seasons

​ Reviewing Day and Night The Earth is a **sphere.** The Earth rotates, or spins, in place like a basketball on your finger. Click on the links below to answer the questions.


 * Instruction || Task ||
 * []

[] || What does earth's constant rotation cause us to experience? __ we move through the light, into the darkness, and back again. This makes day and night __ How long does it take earth to complete one rotation? __Twenty-four hours, or one day__ From which direction does the sun rise? __ north __ From which direction does the sun set? __ south __ What do you think would happen if the Earth stopped rotating? How would this effect human life? __ if the earth stopped rotating then one side of the earth would always be dark and the other light __ Key Concept about Earth's rotation: __ earth's rotation causes day and night __ || **The Reason for the Seasons**

Most every place on earth experiences four seasons a year. These are spring, summer, fall (autumn) and winter. During the following investigation we are going to explore the reason the different seasons occur.

As we consider the cause of the seasons we will need to understand the following:
 * The Earth's position on it's axis as it moves around the sun.
 * The way the sunlight strikes the earth's surface.
 * The Earth's movement around the sun.

The Earth Is Tilted! First, let's check out the Earth's position.

What do you notice about the Earth's position when the axis appears? __ it looks like it is tilted __ What two hemispheres does the equator divide the earth into? __northern and southern__ || heat is brighter || doesn't conduct as much heat and is not as bright ||
 * Instruction || Task ||
 * [] || What poles does the Earth's axis run through? __the north and south__
 * Direct Light || Angled or Indirect light ||
 * conducts more

Key Concept: Which produces more heat? __direct__ ​  Which produces less? __angled__

The Ear t h Revolves Around the Sun __ right __ || Describe the way the sun's rays are hitting the hemispheres during each of the season (direct, indirect, or equal). || **Copy, paste and fill out Southern and Northern Hemisphere charts on your wiki.** || What do you notice about their seasons? __most of the time they do not experience the same seasons__ ||
 * I nstruction || Task ||
 * Click on the link. Observe the Earth's tilt in the simulation. [] || Is the Earth's tilt always pointing the the right or the left?
 * Copy the Northern and Southern Hemisphere tables below. Paste them on your wiki.
 * [] || Do the Northern and Southern Hemispheres ever experience the same season? __sometimes__

Northern Hemisphere


 * winter || spring || summer || fall ||
 * __indirect__ || __ direct __ || __ direct __ || __ indirec t__ ||

Southern Hemisphere


 * winter || spring || summer || fall ||
 * __ direct __ || __ direct __ || __ indirect __ || __ indirect __ ||