Forwards and back

1.

2. Hours of Daylight

In the UK, during summer, there are more hours
of daylight. The days are lighter for longer.
In the winter, there are less hours of daylight.
The days become darker earlier in the evening.

3. The Shortest and Longest Days

JUNE
In the UK, the day which has the most hours of
daylight in the year, is the 21st June. This is
called the summer solstice.
The day which has the fewest hours of daylight in
the year, is the 21st December. This is called the
winter solstice.

4. Clocks Forward, Clocks Back

When British Summer Time begins, everyone moves the time on their
clocks forward one hour. This is called ‘putting the clocks forward’.
When
British
Summer Time ends and autumn begins, everyone moves
Did
you
know…?
the time on their clocks back by one hour. This is called ‘putting the
In
the back’.
Royal Households across the UK, staff working
clocks
for the Queen spend 50 hours changing the time on
But why
do we do this?
1000
clocks!

5. Making the Most of the Daylight

In 1914, a man called William
Willet decided that people should
make the most of the longer hours
of daylight in the summer.
He also pointed out that less coal
and candles would be used,
because people would have lighter
evenings.

6. First World War

In April 1916, Germany became the first country to switch to Daylight
Saving Time (DST). This saved fuel during the war.
In May 1916, Britain also switched to Daylight Saving Time.

7. Good Things and Bad Things

Good things about DST:
• Less traffic accidents, as people can
see more clearly in daylight.
• Saving energy as not as many
lights are on and so less electricity
is being used.
• More people exercise outside.
Not so good things about DST:
• Darker mornings can mean it is
less safe for children to walk to
school.
• Farmers get up early, so are
working in the dark for longer.

8. How to Remember

So
in the
spring,
clocks go
forward
an go
hour
and
A great
way
to remember
when
the clocks
forwards
‘Fall’ is the American term for autumn.
or back,
is this little
phrase:
in
the autumn,
they
go back an hour.
Spring forward,
fall back.