Power Up 4 | 5.4

Explain why Earth has different seasons.

Make sure that you are visibly seen with the use of a good lighting.

What do you call the two hemispheres either side of the equator?

What do you call the imaginary line between the North pole and South pole?

Why don't countries on the equator have four seasons?

Make sure to speak or pronounce the words clearly and correctly.

Fill in the box with the correct words.

It's _____in the Northern Hemisphere when the North Pole tilts towards the sun.

This means that the temperatures are _____.

At the same time, it's _____ in the Southern Hemisphere because the South Pole is tilting away from the sun.

This means that the temperatures are _____.

That is why, the seasons in Northern and Southern Hemisphere are always _____.

Why Do the Seasons Change on Earth?

Two things cause the seasons to change. First, the Earth moves around the Sun. Second, the Earth has a tilted axis of rotation.

The Earth spins around an axis. This imaginary line extends from the South Pole to the North Pole. But the Earth’s axis is not vertical. It’s actually tilted at an angle of 23.5°. The planet is always tilted in the same direction as it orbits the Sun.

What does the Earth’s tilted axis have to do with seasons? It means that different parts of the planet are tilted toward the Sun at different times of the year. It’s also why the seasons are different in different parts of the world.

Not all parts of the Earth have four distinct seasons. But they all experience seasonal variation. Closer to the North Pole and the South Pole, daylight and temperatures change with the seasons. Days are longer and temperatures are colder in summer than in winter. Near the Equator, days are always about 12 hours long. But these areas usually have a wet season and a dry season.

Seasons happen at different times in different parts of the world. The tilt of the Earth doesn’t change as it rotates around the Sun. But the part of the planet that gets the most direct sunlight does change.

The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun from September to March. That means the northern half of the planet doesn’t get as much light and heat from the Sun. This causes autumn and winter. During the same months, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun. That means the southern half of the planet gets spring and summer.

1. What are the two things that cause the seasons to change?

2. What can you say about the Earth's axis?

3. Compare the days and temperatures between summer and winter.

4. What seasons do countries on equator have?

5. What can you say about the opposite seasons of Northern and Southern Hemisphere?