Earths Movement and Seasons - Free Printable

- The relationship between the tilt of the Earth’s axis and its yearly orbit around the sun produces the seasons.
- We experience seasons because Earth’s axis is tilted 23.5° towards the North Star Polaris.
- The tilt causes the Earth’s hemispheres to be at different angles to the sun at different times of year.
- When the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun we experience summer.
- When the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun we experience winter.
- When the northern hemisphere is neither tilted towards nor away from the sun we experience fall or spring.
- Rotation: When a planet or moon spins on its axis one time. Direction: Counter Clockwise. How long: 24 hours = 1 day. Key term: Axis - An imaginary line going from the north pole to the south pole.
- Revolution: To go around. Direction: Counter Clockwise. How long: 365.25 days = 1 year. Key term: Orbit - A circular path around the sun.