Seasons By: Brittany D. Alexander

Rotation Earth spins around an imaginary line called the: Axis of Rotation The Earth’s axis is tilted Spinning counterclockwise sun appears to rise in the East and set in the West One rotation=one day=24 hours

Revolution The Earth revolves around the sun in an elliptical orbit. 1 revolution=1 year= 365 ¼ days

The angle of the Sun’s rays (due to the position of Earth in its orbit), the tilt of Earth’s axis, and the number of daylight hours causes the differences in the seasons.

Seasons As the Earth revolves around the sun, it is tilted at the same angle AND in the same direction We have seasons because of the Earth’s tilted axis - patterns of temperature changes and other weather trends during the course of a year

Summer and Winter The part of Earth tilted toward the sun experiences Summer. In the summer there are direct rays of sunlight. This gives us longer days and warmer temperatures. The part of Earth tilted away from the sun experiences winter. In winter there are indirect rays of sunlight so we have shorter days and cooler temperatures.

Solstice This marks the beginning of Summer and Winter. When the tilt of Earth causes the length of day to be the longest or the shortest.

Spring and Fall The Earth not tilted toward, or away from, the sun. (it’s parallel) In the Spring and Fall, there are equal hours of day and night.

Equinox When the tilt of Earth causes the length of day and night to be equal. This is the start of Spring and Autumn/ Fall.

So… Summer/ June Solstice Autumn/ September Equinox Spring/ March Equinox Winter/ December Solstice