft to celebrate Solstice. It also doubles up as a cool science school project for kids. It integrates elements of math with science perfectly, making it a wonderful STEM project for kids that is easy and fun.<\/p>

    What you will need:<\/strong><\/p>

    \n
      \n
    • Cardboard<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>
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        \n
      • Craft paper<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>
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          \n
        • Pencil<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>
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          • Scale<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>
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            • Clay\/ Dough<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>
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              • Glue<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>
                \"Sundial<\/figure><\/div>
                <\/strong><\/div>
                 <\/div>
                 <\/div>
                How to Make a Sundial:<\/strong><\/div>
                 <\/div>
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                Step 1<\/strong>: Draw a big circle on the craft paper and cut it out using scissors. This will be your dial.<\/div>\n
                 <\/div>\n
                \"Sundial<\/figure>
                <\/div>\n<\/div>
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                 <\/div>\n
                Step 2<\/strong>: Paste the dial on the cardboard to make a firm base.<\/div>\n<\/div>
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                 <\/div>\n
                Step 3<\/strong>: Poke a pencil at the center of the dial and secure it using clay or dough. Make sure the pencil is upright.<\/div>\n
                \"Sundial<\/figure>
                <\/div>\n<\/div>
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                 <\/div>\n
                Step 4:<\/strong> Now place this arrangement in a sunny spot where you expect Sun to be all day long.<\/div>\n<\/div>
                 <\/div>
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                Step 5<\/strong>: Using pen and scale, mark the shadow of the pencil on the dial. Write the hour corresponding to the shadow.<\/div>\n
                 <\/div>\n
                \"sundial<\/figure>
                <\/div>\n<\/div>
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                 <\/div>\n
                Step 6<\/strong>: Once, this is done you have to mark the shadow corresponding to every hour on the clock. We used a timer to help us keep track. By the end of the day, you should have at least six markings ready.  These marking can be then used to trace the other half of your sundial.<\/div>\n
                 <\/div>\n<\/div>
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                That’s it! Your Sun clock is ready! Notice the gaps between the markings. Each gap signifies an hour on the Sun clock. Put your sun-clock at the same spot in the sun, you can make out the time by looking at the shadow of the pencil.<\/div>\n<\/div>

                2. <\/strong>Luminary<\/h3>

                Luminaries are an age old winter solstice tradition. Not only they look pretty and mark the transition of seasons, they are a great DIY solstice activity for kids.<\/p>

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