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All About Daylight Saving Time

Feb 01, 2023

Twice a year we adjust the clocks so the sun will last longer at night. Find out more about Daylight Saving Time right here! 

Daylight Saving Time is a time cycle that starts in the early spring when you set your clocks ahead one hour. Because the sun rises so early in the spring and summer months, setting your clocks ahead by an hour gives you more daylight in the evening. In the fall, the exact opposite happens - we set our clocks back an hour (to Standard Time) to gain an extra hour of sunlight in the morning, so we're not heading off to school or work in the dark!

Sunday, March 12th at 2:00am our clocks Spring forward 1 hour

Daylight savings Spring Forward!Daylight savings Spring Forward!
 

How it Started

It wasn't until World War I that countries started to think of observing Daylight Saving Time. The practice of switching the time around has been a muddle ever since. For years after WWI, the United States government let individual states and cities decide whether or not they wanted to observe Daylight Saving Time because it had angered so many people originally. At the time, many Americans were farmers used to getting up early and going to bed early as well. An hour of extra light at night wasn't going to do them any good. It wasn't until the mid-1970s that an official law on the matter was passed. And still there are states, such as Hawaii, most of Indiana and Arizona, who do not observe Daylight Saving Time.

Spring Forward, Fall BackSpring Forward, Fall Back

What’s the Point?

Daylight Saving Time is proven to save on energy because people aren't turning on their lamps, heat, etc. as early as they would have, had their clocks not been turned back. But, best of all, it means you can spend more time outdoors after school, since the sun will stay out longer than it would if we didn’t adjust the clocks!

More Sunshine HoursMore Sunshine Hours

Save the Date

Each year we set the clocks an hour forward in the spring, and an hour backward in the fall (the nifty phrase “spring forward, fall back” might help you remember!). 

In 2023, we set the clocks to "spring forward" on March 12thand "fall back" on November 5th.

All About Daylight Saving TimeAll About Daylight Saving TimeCourtesy of Pitara Kids Network
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