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OBJECTIVES: By the end of today’s lesson, you will be able to…
SWBAT explain why the Earth has seasons.
DO NOW Directions: Circle the correct answer. Think back to your Solar System Scrapbook!
1. Which planet is known as the “Red Planet”?
a. Neptune b. Mercury c. Mars d. Venus
2. Which planet is thought of as Earth’s sister planet?
a. Venus b. Mars c. Saturn d. Uranus
3. Which planet has rings?
a. Mercury b. Jupiter c. Saturn d. Earth
4. Draw a picture showing the ELLIPTICAL path that Earth takes around the sun.
7th Grade Science
Unit: Water’s Cycles and Patterns Lesson: ESM 2_Seasons
Name: __________________________________ Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2016 Homeroom: ___________________________
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The Revolution of the Earth around the Sun
What causes the changes that we see throughout the seasons? Why is the winter cold, and the Summer hot? Notice that the Axis of the Earth is tilted slightly. This causes part of the Earth to lean towards the Sun, while
part of it is hidden either beneath the Earth, or above it, causing different parts of the Earth’s surface to receive a different amount of sunlight and heat. As the Earth moves around its orbit the portion leaning towards the Sun changes. Throughout part of the year, the bottom half of the Earth, or Southern Hemisphere leans out towards
the Sun, causing the top half of the Earth, or the Northern Hemisphere to lean away
from the Sun. During this time of year, the Southern Hemisphere gets more light and heat, which causes it to be warmer. The
effect is that the Southern Hemisphere enjoys summer. At the same time, the
Northern Hemisphere receives less light and heat, making it cooler. While the Southern Hemisphere enjoys summer, the
Northern Hemisphere is in the midst of winter. As the Earth continues along its
orbit around the Sun, the angle that the Earth’s axis tilts changes. Eventually the Northern Hemisphere faces the Sun, and
the Southern Hemisphere leans away. During this time of the year, it is the
Northern Hemisphere’s turn to enjoy summer.
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Key Ideas
Earth orbits the Sun – the orbit is elliptical
The Earth also rotates
Earth’s axis is tilted this causes the seasons
Specialized Terminology
1. Orbit- An object orbits when it goes ______________
another object in a _______________ path.
2. Rotate- An object rotates
when it turns
________________ on its _____________.
3. Axis- an _______________________ line that goes through the
__________________ of an object.
4. Season- a division of the _______________, marked by
changes in _________________.
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Notes
Orbits
1. The Earth orbits around the ____________.
a. The time it takes the Earth to orbit the sun is __________ days or _____ year.
2. The Earth’s _______________ is ________________________________.
a. This means that the Earth goes
around the Sun in an
____________ shape instead of a
circle.
b. However, Earth’s orbit is the
_________________ to a circular
orbit than any other planet in our
solar system.
___________________ is the most
elliptical.
c. Johannes Kepler, helped us understand Earth’s orbit by discovering two laws.
i. First Law of Planetary Motion- states that planets move in
_____________________ orbits.
ii. Second Law of Planetary Motion- explains that planets move _______________
when they are _______________ to the Sun than when they are far away.
Rotating
1. The Earth also rotates on its ___________.
a. The axis is an invisible line that goes through the _______________ of an object
b. The time it take Earth to rotate once on it’s axis is a day (______ hours)
2. The Earth’s axis is _______________. It is not strait up and down.
a. The tilt of the Earth’s axis is what gives us our ___________________.
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On Earth, we have 4 seasons:
________________ _________________ ________________ ________________
a. When the Northern Hemisphere (where we live) is tilted towards the sun it will be
__________________________
b. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun it will be
___________________________
c. As the Northern Hemisphere begins to tilt closer to the sun, it will be
___________________________
d. As the Northern Hemisphere begins to tilt farther away from the sun, it will be
____________________________
e. The seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are ___________________ from the
seasons in the Northern Hemisphere.
f. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilting away from the Sun, the Southern
Hemisphere must be tilted ____________________ the sun.
We Do - Guided Practice
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Term Picture Description
Directions: Draw the Sun, and the Earth at 4 different places around the Sun. Then, draw Earth’s axis and equator on each of the Earths. Finally, label each Earth with a season for the Northern Hemisphere and explain why you choose that season.
Season: _________________
Explanation:
Season: _________________
Explanation:
Season: _________________
Explanation:
Season: _________________
Explanation:
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Directions: Answer the following questions. Use the picture to help!
1. In this picture it is __________ in the Northern Hemisphere.
a. Winter
b. Summer
c. Spring
d. Fall
2. In this picture it is __________ in the
Southern Hemisphere.
a. Winter
b. Summer
c. Fall
d. Spring
INDEPNDENT PRACTICE
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Directions: Use the map below to help you answer the questions.
1. When it is summer in the United States, what season would it be in Argentina?
___________________________________
2. When it is winter in Canada, what season would it be in Paraguay?
___________________________________
3. Describe what you think the weather would be like in Bolivia in January.
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
4. Describe what you think the weather would
be like in Chile in July.
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
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Directions: Read each passage and answer the questions that follow in COMPLETE SENTENCES.
Equinoxes
As the Earth moves around its orbit it reaches two points during the year where the tilt of its axis causes it to be straight relative to the Sun. These days are known as equinoxes. During these equinoxes the rays of the Sun shine directly on the equator. This happens on approximately March 11th , and November 4th.
Daylight Savings!
During the First World War, Germany instituted a daylight savings program to save power. They ordered
everyone to set their clocks ahead by one hour, or one hour ahead of standard Sun time. Doing this made it so that it was light, longer into the evening, saving their countries energy in the form of electricity. In 1918 the United States began a similar policy. Today most counties around the world observe Daylight
Savings Time. Daylight Savings Time usually begins in April, and ends in October in the Northern Hemisphere. After which, clocks are set back to standard Sun time.
7th Grade Science
Unit: Earth, Sun, and Moon Lesson: ESM 2_Seasons
Name: _______________________________ Date: October 19, 2016 Homeroom: ________________________
_______/5 = ________%
DNG? Strive Due Date: A B C D F
1. What is an equinox?
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
2. How many equinoxes do we have every year?
______________________________________________
3. When do they occur?
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
_
1. Why did Germany start daylight savings? _______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
2. In which month does daylight savings begin every year?
_______________________________________________________________
3. In which month does daylight savings end every year?
________________________________________________________________
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