Review on Earth's Tilt and Seasons

Obj: I will apply my knowledge of Earth’s seasons.

DOL: Given 5 questions, I will describe the seasons by comparing the intensity of sunlight at different parts of Earth and identifying how Earth’s tilt causes the seasons to change with 100% accuracy.

By Amanda Cooper

​R.C.-
What causes the seasons?

​

Earth’s 

Curved Surface

​

Earth’s 

Tilted 

Axis

Labelling

What Causes the Seasons on Earth?

Earth is in constant motion. It rotates once every 24 hours, which causes day and night.

Earth also orbits the Sun once every year. During Earth's orbit, different parts of Earth experience different seasons. For example, the model below shows Earth at a point in its orbit when it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

Label the model of Earth using the word bank below.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Southern Hemisphere

North Pole

South Pole

Equator

Northern Hemisphere

​Turn and Talk- How does the Earth's axis affect how it gets direct sunlight?

Match

The total amount of sunlight approaching Earth is nearly constant throughout the year. But because Earth is round, sunlight strikes different parts of Earth at different angles. The angle at which sunlight strikes Earth's surface determines how intense the light is. The  models below, the yellow arrows represent sunlight approaching and striking Earth. Match them with the correct intensity of which sunlight strikes the Earth's surface.

• Sunlight on North Pole

• Less Energy

• Sunlight striking the Equator

• More Energy

Less sunlight

Cooler Temperatures

More Sunlight

Warmer Temperatures

• Less sunlight

• Cooler Temperatures

• More Sunlight

• Warmer Temperatures

Open Ended

Look at the model showing Earth at one point in its orbit around the Sun.

Which hemisphere is experiencing winter and which is experiencing summer? How do you know?

Multiple Choice

The model shows Earth's orbit around the Sun. Earth is shown at a point when the Northern Hemisphere is in summer. Notice that at this point, the North Pole is tilted toward the Sun.

Select the image that shows how light strikes Earth at the point shown in the model.

Labelling

One hemisphere receives more direct and intense sunlight than the other.

Label the hemisphere with more and less sunlight on the surface area.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

more

less

Dropdown

As Earth revolves around the Sun, seasons change.

Hemispheres experience ​

Select answer

seasons at the same time.

A friend from California (Northern Hemisphere) is planning her winter break vacation in December. She decides that she wants to visit New Zealand (Southern Hemisphere) to go skiing. 

SCR-You are responsible for a complete RACE!


Explain to your friend why this is a bad    idea. Use the model and information from the lesson to support your reasoning.

Annotate-
The seasons are four different times during the year with different types of weather. The four seasons are called spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Seasons change throughout the year because of the way the earth moves. The earth orbits, or travels around, the sun. As it orbits, it spins on its own axis, too. Imagine there was a straight pole that went through the center of the earth, from the North Pole to the South Pole; this is the earth's axis.

But the earth's axis doesn't go straight up and down. The earth actually tilts to the side, so as it rotates around the sun, half of the earth is leaning toward the sun and half is leaning away. Earth's orbit, its rotation on its axis, and its tilt are all reasons for the four seasons!

Let's take a look at each season as it is experienced in the U.S.

Labelling

Label the seasons.

Look for those magic words

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Spring

Fall/Autumn

Summer

Winter

Multiple Choice

What season is the south pole/southern hemisphere?

• Winter

• Summer

• Fall/Autumn

• Spring

Multiple Choice

What season is it in the Southern Hemisphere when it is fall in the Northern Hemisphere?

• winter
• spring
• summer
• fall

Multiple Choice

Which season is taking place in the Northern Hemisphere in Position 3?

• Winter
• Spring
• Summer
• Fall

​DOL Time!!