Download Winter

Objective – Students will understand how Earth’s tilt on its axis changes the length of daylight and creates the
seasons.
Seasons Review Guide
Seasons Vocabulary You Should Know and Use
Axis – An imaginary line going from the North Pole to the South Pole. The Earth spins on this line.
Direct Sunlight – Covers a small surface area; heat is concentrated and warmer; Sun is high in the sky; summer
heat energy is direct.
Indirect Sunlight – Covers a large surface area; heat is spread out and colder; Sun is low in the sky; winter heat
energy is indirect.
Orbit – The path that a planet travels as it goes around the Sun or a moon takes as it goes around a planet.
Revolution – The circling of the Earth around the Sun. (The Moon also revolves around the Earth.) It takes 365
days (one year) for the Earth to revolve once around the Sun.
Rotation – The Earth spinning on its axis. It takes the Earth 24 hours (one day) to revolve one time around its axis.
Seasons – Due to the tilt of Earth as it travels around the Sun, we have spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Tilt – The Earth’s axis is not straight up and down, instead it leans at a 23.5-degree angle.
I. Earth’s Tilt
a. Earth is tilted 23.5o. The Earth’s axis always points towards the North Star (Polaris).
North Pole
South Pole
II. Earth’s Revolution
a. Earth moves (revolves) around the Sun.
b. Earth’s orbit is almost a perfect circle as it
revolves around the Sun.
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Objective – Students will understand how Earth’s tilt on its axis changes the length of daylight and creates the
seasons.
III. Identify the position of the Earth and Sun at the beginning of each season.
Spring
Summer
Winter
Autumn
IV. Identify the dates of the equinoxes and solstices in both hemisphere.
a. Equinox – “Equal Nights.” Daylight and nighttime hours are both 12 hours long.
b. Solstice – The dates when the Sun appears at its highest in the sky and lowest in the sky.
Date
Event Northern
Event Southern
Hemisphere
Hemisphere
March 21st
Vernal Equinox
Autumnal Equinox
June 21st
Summer Solstice
Winter Solstice
September 21st
Autumnal Equinox
Vernal Equinox
December 21st
Winter Solstice
Summer Solstice
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Objective – Students will understand how Earth’s tilt on its axis changes the length of daylight and creates the
seasons.
V. Identify the position of the Sun in the sky during each seasons.
Sun highest in the Summer
Sun in between in Autumn and Spring
Sun lowest in the Winter
VI. Identify the correct appearance of the Earth in a diagram at each season (with Earth & Sun).
Earth – Northern Hemisphere Summer
(Summer Solstice)
Earth – Northern Hemisphere Winter
(Winter Solstice)
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Objective – Students will understand how Earth’s tilt on its axis changes the length of daylight and creates the
seasons.
Northern Hemisphere Autumn (Autumnal Equinox) & Spring (Vernal Equinox)
VII. Define the difference between direct and indirect heat energy from the Sun.
a. In the winter, light comes in at a lower angle. The same amount of heat energy/Sunlight covers a large
area.
b. In the summer, light comes in at a high angle. The same amount of heat energy/Sunlight covers a small
area.
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Objective – Students will understand how Earth’s tilt on its axis changes the length of daylight and creates the
seasons.
VIII. Compare and contrast revolution and rotation.
a – Rotation
b - Revolution
a. Rotation – Earth turns around its axis; rotates once every 24 hours (day).
b. Revolution – Earth revolves around the Sun; revolves once every 365 days (one year).
IX. Describe what causes day and night.
a. Day and night is caused by the rotation of the Earth.
b. When where you are is pointed toward the Sun, it is day. Then the Earth rotates you away from the
Sun, and it is night.
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Objective – Students will understand how Earth’s tilt on its axis changes the length of daylight and creates the
seasons.
X. Compare hours of daylight during each season.
December
Winter – Northern Hemisphere spends more time in darkness. Daylight hours
are shorter during the winter; nighttime hours are longer.
Summer – Southern Hemisphere spends more time in daylight. Daylight hours
are longer during the summer; nighttime hours are shorter.
City
City
6 Months Later
June
Summer – Northern Hemisphere spends more time in daylight. Daylight hours
are longer during the summer; nighttime hours are shorter.
Winter – Southern Hemisphere spends more time in darkness. Daylight hours
are shorter during the winter; nighttime hours are longer.
XI. Seasons are reversed in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere.
Season Northern Hemisphere
Season Southern Hemisphere
Summer
Autumn/Fall
Winter
Spring
Winter
Spring
Summer
Autumn/Fall
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