Why Do We Have Seasons?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hello, curious explorers! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do we have seasons?

The Big Idea

We have seasons because the Earth is tilted as it travels around the Sun. The tilt changes how directly sunlight hits your part of the world as the year goes on. Direct sunlight means summer, and slanted sunlight means winter.

Earth Is Tilted

Step one: Earth is tilted. Earth's axis, the imaginary line through the poles, is tilted about 23 and a half degrees. It keeps pointing the same way in space all year long.

Earth Orbits the Sun

Step two: Earth orbits the Sun. It takes a year, about 365 days, to go around the Sun once. As it moves, first the north half, then the south half leans toward the Sun.

Sunlight Changes

Step three: sunlight changes. When your half leans toward the Sun, sunlight hits more directly and days are longer, so it is summer. When it leans away, sunlight is slanted and days are shorter, so it is winter.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at the seasons! The tilt keeps pointing the same way. The orbit carries Earth around the Sun. And the angle of sunlight sets the season.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Seasons are not caused by Earth being closer to or farther from the Sun. In fact, Earth is closest to the Sun in early January, which is winter in the north. When it is summer in the north, it is winter in the south. Near the equator, the seasons change very little.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, put a lamp in the middle of a room as the Sun. Tilt a globe toward the lamp, and carry it slowly around, keeping the tilt pointing the same way. Don't touch a hot bulb. Notice which part gets the most direct light. Ask: where is it summer, and where is it winter?

Outro

Tilt plus orbit is the season machine. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!