SEASONS

Another pattern on Earth is our sequence of ? Seasons… four Spring Winter Summer Fall

Winter Summer Patterns in Nature During summer, During winter, daylight is longer and the weather is often warmer. During winter, daylight grows shorter and the weather become colder. For thousands of years, people have taken careful notice of the seasons so that they know the best time to plant their crops.

What Causes the Seasons to Change? The Earth orbits, or revolves, around the Sun at the same time that it rotates on its axis. Revolution or orbits- takes one year to happen. REMINDER: New Year’s Resolution happens once a year just like it takes the Earth one year for to orbit, or make one revolution around the Sun. It takes one year- just over 365 days- for the Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun. 1 orbit around the Sun= 365 days 1 rotation = 24 hours or 1 day

Because the Sun’s rays are more direct in the summer, The four seasons are actually caused by Earth’s tilt on its axis as it orbits the Sun. Part of the Earth is always tilting towards the Sun. The opposite side of Earth is tilting away. Because of this tilt, the Sun’s rays hit us more directly in summer than in winter. Because the Sun’s rays are more direct in the summer, the days are longer and temperatures are warmer. Shadows are shorter. In the winter, the opposite is true. The Sun’s rays are less direct. Days are shorter, temperatures are cooler, and shadows are longer. http://www.brainpop.com/science/weather/seasons/

Equator When it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere. This is because the Southern Hemisphere then tilts away from the sun and receives less direct sunlight. Months later, when it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere, it will be winter in the Northern Hemisphere. NH= Winter NH= Summer http://macmillanmh.com/science/2008/student/na/scienceinmotion/Common/SIM.html?Module=../Grade4/Chapter8-EarthRevolvesAroundTheSun/

Spring Summer Winter Fall http://www.cyberphysics.co.uk/topics/space/Earth/DayYearTilt.htm

Four Season Notes Earth orbits the sun once every 365 ¼ days (365.25 days) Earth’s tilt on its axis gives us our four seasons: spring, summer, fall, winter. Because of Earth’s tilt, the sun’s rays hit more directly in summer than winter. Days are longer and warmer in the summer. Shadows are shorter. When it’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere, its winter in Southern Hemisphere.