1. The Seasons and the Sun
The shape of the earth affects the angle of the sun’s light on different places on Earth and causes differences in weather.

2. Jeopardy Review

3. Think….
Draw a picture of the Earth and the Sun at the Summer Solstice (June 21).
Make sure that you include: The Equator and an Axis.
Is the Northern or the Southern Hemisphere receiving more energy from the sun in your drawing?

4. Temperatures of Cities on Earth
Let’s look at the temperatures today in a few cities in the Northern Hemisphere. Although it is winter in the entire hemisphere, it is warmer closer to the equator. Why do you think this is?
Lets do an investigation to see why areas near the equators are generally warmer.

5. What Parts of the Earth Receive the Most Energy from the Sun?
We looked at where most of the Sun’s energy strikes the Earth during the 4 equinoxes or solstices. The stickers that we placed are between 2 lines of latitude on either side of the equator- the tropic of cancer and the tropic of capricorn. Between these two lines are the tropics.

6. Lines of Latitude
Lines of latitude are West to East lines on the Earth. With 3 different colors, find and label these lines of latitude.
The Equator
The Tropic of Cancer
The Tropic of Capricorn

7. In the Tropics (roughly between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn), it is fairly warm all year. Name some countries or places in the tropics.

8. Why don’t places outside of the tropics get as warm?
The answer is the angle of the Sun’s light on the surface of the Earth.
The angle of incidence- the angle at which light strikes the earth, causes beam spreading.
Let’s look at an image of the Earth. Label which parts of the picture are receiving the most energy from the sun and which are receiving the least.

9. Investigation: Light Angle
We are going to tape 3 coins onto the white board. These coins will be superimposed over a map of the Earth.
We will use the projector to shine a light directly onto one of the coins and indirectly onto the other two.
Make a hypothesis. Which of the coins will receive the most energy (get the hottest?) Which of the coins will receive the least energy (stay cooler?)

10. Ticket to Quit What is one thing that you learned in class today?
What is one question that you have about our topic in class today?