Winter, spring, summer, fall—aren’t seasons just amazing? Each one brings something special to look forward to! You probably know that summer means long, sunny days, and winter brings shorter days with snow and chilly weather. But have you ever wondered how the Sun and seasons are connected?
The Sun is super important because it’s at the center of our solar system. Our planet, Earth, travels around the Sun, completing one full orbit every 365 days. But here’s a cool fact: Earth doesn’t stand straight up as it orbits. Instead, it’s tilted on an invisible line called its axis. This tilt, combined with Earth’s orbit, creates the seasons we experience each year.
Because Earth is tilted, different parts of it lean toward or away from the Sun at different times of the year. Let’s focus on the northern hemisphere, which is the top half of Earth. In June, the northern hemisphere tilts toward the Sun, getting lots of direct sunlight. This direct sunlight makes it warm and gives us long summer days.
In December, the northern hemisphere tilts away from the Sun. It receives indirect sunlight, which means the light hits at an angle. This makes it cooler, leading to shorter days and the chilly winter season.
Want to see how sunlight angles work? Grab a flashlight and dim the lights in your room. Point the flashlight straight down on your desk, and you’ll see a small, bright circle of light. This is like the direct sunlight in summer. Now, tilt the flashlight at an angle. Notice how the light spreads out and becomes less bright? That’s similar to the indirect sunlight we get in winter.
During spring and autumn, the northern hemisphere isn’t tilted toward or away from the Sun. This means temperatures are moderate—not too hot or too cold—because the whole Earth gets about the same amount of sunlight.
Let’s look at a real-life example. In Toronto, Canada, the average high temperatures are low in December, January, and February when there’s little direct sunlight. But in June, July, and August, when Toronto gets direct sunlight, temperatures rise. This shows how the Sun’s angle affects our weather.
The season you’re experiencing right now depends on how much direct sunlight your part of Earth is getting. When a hemisphere gets more direct sunlight, it’s summer there with warmer temperatures and longer days. When it gets more indirect sunlight, it’s winter with cooler temperatures and shorter days.
Now you know what causes summer, spring, autumn, and winter. Isn’t it fascinating how Earth’s tilt and orbit around the Sun create the seasons we love?
Seasonal Sunlight Experiment: Try a fun experiment to see how the angle of sunlight affects temperature. On a sunny day, take two small pieces of paper and place one flat on the ground and the other propped up at an angle. Leave them in the sun for about 10 minutes. Touch both pieces of paper and notice which one feels warmer. Discuss why the flat piece might be warmer, just like how direct sunlight warms the Earth more in summer.
Seasonal Observation Journal: Start a seasonal observation journal. Each week, draw a picture of what you see outside. Look for changes in the weather, the length of the day, and how people dress. Write down or draw what you notice about the trees, flowers, and animals. After a few weeks, compare your drawings and talk about how the changes you see relate to the seasons.
Sun and Shadow Play: On a sunny day, go outside and observe your shadow at different times. In the morning, stand in one spot and trace your shadow with chalk. Do the same at noon and in the late afternoon. Notice how your shadow changes in length and direction. Discuss how the position of the Sun in the sky affects the length of shadows, similar to how it affects the seasons.
