15 Fun Solstice Activities for Kids

Solstice classes for children are a fun way to learn about the Earth’s natural cycles and teach children to observe the patterns of nature.

Engaging children in solstices activities not only helps them understand fundamental astronomical concepts, but also helps them appreciate how ancient cultures have long celebrated these celestial phenomena.

But before starting practical solstice activities for children, it is necessary to understand what is a solstice and why do we have a solstice? Is it because of the rotation of the Earth around the Sun or because of the tilt of the Earth?

• What is the solstice?
• Why do we celebrate the solstice every year?
• Fun facts about the solstice
• Activities for children about the solstice

What is the solstice?

The solstice is celebrated every year and marks the beginning of the next season. With more hours of sunlight, we experience the longest day of the year at this time in the Northern Hemisphere. The summer solstice, the longest day of the year, is usually celebrated on June 20 or 21.

This day is also the shortest in the southern hemisphere and coincides with the beginning of the winter season.

The opposite of the summer solstice is the winter solstice, which occurs between December 20 and 23. The winter solstice marks the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest day in the Southern Hemisphere.

Why do we observe the solstice every year?

The reason we experience the solstice every year is because our planet is tilted 23.4 degrees on its axis of rotation. This means that instead of a straight orbit around the Sun, the Earth is tilted at an angle.

When it orbits the Sun, around June 20 or 21 each year, it is at the point where the North Pole is closest to the Sun.

Being closest to the Sun also means lots of light, so during the summer solstice we get sunlight for the maximum amount of time during the day. Thus, the summer solstice becomes the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere.

Since the North Pole is tilted toward the Sun, this means that the South Pole must point away from the Sun. Therefore, this indicates less light and winter season in the southern hemisphere.

Like the seasons, the solstices also change between the hemispheres. The summer solstice in the northern hemisphere coincides with the winter solstice in the southern hemisphere and vice versa.

Interesting facts about the solstice

1. The word Solstice comes from the Latin words Sol, meaning Sun, and Sistere, meaning standing still.

2. During the summer solstice, the North Pole receives 30% more energy from the Sun than the equator.

3. Despite the fact that the day of the summer solstice is the longest, it is not the warmest day of the year. This is because it takes a long time (almost a month) for the Earth and its bodies of water to reflect the extra heat received during the summer solstice and the following days.

4. Days begin to get shorter after the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and longer in the Southern Hemisphere.

5. The region north of the Arctic Circle experiences 24 hours of continuous sunlight during the summer solstice and no sunlight during the winter solstice.

6. Around noon on the day of the summer solstice, the Sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer. On the day of the winter solstice, the Sun is directly above the Tropic of Capricorn.

7. Ancient people built monuments in honor of the winter solstice. These include Newgrange in Ireland, the Nazca Lines in Peru and the Egyptian temple at Karnak.

8. The Yalda Festival in Iran and the Dongzhi Festival in China celebrate the winter solstice.

9. A sundial at the Ecole Supérieure des Mines de Paris in Valbon-Sophia-Antipolis in southeastern France reads the word “SOLSTICE” on the shortest and longest day of the year.

Like these interesting facts? We’ve got a lot more… check out fun facts for kids – weird but true!

Activities for children about the solstice

1. Sundial

Making a sundial is the perfect STEM craft to celebrate the Solstice. It also makes a cool science school project for kids. It perfectly combines elements of math with science, making it a great STEM project for kids that is easy and fun.

What you will need:

2. Solstice word search

This is a fun solstice activity for the classroom or at home where children compete to find words related to the solstice.

An ideal activity for children of all ages, word searches are a great way to improve attention, visual deduction and literacy skills.

Solstice word search

3. Lights

Lights are an ancient tradition of the winter solstice. They not only look good and mark the transition of the seasons, but are also great for children on the day of the solstice with their own hands.

4. Solstice Boggle

Get kids thinking and building their vocabulary with a fun boggle game inspired by the solstices! Definitely will get their gray cells working to create new words.

Solstice Boggle

5. Do-it-yourself Stonehenge

This ancient structure is believed to mark the summer solstice, so it makes sense to create your own model of Stonehenge.

Use the image of the famous structure as a reference and create your own Stonehenge using Jenga tiles or cardboard.

A great engineering project for kids, this one is sure to delight your kids.

Related: Read These Solstice Books for Kids to Learn About Solstice Traditions!

6. Sudoku on the theme of the solstice

This solstice-themed sudoku is perfect for kindergarteners. Including themed activities in the classroom or at home is an easy way to tell children about the event/holiday.

Sodoku Solstice

7. Chocolate marshmallow

Another delicious activity for the summer solstice. For this you need marshmallows and, of course, chocolate chips.

Watch the power of solar heat and use longer sunlight during this activity.

Sprinkle marshmallows with chocolate chips and place in the sun. Be ready to feast on melted chocolate chips with marshmallows in a few hours.

8. Solstice Unscramble

Another solstice learning activity for kids of all ages that will deepen solstice vocabulary.

Great for morning classroom work!

Solstice Unscramble

9. Sunflower

This is such a cool way to celebrate the Sun and Solstice. Perfect for kids of all ages, this adorable Sunflower DIY is sure to brighten up your holiday!

10. Describe the solstice

Help your children develop their own understanding of the solstice. Let ideas flow freely and let them think about the solstice from a scientific and cultural point of view.

Describe the solstice

11. Catchers of the sun

These sun catchers will make perfect decorations for the summer solstice. You will need wax paper, pencil shavings and glue.

Step 1. Fold the wax paper in half and draw a sun on one side.

Step 2. Cut out the sun with scissors. You will get two of these.

Step 3: Using a grater, apply a few pencils of your chosen color.

Step 4: Place these shavings on one of the sunnies. Put a second layer of sun to hold the shavings and stick the sides with glue.

Your sun catcher is ready. Hang it on the wall or stick it on the window glass so that it can catch the sunlight.

12. Write a poem about the solstice

Give wings to your imagination and creativity with this acrostic poem about the solstice. A simple way to develop creative writing skills, it will help children think outside the box to write their own poems.

An acrostic poem about the solstice

13. Make ice lanterns

A fun alternative to bonfires, ice lanterns are the perfect winter solstice fun for kids! Kids will love making these lanterns and lighting them.

14. Eggs from the sunny side

What better way to celebrate the solstice than with a healthy nutritious breakfast! Teach your kids to cook eggs sunny side up to mark this special day.

15. Do-it-yourself photo frame for the sun

Make your solstice celebration memorable with this simple DIY sun photo frame. And even if you don’t actually observe the solstice, this sun craft is a great way to simply thank the sun for its warmth.

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