1. SEASONS

2. We know that the reason we have day and night is because the Earth
rotates.
Rotate means
to turn.
The Earth rotating on its
______
gives us day and night.
axis
Earth’s axis is
the imaginary line that goes through the center of the Earth.

3. But guess what! Rotating isn’t the only way the Earth moves in space!
The Earth also revolves.
Revolve – When one object moves around another object

4. How long does one revolution take?
It takes the Earth one year, or 365 ¼ days to orbit the sun.
Does anyone know what orbit means?
Orbit -
The path that an object follows as it revolves around another object.

5. That tilt gives us seasons!
But why do we have four seasons?
It’s because the Earth’s axis is tilted.
Take a good look at our globe. It‘s not tilted like that because it looks nice. No way. That’s the way the Earth is tilted in space.
That tilt gives us seasons!

6. Look at this diagram. Notice how the Earth is always tilted in the same direction. As the Earth __________ the part of Earth tilted toward the sun changes.
revolves

7. SUMMER SOLSTICE/June Solstice
The longest day of the year
Marks the beginning of summer
June 20 or 21
Northern Hemisphere is tilted closest to the Sun

8. Summer SOLSTICE/JUNE SOLSTICE

9. WINTER SOLSTICE/December Solstice
The shortest day of the year
Marks the beginning of winter
December 21 or 22
Northern Hemisphere is tilted farthest away from the sun

10. wINTER SOLSTICE/DECEMBER SOLSTICE

11. FALL EQUINOX/September equinox
Northern and Southern Hemispheres are the same distance from the sun
Marks the beginning of fall
September 22 or 23

12. Fall quinox/SEPTEMBER EQUINOX

13. SPRING EQUINOX/March Equinox
The day at which the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are the same distance from the sun.
Marks the beginning of spring
March 20 or 21

14. SPRING EQUINOX/MARCH EQUINOX

16. During part of the year the North Pole tilts towards the sun
During part of the year the North Pole tilts towards the sun. This season is ________.
summer

17. During another part of the year, the North Pole points away from the sun. This season is ______.
winter

18. When the North Pole is tilted toward the Sun, the Sun travels higher overhead in the sky. The Sun’s rays shine straighter down on that part of the Earth. It is summer in that part of the Earth.
It’s like pointing a flashlight at a piece of paper. When you hold the flashlight straight above the paper, the rays from the flashlight shine down straighter.

19. When the North Pole is tilted away from the Sun, the Sun stays lower in the sky. It is then winter in that part of the Earth.
If you point your flashlight at a piece of paper at an angle, the rays from the flashlight spread out.