Before We Start — Learn These Words
These are the important words in today's lesson. Read each one carefully before we move on.
🌍 Axial tilt — Earth is not perfectly upright. It leans over at an angle of 23.5°. This lean is called the axial tilt.
☀️ Direct sunlight — When the sun shines straight down onto an area. This makes it very hot, like a magnifying glass focusing light.
📐 Oblique sunlight — When the sun shines at a low angle (like shining a torch sideways). The same light spreads over a bigger area, so it is weaker and cooler.
🔄 Orbit — The path Earth takes as it travels around the Sun. One full orbit takes one year.
🌡️ Season — A time of year with its own weather pattern: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter.
Let's See What You Remember!
Answer each question. Then tap "Show Answer" to check. Don't worry if you can't remember — that's totally normal!
What is the name of the planet we live on? 🌍
How long does it take Earth to travel all the way around the Sun? 🔄
Name the four seasons in order, starting from Spring. 🌱☀️🍂❄️
When it is summer in the UK, what season is it in Australia? 🦘
True or false? The Sun is a star. ⭐
🤔 Quick Question — What Do YOU Think?
Many people get this wrong. Have a go — there is no pressure!
Why is summer hotter than winter?
❌ The Big Misconception
"It is summer because Earth is closer to the Sun."
Earth is actually further from the Sun in July (summer in the UK)! Distance does not cause seasons.
🔑 The Real Reason — Earth's Tilt
Earth is not perfectly upright. It leans at an angle of 23.5°. This lean is called the axial tilt.
This tilt does two important things:
- ☀️ It changes the angle at which sunlight hits the ground
- 🕐 It changes the number of hours of daylight you get
The tilt stays the same all year. What changes is Earth's position in its orbit — sometimes your part of Earth points towards the Sun (summer), sometimes away (winter).
How the Tilt Creates Seasons
Look at the diagrams below carefully. They show why summer is hot and winter is cold.
🌍 Earth orbits the Sun. Its tilt stays the same but sometimes the Northern Hemisphere points towards the Sun (summer) and sometimes away (winter).
☀️ Why Angle Matters
Imagine shining a torch straight down onto a table — you get a small, bright circle. Now tilt the torch — you get a big, faint oval. The same amount of light spreads over a bigger area, so it is weaker.
The same thing happens with sunlight and Earth!
Sun hits straight down. Energy concentrated in a small area. Very hot! 🔥
Sun hits at a low angle. Energy spread over a large area. Much cooler! 🥶
🕐 Day Length Also Matters!
In summer, the UK gets about 16 hours of sunlight. In winter, only about 8 hours. More hours of sunlight = more time to heat up the ground!
✏️ Fill in the Gaps
Complete the sentences using the word bank. Then click Check Answers.
1. The real cause of seasons is Earth's .
2. In summer, the UK is the Sun.
3. In summer, sunlight hits the ground at a more angle.
4. Summer days are than winter days.
5. Earth is actually from the Sun in summer (July).
🍊 Torch and Ball Activity
You can model Earth's tilt using everyday objects! Follow the steps below carefully.
You need: A ball or orange 🍊 · A phone torch or desk lamp 💡
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🍊 Get your materials Find a round object — a ball or orange works perfectly. This is Earth. Your phone torch is the Sun. Draw a line around the middle — that is the equator.
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📐 Try it with NO tilt Hold the ball upright (no lean). Shine the torch at it from about 30 cm away. Notice how light hits both the top and bottom equally.📝 Record: "When there is no tilt, the light hits… and both halves get…"
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🌍 Add the tilt — Summer! Now tilt the ball about 23° (roughly a quarter of the way to sideways). Keep the torch in the same place. The top half is tilted towards the torch. This is the UK in summer!📝 Record: "When the ball is tilted towards the torch, the top half gets… because…"
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🔄 Move the ball — Winter! Keep the ball tilting the same direction. Move the ball to the other side of the torch. Now the top half tilts away. This is the UK in winter!📝 Record: "When the ball moves to the other side, the top half gets… because…"
💡 The Key Idea
The tilt stays pointing the same direction in space. Earth does not change its lean as it orbits. What changes is Earth's position in the orbit. Sometimes you are tilted towards the Sun — summer. Sometimes you are tilted away — winter.
🎯 Quick Check
In the torch and ball model, what do you change to go from "summer" to "winter"?
🤔 Thinking Questions
Have a go at these questions. Use the sentence starters to help you write your answers.
Connect — Link It Together
How do you think Earth's tilt connects to the idea that the UK and Australia have opposite seasons?
Extend — What New Questions?
Can you think of a country that might not have four seasons? Where might Earth's tilt have less effect?
Challenge — Your Big Question
What is one thing about seasons that still confuses you, OR what is one thing that surprised you most today?
📚 What Did We Learn Today?
It's the Tilt!
Earth's 23.5° axial tilt — not distance from the Sun — causes the seasons.
Angle Matters
Direct sunlight = concentrated heat. Oblique sunlight = weaker, cooler.
Longer Days
More hours of daylight in summer means more time to heat up. Fewer in winter = colder.
Distance is a Red Herring!
Earth is actually further from the Sun in July. Distance does not cause seasons.