Name:_________________

Date:___________Period:___
What Causes the Seasons?

Introduction

Why do we have seasons? Why is winter colder than summer? Is it because the Earth is closer to
the Sun in summer than winter?

This WebQuest will help you understand the reasons for the seasons. Take your time and
complete each task carefully. If you do, you’ll be surprised just how much you will learn.

Task

You have been hired by an educational publishing company to make a poster for high school
science classrooms. You will make one poster that is divided into 4 parts: Misconceptions,
Earth’s Tilt, Earth’s Seasons and Earth’s Angle.

Since many students have the wrong idea about what causes seasons (they think that they are
caused by the Earth being closer to the Sun during the summer) it is very important that your
poster be very accurate. Your poster will answer the question "What causes seasons?"

After you have researched the information for your poster, you will go back to the classroom
and make your posters. Refer to the Reasons for the Seasons WebQuest Worksheet to see the
requirements for each section of your poster.

4 Parts of your Poster

Misconceptions

In the “Misconception” section of your poster, you will identify misconceptions students have
about the seasons. What are these misconceptions? Use the resources below to find common
misconceptions students have about the reasons for the seasons.

http://www.badastronomy.com/bad/misc/seasons.html http://beyondpenguins.ehe.osu.edu/issue/polar-
patterns-day-night-and-seasons/common-misconceptions-about-day-and-night-seasons

http://stardome.ca/PDF/Lesson%20Plans/Seasonal%20Misconceptions.pdf

http://funnel.sfsu.edu/courses/gm309/labs/seasons/misconceptions.html

http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/time/seasons.html

Once you have the information about the misconceptions, it’s time to learn the real reasons.
 Name:_________________
Date:___________Period:___
It’s the Tilt, Baby!

The real reason for the seasons is the tilt of the Earth. Go the websites below. Use the
information you learn from the websites to explain the tilt of the Earth. You will need to use
this information when you complete your poster.

http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/climate/cli_seasons.html

http://www4.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/animation/atmosphere/earth_revolution.html

http://www.budgetastronomer.ca/index.php?page=th-tilt-of-the-earth-and-the-seasons

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/fgz/science/season.php?wfo=fgz

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/Seasons.shtml

http://www.materialworlds.com/sims/SolarSystem/FourSeasons1View/WhatIf/netscape.html

http://www.scienceupdate.com/2003/04/tilted-earth/ (podcast)

Earth Location and Seasons

As the Earth revolves around the Sun, the tilt of the Earth affects the seasons. The direction of
the tilt never changes. It is always pointing towards the North Star (Polaris). Using the websites
below to obtain information for your poster. You will need to show the location of the Earth at
each season. Make sure the tilt is in the right direction!

http://esminfo.prenhall.com/science/geoanimations/animations/01_EarthSun_E2.html

http://highered.mcgraw-
hill.com/sites/007299181x/student_view0/chapter2/seasons_interactive.html

http://www.sepuplhs.org/students/iaes/simulations/SEPUP_Seasons_Interactive.swf

What’s Your Angle?

We have learned that the Earth’s tilt is responsible for the seasons. We have also learned how the
position of the Earth as it goes around the Sun affects the seasons. The next question is, “How do
the tilt and the Earth’s position affect the seasons?” Use the resources below to get the
information you need for your poster.

http://www4.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/animation/atmosphere/earth_revolution.html

https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/kahl/www/CoVis/Seasons/

http://www.astronomy.org/programs/seasons/index.html

http://www.onr.navy.mil/Home/Science-Technology/Departments/Code-32.aspx
 Name:_________________
Date:___________Period:___
Evaluation

You have been given a copy of the rubric telling how your posters will be graded.

Conclusion

As you have researched the information required for the posters, you have learned about the
reasons for the seasons. Your challenge is to remember this information and share it whenever
someone does not understand the reasons for the seasons.