Hot, Cold, Repeat! Why Do Seasons Change?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do seasons change?

The Big Idea

Why is it hot in summer and cold in winter? It's because Earth is tilted, like a spinning top leaning a little to one side. As Earth travels around the Sun, the tilt changes who gets the strongest sunlight.

Step 1

Step 1: Earth stays tilted. Earth's spinning axis leans about 23 degrees, and it always leans the same way. So the top half leans toward the Sun for part of the year.

Step 2

Step 2: one side leans toward the Sun. That half gets longer days, and the Sun's rays hit more directly. More sunshine means warmer weather. That's summer!

Step 3

Step 3: the orbit continues, and the other side gets the lean. Half a year later, Earth is on the other side of the Sun, and the top half leans away. Now that half has winter, while the south has summer!

A Closer Look

Let's look closely at the tilt. The green line is Earth's tilted axis. The half leaning toward the Sun is having summer. The half leaning away is having winter. And Earth keeps going around, on its orbit.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! When it's winter in Canada, it's summer in Australia! Distance changes only a little. Tilt does the heavy work. Near the equator, seasons are milder. The poles can have very long days or very long nights.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Ask: what would seasons do if Earth had no tilt? And ask: why can two kids have opposite seasons on the same day? Try it at home: watch one tree all year. Take a photo every month, and see the seasons change!

Outro

Earth's tilt and long trip around the Sun give us all four seasons! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!