Earth and Space: Lesson 1 SEASONS

Earth and Space: Lesson 1 SEASONS

p. 302

A SEASON is a period of the year that is distinguished by special climate conditions.

-National Geographic

Open Ended

Enumerate the seasons that you know.

Open Ended

How are seasons different from each other?

How are seasons different from each other?

Some seasons are warm and others are cold.

Some might be rainy while other are dry.

**wet season - rainy / monsoon season

** dry season - low rainfall

@ TROPICS/ TROPICAL REGIONS

There are only two seasons – an almost six-month long winter night followed by an almost six-month long summer day!

Polar zones/regions (north and south)

4 Seasons

• Summer

• Winter

• Fall/ Autumn

• Spring

Open Ended

What causes the seasons?

HIGHLIGHT (p.302)

Multiple Choice

Earth is closer to the Sun in the summer and that is why it is hotter. And, likewise, they think Earth is farthest from the Sun in the winter.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Earth's distance from the Sun is not the cause of the seasons.

This just goes to prove that Earth's distance from the Sun is not the cause of the seasons.

Multiple Choice

Earth is divided into halves called _____.

• pie

• Greenwich meridian line

• hemispheres

• equator

Earth is divided into halves called hemispheres.

(HIGHLIGHT) p.302

Multiple Choice

An _________ divides the planet into a Northern Hemisphere and a Southern Hemisphere.

It is an imaginary line around the middle of a planet or other celestial body.

• axis

• equator

• prime meridian

• international date line

The prime meridian separates the eastern hemisphere from the western hemisphere.

0 degree longitude

An equator divides the planet into a Northern Hemisphere and a Southern Hemisphere.

0 degree latitude

The Northern

Hemisphere extends from the equator to the North Pole.

The Southern Hemisphere extends from the equator to the South

Pole.

Multiple Choice

Earth's _____ is an imaginary pole going right through the center of Earth from "top" to "bottom."

• equator

• longitude

• poles

• axis

AXIS

Earth's axis is an imaginary pole going right through the center of Earth from "top" to "bottom."

Earth has seasons because its axis doesn't stand up straight.

Multiple Choice

The axis always points in the same direction.

• TRUE

• FALSE

The axis always points in the same direction.

At this time, that direction is more or less toward the star ----Polaris (the North Star)

The axis always points in the same direction.

The orientation of Earth's tilt with respect to the sun does change as we orbit the sun.

Open Ended

Why is winter is colder than summer?

Open Ended

Why is it warmer where you live in summer than in winter?

The hemisphere tilted towards the Sun will experience longer hours of sunlight, and more direct sunlight.

SUMMER TIME!!!!

 During spring and autumn, both hemispheres receive about the same amount of sunlight.

equinox and solstice

VIDEO

Throughout the year, this means that either the Northern or Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun and receives the maximum intensity of the sun’s rays.

solstice

The only times of the year when the intensity of the sun’s rays is equal.

Equinox

Winter solstice (December 21 or 22): shortest day of the year, marking the start of winter.

Winter – December, January and February.

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

In winter, the weather is cold and we sometimes get snow and frost.

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

Vernal equinox(about March 21): day and night of equal length, marking the start of spring. 

Northern Hemisphere

Spring – March, April and May.

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

In spring the weather usually turns warmer, trees begin to grow their leaves, plants start to flower.

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

Summer solstice (June 20 or 21): longest day of the year, marking the start of summer.

Northern Hemisphere

Summer – June, July and August

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

In summer the weather is usually hot and trees have full green leaves.

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

Autumnal equinox(about September 23): day and night of equal length, marking the start of autumn.

Northern Hemisphere

Autumn – September, October and November

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

In autumn the weather turns colder and often rains. The leaves start to change color and fall off the trees

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

Multiple Choice

In which direction does Earth's Northern Hemisphere point when it is winter there?

• toward the sun

• away from the sun

Multiple Choice

In which direction does Earth's Northern Hemisphere point when it is summer there?

• toward the sun

• away from the sun

Open Ended

How would seasons be different if Earth's axis were not tilted?

How would seasons be different if Earth's axis were not tilted?

There would not be seasons as we know them. Temperatures would generally stay the same in each part of Earth all year.