---
title: "Why Polar Seasons Are Extreme"
description: "Understand how Earth's axis, tilted about 23.5 degrees, causes polar seasons as Earth travels around the Sun. Each pole has months with the Sun above the horizon and months with it below. Seasonal cha"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/why-polar-seasons-are-extreme-mt_f9syMry-0S
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/why-polar-seasons-are-extreme-mt_f9syMry-0S.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Why Polar Seasons Are Extreme

Understand how Earth's axis, tilted about 23.5 degrees, causes polar seasons as Earth travels around the Sun. Each pole has months with the Sun above the horizon and months with it below. Seasonal changes in sunlight and temperature affect sea ice and animals that use it.

Subject: Science · Area: Polar Regions · Ages 7 to 9
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/why-polar-seasons-are-extreme-mt_f9syMry-0S

## Ready when they can

- Explain that Earth's axis is tilted at about 23.5° and this tilt causes the extreme polar seasons
- Explain that each pole leans toward the Sun for about half the year and away for about half, producing long periods with the Sun above or below the horizon
- Connect the seasonal cycle to at least one animal behaviour, such as migration or sea ice retreat affecting hunting

## Lesson: The Tilt Behind Polar Seasons

You know about midnight sun and polar night. Earth's axis is an imaginary line through its poles, around which Earth spins. Imagine Earth's yearly path around the Sun lying on a flat sheet. A line standing straight out of that sheet is the reference. Earth's axis leans about 23.5 degrees from that line.

During its yearly trip, Earth's axis keeps pointing nearly the same way in space. Each pole leans toward the Sun for about half the year and away for about half. In polar summer, sunlight reaches the pole throughout Earth's daily spin. Deep in polar winter, the Sun stays below the horizon. Twilight can still bring some light.

*(drawing: The bars count sunlight hours in one day at a pole. They do not measure how bright twilight is.)*

When the North Pole leans toward the Sun, the South Pole leans away. Their seasons are opposite. Earth's distance from the Sun changes a little during the year. Both poles share that change, so it does not explain their opposite seasons. Earth's tilt does.

**Example.** Sea ice generally grows in colder months and shrinks in warmer months. Polar bears hunt seals from sea ice. Where summer sea ice disappears, some bears spend time on land until ice returns. Other bears stay with remaining sea ice. A bear's hunting places can change as the ice changes.

**Recap.** Earth's tilted axis causes opposite polar seasons. Each pole has months of sunlight and months with the Sun below the horizon. Changing sea ice affects hunting places.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Midnight Sun & Polar Night](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/midnight-sun-and-polar-night-mt_3duNkf6Qmr)
- [Ice & States of Matter](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/ice-and-states-of-matter-mt_scbDHJZZHK)

## Opens up

- [Polar Climate Zone](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/polar-climate-zone-mt_GbZFuGDFsa)