Why We Have Seasons

Science · Space Systems & Earth's History · ages 11-12

Name ______________________ Date ____________

About how many degrees is Earth's axis tilted?
- 0 degrees
- 23.5 degrees
- 90 degrees
What is tilted, and that tilt is what causes Earth to have seasons?
- Earth's axis
- Earth's speed
- Earth's distance from the Sun
When a hemisphere tilts toward the Sun, it gets more direct sunlight.
Circle one: True False
In which month is Earth actually closest to the Sun?
- January
- June
- September
In June, the Northern Hemisphere tilts toward the Sun. What season is it in the UK?
- Winter
- Autumn
- Summer
Seasons happen because Earth moves closer to and farther from the Sun during the year.
Circle one: True False
The Northern Hemisphere tilts toward the Sun and is having summer. What season is the Southern Hemisphere having at the same time?
- Spring
- Summer
- Winter
Ravi says Australia is cold in July because Earth is far from the Sun then. What is wrong with his explanation?
- Nothing, he's right
- Distance from the Sun doesn't cause seasons; the Southern Hemisphere tilts away from the Sun in July
- Earth isn't tilted at all

Answer key

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

23.5 degrees · Earth's tilt is close to 23.5 degrees, not 0 and not a sharp 90.
Earth's axis · Earth's axis leans about 23.5 degrees, and that steady lean is what causes the seasons.
True · A hemisphere tilted toward the Sun catches sunlight more directly, which warms it more.
January · Earth is closest to the Sun in January, yet that's winter in the UK. Distance isn't the cause of seasons.
Summer · When the Northern Hemisphere tilts toward the Sun, places like the UK get summer.
False · Earth's distance from the Sun barely changes across the year. The tilt is what causes the seasons.
Winter · When one hemisphere tilts toward the Sun and has summer, the other hemisphere tilts away and has winter.
Distance from the Sun doesn't cause seasons; the Southern Hemisphere tilts away from the Sun in July · Distance from the Sun stays almost the same all year. Australia is cold in July because the Southern Hemisphere tilts away from the Sun then.