Lives in Winter, Dies in Summer (Riddle) Lyrics
It lives in the cold, disappears in the warm, and grows from the top down. A three-line riddle about something you can see on a frosty morning.
Lives in Winter, Dies in Summer (Riddle)
Lives in winter,
Dies in summer,
And grows with its roots upward!
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/lives-in-winter-dies-in-summer/
- Type
- Mother Goose
- Tune
- Spoken riddle
- Best for ages
- 4 to 9 years
What Does Lives in Winter, Dies in Summer (Riddle) Mean?
The answer is an icicle. It forms in winter when dripping water freezes, it melts away in summer, and it grows downward from a roof or branch, with its "roots", the thick end, at the top. Each clue sounds like a plant until you turn it upside down.
History and Origin
The Real Mother Goose (1916) prints the rhyme with its answer as the title: "An Icicle". Riddles about ice, snow and the seasons were popular winter fireside games in cold countries.
Learning Activities
- Guess first: give the clues one at a time and let your child guess.
- Freeze test: freeze water in a cup and watch it melt again.
- Icicle hunt: look for icicles on a cold day, from a safe distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the answer?
An icicle.
Why does it grow with its roots upward?
Icicles hang from the top and grow downward, with the thick end at the top.