1. Earth’s Day/Night, Year, & Seasons
TEACHER NOTES below
Materials per student: sheet of copy paper, scissors, ruler, colored pencils; optional- a small cup to trace for earth
Super-Simple Procedure: Click through the PowerPoint and have students do everything shown on the screen!
(See notes area of later slides for more steps and info.)
Other Notes:
To see a preview of this lesson on video go to
Print these slides to help you present. Click Print under “Print what:” select “Handouts (6 Slides per page)”
Beforehand- make one of these graphic organizers for yourself so you have an example to show, and because it makes you more descriptive when doing the lesson.
Thanks for using this lesson. More meaningful & fun lessons at
How rotation, revolution, and tilt cause it all!

2. Start with paper long ways

3. Cut lines (top sheet only!)
The Cause of Earth’s…
Day/Night
Year
Seasons
(every 9 cm)
Fold bottom of paper up as shown.
Title top center- “The Cause Of Earth’s…”
Write 3 titles (Day/Night, Year, Seasons) as shown.
Make a little mark at 9 and 18 cm and cut (front side only) to make doors.
Cut lines (top sheet only!)

4. The Cause of Earth’s… Rotation Day/Night Year Seasons
Write name of first door- “Rotation”.
When drawing the earth your students could use small cups to trace around so their earth is round. Don’t forget to add the axis! Get as creative as you like when making your continents; one of mine resembles a pork chop.

5. The Cause of Earth’s…
Day/Night
Year
Seasons
Rotation
Add color

6. The Cause of Earth’s… Day/Night Year Seasons (Definition)
Rotation is the spinning of a body, in this case Earth, on its axis.
(Definition)
Earth spins/rotates counterclockwise.
(Key Statements)
It takes 24 hours for one rotation.
The side facing the Sun experiences day, and the side facing away from the Sun experiences night.
Fold down the first door and add these facts. If you can, have students read about day/night from their books first, either on their own or out loud as a class. This is editable text, so- yes- you can change it if you would like to.

7. The Cause of Earth’s… Revolution Rotation Day/Night Year Seasons
Door #2 is next- Revolution. Have students write the name and add this drawing to the front of the door.

8. The Cause of Earth’s… Rotation Day/Night Year Seasons (Definition)
when one body revolves around
another in space
the Earth rotates while it revolves;
it’s moving about 30,000 meters
per second;
the path is not a perfect circle
Rotation
(Definition)
(Key Statements)
Next have them read about what causes a year on earth, and then- hopefully on their own- write a definition of ‘revolution’ and a few key statements about it. If that’s not an option, they can write these down:
Definition: when one body revolves around another in space
Statements: the Earth rotates while it revolves; it’s moving about 30,000 meters per second; the path is not a perfect circle

9. The Cause of Earth’s… Revolution Rotation Revolution Tilt Day/Night
Year
Seasons
Revolution
Rotation
Revolution
Tilt
NO!
YES!
Last is door #3 is next- ‘Revolution + Tilt’. Have students write the name and add the drawing to the front of the door.

10. The Cause of Earth’s… Revolution Rotation Day/Night Year Seasons
how much the axis “leans” off center; the Earth’s axis is 23.5°
a season is a pattern of temperature and weather
seasons are caused by how much sunlight is received, and that is caused by the tilt and by Earth’s position around the sun; on an equinox the sun shines equally on the northern and southern hemispheres
Revolution
Rotation
Have them read about what causes a year on earth, and then- hopefully on their own- write a definition of ‘tilt’ and a few key statements. Here’s the statements I used:
Definition: how much the axis “leans” off center; the Earth’s axis is 23.5°
Statements: a season is a pattern of temperature and weather; seasons are caused by how much sunlight is received, and that is caused by the tilt and by Earth’s position around the sun; on an equinox the sun shines equally on the northern and southern hemispheres
Thanks for using this lesson!