The Tilt Behind Polar Seasons

Science · Polar Regions · ages 7-9

Name ______________________ Date ____________

At a pole in summer, the Sun can stay above the horizon throughout the day and night.
Circle one: True False
Which imaginary line through Earth's poles is tilted about 23.5 degrees?
- Earth's axis
- Earth's equator
- The Moon's orbit
The chart counts sunlight hours in a day at a pole. Which season has zero?
- Summer
- Winter
- Both seasons
All nearby sea ice disappears from a bear's coastal hunting area in summer. Which response described in the lesson may follow?
- Spend time on land until sea ice returns
- Keep using the same ice-hole hunting sites all summer
- Move inland to hunt seals on snowy ground
It is deep winter at the North Pole, which leans away from the Sun. Where is the Sun during a full day there?
- Above the horizon throughout the whole day
- Rising and setting during each daily spin
- Below the horizon throughout the whole day
Earth getting closer to the Sun is the main cause of the two poles having opposite seasons.
Circle one: True False
The South Pole is leaning away from the Sun. How is the North Pole leaning at the same time?
- Away from the Sun, matching the South Pole
- Neither toward nor away, until Earth's next daily spin
- Toward the Sun, opposite to the South Pole
Zara says sea ice has no yearly pattern. Which observation challenges her claim?
- Sea ice grows in warmer months and shrinks in colder months.
- Sea ice grows in colder months and shrinks in warmer months.
- Sea ice keeps the same size through both warmer and colder months.

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

True · Summer sunlight reaches the pole throughout Earth's daily spin.
Earth's axis · Earth spins around its axis, an imaginary line through both poles.
Winter · The winter value is zero hours with the Sun above the horizon.
Spend time on land until sea ice returns · Some bears spend time on land where summer sea ice disappears. This does not describe every bear everywhere.
Below the horizon throughout the whole day · Deep in polar winter, the Sun stays below the horizon throughout the day.
False · Both poles share Earth's distance change. Their opposite seasons come from Earth's tilt.
Toward the Sun, opposite to the South Pole · The poles are opposite ends of Earth's axis. When one leans away from the Sun, the other leans toward it.
Sea ice grows in colder months and shrinks in warmer months. · Sea ice generally follows a seasonal growth-and-melt pattern. Weather and other conditions also affect it.