Download Earth`s Revolution and seasons File

Warm up: Monday
Week of March 28-April 1

 4 friends were talking about why we have longer periods of
daylight in the summer than in the winter. This is what they
said:
 Will: “It’s because one side of Earth faces the Sun and the other side faces
away.”
 Ava: “It’s because the Sun gives off more heat in the summer than in
winter.”
 Rick: “It’s because the Northern hemisphere is closer to the sun in summer
than in the winter.”
 Susan: “It’s because Earth’s tilt causes the angle of sunlight hitting Earth to
change.”
 Which friend do you most agree with? Describe and explain
your thinking about why we have longer periods of daylight in
the summer than in the winter.
Earth’s
Revolution/Seasons

Earth
orbiting/going
all the way
around the sun
Drawing
1 revolution = 1 year or
365 days, or 12 months
revolves/turns
counterclockwise/to the left
Tilt stays towards North star
the whole revolution
Earth’s
Revolution
Earth’s tilt causes the sun’s rays
to hit Earth at different angles
causing seasons
Questions
1. Why does the Earth experience
seasons?
2. What does “revolve” mean?
3. How long does it take for the
Earth to revolve around the sun
one time?
4. What direction does the Earth
revolve?
5. What is a limitation of the
model?

Less
daytime
Direct vs Indirect Rays
of the sun

More
daytime
Northern
winter
 v Indirect
Northern
summer
Most Direct
Most Direct
Indirect
Southern
summer
Southern
Winter
Length of day activity
Equinox
Solstice
The Four Seasons: The Effect of the Tilt

Solstices and Equinoxes

 Equinox: The two days that the Earth is not tilted towards or away
from the sun (autumnal/fall and vernal/spring). It is the days where
daylight and nighttime are about equal (12hr day, 12 hr night). Sun is
directly on the Equator.
 Solstice: The days when Earth is most tilted towards or away from
the Sun (summer and winter). It is the longest and shortest days of
the year.




Spring Equinox ~ March 21
Summer Solstice ~ June 21
Fall Equinox ~ September 22
Winter Solstice ~ December 21
 The dates on which these occur mark the change from one season to
the next.
Solstices and Equinoxes

North star
(Polaris)
Seasons Diagram

 Create a diagram in your journal of how the sun
revolves around the Sun, labeling the seasons for
both Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
 See the Season’s Diagram Activity handout for all of
the instructions