Savor the Seasons and Their Role on Earth! Educational Resources K12 Learning, Earth Science, Science Lesson Plans, Activities, Experiments, Homeschool Help

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, 'Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.'"

~ Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass

What a vivid description Lewis Carroll gives for the winter season! He offers an animated description of what possibly occurs during this season.

How do seasons work?
How do they develop?

Questions and curiosity in hand, get on the trail of research and review and delve deeper into the topic of seasons!

seasons around the world

Many people on the earth know that there are four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

We know this because in many parts of the world we experience these different changes in the seasons.

How does all of this happen?
How are some parts of the world able to experience different seasons throughout the year?

Below is a list of vocabulary words to watch out for in this lesson. Make a note of each word and its meaning as you read. You can also find the definitions at Dictionary.com.

the earth's axis
equator
Northern Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
orbit or revolve
rotate

Watch the video below to learn why and exactly how the seasons happen.

Now you know that we could not experience different seasons if it were not for the tilt and revolution of the earth.

The earth, which is separated into two halves — the southern hemisphere and northern hemisphere — by the equator, spins on an axis. The earth also revolves around, or orbits, the sun to create different changes in weather, or seasons.

Revolve and rotate can be confusing because they sound so similar. Try this short activity to help you remember which is which.

First, make sure you're in a safe place, then spin. Don't get too dizzy!
As you spin, say "I'm rotating, rotating, rotating!"
Phew. Now stop.
Once your head stops spinning, find something to walk around. It could be your chair, the kitchen table, or even your little brother. Walk around this thing.
As you walk, say "I'm revolving, revolving, revolving."
If you are feeling extra adventurous, try doing both at once, as the earth does!

Our tilted earth revolving around the sun causes our seasons.

What do you think is caused by the rotation of the earth?
How is it affected by the earth's tilt?

Some parts of the world experience one type of weather throughout the year, and there are some countries that experience different seasons throughout the year.

Watch this next video to see how the seasons play in different parts of the world.

As you can see, there are a lot of different elements that go into the changing of the seasons.

Move along to the Got It? section to get into the zone with the concept of seasons.