Sun and Its Neighbors

Lesson 2 – Seasons of the Earth

SOL 4.7b.1

Link

Students will complete the R.A.P. Briefly share R.A.P. responses.

Engage and Educate

Use the following as a teacher demonstration:

Model the movement of the Earth around the Sun, using a globe as the Earth and a lamp as the Sun.
Remember to keep the axial tilt consistent throughout the demonstration because as the Earth revolves
around the Sun, the tilt does not change. Make sure to emphasize that the tilt of the Earth on its axis is
called axial tilt.

Ask for student volunteers to answer the following questions and demonstrate using the globe.
How does the Earth move around the Sun? (Revolution)
How does the Earth move in half a year? (Travels half of a revolution)
What does one day look like? (One rotation)
Why is the globe tilted? (The Earth is tilted relative to the Sun.)

Go over the W.O.W. Use the flashlight diagram below to demonstrate:

Review the following statement from the W.O.W.: “The Sun’s heat is directly focused on a smaller area,
causing hotter temperatures.” Model the statement by pointing a flashlight directly at the wall, creating a
small circle of concentrated light. This is representative of the sun’s heat on a focused area during the
summer.

Review the following statement from the W.O.W.: “The Sun’s heat is spread over a larger area, causing
cooler temperatures.” Model the statement by pointing a flashlight downwards (from the same distance
away), creating a larger but less concentrated area of light. This is representative of the sun’s heat spread
over a larger area during the winter.

Background Notes:
• The Earth’s axial tilt is 23.5° in relation to its orbit around the Sun.
• The Sun provides the same amount of heat for the winter and summer, but it is distributed
differently over smaller and larger areas.

Created by Tracy Foster & Sarah Alani, Brookfield ES, 2006

Active Learning
Students will complete the W.I.O., using the information in the W.O.W.
Optional: Give the students two minutes to brainstorm with a partner before completing the W.I.O.

Reflect
Share the W.I.O. as a whole class. Have students add to each others’ responses.
Now and Then
Next, students will learn about the phases of the Moon.
Teacher Materials

1 small Earth globe

1 lamp without shade
Flashlight

Additional Notes
United Streaming Videos – Seasons of the Year or Reasons for Seasons (select clips only)

Created by Tracy Foster & Sarah Alani, Brookfield ES, 2006