1. Mrs. Bryant 6th Grade Science
Seasons
Mrs. Bryant
6th Grade Science

2. Most places outside the tropics have four distinct seasons:
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

3. How the sunlight hits Earth
Notice that at the equator, sunlight hits Earth’s surface directly.
Closer to the poles, sunlight hits Earth’s surface at an angle.

4. Near the poles, energy from the
sun is spread out over a greater
area. That is why it is warmer near
the equator than the poles.

5. Earth’s Tilted Axis
Earth has seasons because its axis is tilted as it moves around the sun.

6. As the Earth revolves around the sun, its axis is tilted away from the sun for part of the year and towards the sun for part of the year.

7. When the north end of the Earth’s axis is tilted toward the sun, the Northern Hemisphere has summer. At the same time, the south end of Earth’s axis is tilted away from the sun and has winter.

8. Summer and winter are not affected by changes in Earth’s distance from the sun.

9. Summer Direct rays of sunlight More hours of daylight
The combination heats the surface more than at any other time of year.

10. Winter Indirect rays of sunlight Fewer hours of daylight
Doesn’t heat the surface as well, so it’s winter.

11. Fall
Going from direct rays of sunlight, to indirect rays.
Going from longer days of sunlight to shorter days of sunlight.

12. Spring Going from indirect rays of sunlight, to direct rays.
Going from shorter days of sunlight to longer days of sunlight.

13. Solstice Occurs twice a year
Sun directly over head at north or south
Around December 21st –shortest day of the year
Around June 21st –longest day of the year

14. Equinox Occur twice a year
The noon sun is directly overhead at the equator.
Means “equal night” equal day and night.
Vernal equinox- around March 21st and marks the beginning of spring.
Autumnal equinox- around Sept 23rd and marks the beginning of fall.

15. In much of the U. S. , seasonal changes affect living things
In much of the U.S., seasonal changes affect living things. In spring and summer, the sun shines for more hours each day and is higher in the sky. The warmer days allow many plants to begin growing leaves and flowers. Because plants grow more, animals that feed on the plants, from tiny insects to large deer, get more food.

16. In the fall, the nights get longer, signaling the plants to stop growing and some plants to lose their leaves. With less food available, black bears and some other animals go into a dormant state in which they use very little energy. Others, like many songbirds and waterfowl, travel to warmer climates where food is still available.