Autumn

What is Autumn?

Autumn is the season that comes between summer and winter. Americans usually call this season fall

because it is a time of falling leaves.

When does Autumn begin?

This year Autumn begins on September 22nd.

What causes autumn?

The first day of autumn (fall) is celebrated on the fall equinox - a time when both night and day are equal. In the northern half of the world, autumn

begins about September 22.

Why do leaves change colors in Autumn?

Plants make their own food. They take water from the ground through their roots. They take a gas called carbon dioxide from the air. They turn water and

carbon dioxide into food and oxygen. Oxygen is a gas in the air that we need to breathe.

During winter, there is not enough light or water for photosynthesis. The trees will rest, and live off the food they stored during the summer. They begin to shut down their food-making factories. The green

chlorophyll disappears from the leaves.

The bright reds and purples we see in leaves are made mostly in the fall. In some trees, like maples, sugar is trapped in the

leaves after photosynthesis stops. Sunlight and the cool nights of autumn cause the leaves turn this sugar into a red color.

The brown color of trees like oaks is made from wastes left in the leaves.

What fruits and vegetables are harvested in autumn?

Ripe apples fill the orchards.

Pumpkins are ready to be carved into jack-o-lanterns.

What happens to insects in the autumn?

Butterflies will migrate to warmer climates.

Most insects cannot or do not fly to warmer climates. They must find ways of

surviving winter where they are. For example, ladybugs hide in cracks of trees.

What do other animals do in the autumn?

Squirrels collect nuts.

Birds fly south for the upcoming winter.

Mice collect seeds.

Blue jays collect acorns.

How do people get ready for autumn?