Earth in Motion: Seasons

Earth's orbit around the Sun, together with the tilt of its axis, results in periodic climate changes around the globe known as seasons. Different locations experience different types of climate changes. For example, some places have extreme seasonal changes in temperature, while others have little temperature change but may have rainy and dry seasons. This interactive feature explains why Earth experiences day and night and has seasons. Students are also asked to properly place Earth in its orbit for particular seasons. A background essay and discussion questions are included. Educational levels: Intermediate elementary, Middle school