Middle School Earth Science
Lesson 1:
Why do we have seasons?
Before We Begin…
• Here is a quick link to my website. If at any time
you should need help, feel free to access my
website for instructions, as well as my email
address to contact me!
• http://www.u.arizona.edu/~cmrodriguez/finalp
roject.html
Today’s Lesson
Objective
Homework
• Today we will discuss why we
experience day and night, as
well as different seasons and
temperature changes
throughout our year.
• Homework: After today’s
lesson, remember to answer
the three questions posted on
my blog and bring your
answers to class tomorrow.
You may ask yourselves…
The Big Question: Why is it hot today, when just a
few months ago it was so cold???
The Big Answer: The fact of the matter is that
seasons as well as yearly changes in
temperature, are the result of our Earth’s
rotation and revolution around the Sun.
Did you say ‘Rotation’ AND
‘Revolution’?
• Yes, at the same time the earth is spinning on its own (which also
causes night and day) it is making a yearly trip revolving around the
sun.
• A quick an fun example: Go home and walk in a circle around your
dining room table. Now that you are walking around your dining
room table, begin to slowly spin yourself in a circle. (Be careful to
not get too dizzy!) If you are both A. walking around your table and
B. also spinning slowly, then congratulations! You have just
mimicked the Earth’s movement around the sun!
In case that didn’t work out so well…
• Here is a video from YouTube that better
explains the idea!
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLl8sDZRS
Yg&spfreload=10
But Why Is It So Hot in the Summer???
• Okay, okay, I’ve stalled enough. Our Earth rotates on an axis tilted
at an angle of 23.5 degrees. The Earth rotates around this axis once
a day. (Explaining day and night, since we face the sun and moon at
different times)
• Since we live in Tucson, AZ we are located in the Northern
Hemisphere. When the axis is tilted towards the sun, the Northern
Hemisphere experiences Summer. (Which why it is so hot now)
Now, when the Earthbegins revolving around the Sun again, the axis
points away from the Sun, meaning we are receiving less warmth
from the Sun, which causes to Winter to begin for us.
• Let’s take a more visual look at this concept!:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n04SEzuvXo
Cool Stuff, Right?
• Now we know why we have different seasons, and why it
is so hot today!
• Enjoy and share the knowledge you have learned. Also,
do not forget to answer the questions on my blog:
http://cmrodriguez.blog.com/2015/05/06/lesson-1why-do-we-have-seasons/
• Extra Credit: For 3 extra credit points, complete an
activity of your choice on Education.com and turn in a
brief description of what you learned next week.
• http://www.education.com/activity/earth-science/