PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Why Do We Have Seasons?
Explore what causes seasons on Earth in this interactive adapted from NASA materials that features four cities at different latitudes. Use this resource to view how Earth's axial tilt causes seasons from different perspectives and to...
Other
Astronomical Society of the Pacific: To Every Season There Is a Reason
Provides an in-depth explanation of seasons including why temperate and tropical climates have different seasonal cycles.
Other
Earth Science: Earth's Surface and Heat [Pdf]
This textbook chapter looks at the role of temperature in sustaining life on Earth and on weather and climate. It discusses the Earth's movements and the seasons, the circulation of the oceans, wind and weather, and the water cycle....
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Seasons on Earth and Mars
Compare the seasons on Earth and Mars with NASA imagery. Use this resource to visualize how the axial tilt of a planet influences its seasons and to compare data about seasonal changes on Earth and Mars. Support materials include:...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Weather & Climate: Seasons
A slideshow and a short multiple-choice quiz on the topic of seasons and how they are caused by the Earth's rotation and orbit.
Science U
Science U: Reasons for the Seasons
This webpage uses diagrams and video to explain the causes of the seasons.
NASA
Nasa: Space Place: What Causes the Seasons?
A fun resource that teaches students the reasons why Earth's four seasons happen they way they do.
Curated OER
Weather Dude: The Seasons
Especially for kids, the Weather Dude provides a simple explanation of the seasons. Includes a music clip titled "Circle of Our Four Seasons," and suggested lesson plans and school assignments.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Cosmology and Astronomy: Season Simulator
This season simulator takes Earth through an entire year cycle allowing the viewer to observe the tilt of the Earth and the intensity of the sunlight.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: G Mg Tilt of Earth's Axis and the Four Seasons
This task gives learners a chance to explore the effects of the Earth's tilt and rotation using a simple geometric model of Earth-Sun interaction that shows why the seasons occur. Aligns with G-MG.A.1.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Plix: Seasons: Earth's Orbit
[Free Registration/Login Required] An interactive animation demonstrating the Earth's tilted axis and how that causes the seasons. Also included on the site is a short quiz on the topic.
PBS
Pbs: Why Do We Have Seasons?
A student-directed tutorial showing all aspects of seasons, including Earth's tilt position in relation to the sun, photos of typical weather during that season, and some informational text to support the visuals.
E-learning for Kids
E Learning for Kids: Science: Atlantis: Defining Seasons All Over the World
Discover the seasons together with the ancient Greek philosopher Plato. Did you know it is summer on Atlantis when it is winter in Australia?
Harvard University
Eyes on the Sky, Feet on the Ground: The Earth's Orbit
Students perform many inquiry activities related to Earth's orbit. Included are recording daily temperatures, observing the sun's path over several weeks, tracking sunrise and sunset times, and angle of sunlight. Diagrams make lessons...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Kinesthetic Astronomy: Longer Days, Shorter Nights
This kinesthetic activity demonstrates to students that the Earth's tilt is what is responsible for shifting light patterns and the change in seasons.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Kids Science: Earth's Seasons
Kids learn about the science of the seasons - winter, spring, summer, and autumn. Why we have them due to the Earth's tilt.
NASA
National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Scijinks: Seasons
An explanation about the rotation of the Earth and why the Earth has seasons.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Season
Encyclopedia entry for the seasons. Click on each specific season for more information.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Seasons
For this activity, students create a small model of the Earth using a styrofoam ball and a skewer. They then explore the relationship between the Earth and the Sun (a flashlight) to understand why it is hottest at the Equator, and why we...
NASA
Nasa: Sci Jinks: What's a Solstice?
Find out how the Earth's tilted axis affects the seasons on the Earth.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: What Causes the Seasons?
In this activity, students' will explore how the tilt of the earth's axis results in different amounts of solar radiation at different times of the year, causing seasons. They will simulate the earth's warming using a light bulb that...
NASA
Nasa Star Child: A Song for All Seasons
After listening to excerpts from four of the violin concertos from "The Four Seasons" by Italian composer and violinist, Antonio Vivaldi, decide which excerpt was meant to go with which season, and also decide where the earth would be in...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Modeling Earth's Seasons by Rotation and Revolution
In this lesson, learners will discuss, define, and demonstrate the Earth's rotation and revolution around the sun in a counterclockwise position. They will be able to predict seasons based on the amount of light that hits the Earth.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Fifth Grade Science: Earth Science: Earth's Motion in Space
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Discusses the motion of the Earth with its day and night cycle, the seasons, the Earth's orbit around the Sun, and its year-long cycle.