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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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