🌍 Part 1: Understanding Earth's Tilt

1. What causes Earth to have different seasons?

Earth's distance from the Sun changes

Earth's axis is tilted at 23.5 degrees

The Sun gets hotter and cooler

Earth spins faster or slower

2. When it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, what season is it in the Southern Hemisphere?

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

3. Which of the following are true about solstices and equinoxes? (Check all that apply)

Summer solstice has the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere

Equinoxes have equal day and night hours

Winter solstice has the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere

There are 4 solstices each year

4. Fill in the blanks: Earth's axis is tilted at _______ degrees. This tilt causes different parts of Earth to receive _______ amounts of solar energy throughout the year.

Answer: _________ degrees, _________ amounts

☀️ Part 2: Solar Energy and Seasons

5. During which season does the Northern Hemisphere receive the most direct sunlight?

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

6. Explain how the angle of sunlight affects the amount of solar energy received by Earth's surface.

7. Why do places near the equator have less seasonal variation in temperature than places farther north or south?

🔬 Part 3: Modeling and Analysis

8. Draw a simple diagram showing Earth's position during summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Include the Sun, Earth's tilt, and label which hemisphere receives more direct sunlight.

9. Based on your modeling activity, complete this cause-and-effect chain:

Earth's tilt → _________________ → _________________ → Seasonal changes

10. Predict: If Earth had no tilt (0 degrees), how would this affect seasons on our planet?