Reasons for Seasons

Unlock the mystery behind seasonal change with this collection of worksheets and activities. Whether they are drawing pictures of Earth's orbit around the sun, or graphing the temperature and daylight hours of different locations from...

Meteorologists view an animated video by the Environmental Protection Agency to learn how the carbon cycle works, and then move into groups to analyze and graph actual data of the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration from Hawaii's...

Winter, spring, summer, and fall—take the learning of the seasons beyond the elementary level to the middle school classroom. Curious learners begin by watching videos about the seasons and the rotation of planet Earth. Then, they...

Students determine the causes of changes in season. In this earth science lesson, students relate the Earth's tilt to seasonal changes. They list traditional activities that take place in various seasons.

The climate at the equator is hotter than the climate at the poles, but why? The activity goes in depth, explaining how the angles of illumination relate to the heating rate at different latitudes and seasons. Scholars use a strong lamp,...

There's more to that glowing ball of light in sky than most children realize. From the overall structure of the solar system, to the changing of the seasons, these hands-on lessons open the eyes of young scientists to the important role...

Considering the shape of Earth's orbit and the tilt of its axis, viewers see why seasons occur on the planet. Additional resources that come with the video include a discussion idea, multiple-choice Think questions, and Dig Deeper links...

From days of 24 hour sunlight, to endless nights that last for days, the Arctic is a very unique place to live. Examine the seasonal changes that occur in the northern-most reaches of the globe and the impact they have on the plants and...

Junior geologists become the force that makes the world go around! With a lamp on the floor in the middle of the room to represent the sun, volunteers hold a globe, revolve, and rotate. Observers notice how the light hitting the globe...

What can shadows tell us about the changing season? Over several months, astronomy learners record length and position of an outdoor object's shadow, such as a flagpole. They apply the data to a growing hypothesis and note the patterns...