Format
1. This program begins with a tour of the current evening sky.
2. We then discuss Earth's motions and uncover the true reasons why we experience seasonal changes throughout the year.
3. Participants view high-resolution imagery, exploring seasons at various locations on Earth and beyond.
4. Time is allowed for questions and answers.
Objectives
- Describe how Earth’s axial tilt and orbit give rise to the seasons
- Recognize that Earth’s varying distance from the Sun does not determine the seasons
- Investigate whether or not other planets in the Solar System have seasons
Standards Alignment
State Standards
OHIO'S LEARNING STANDARDS
Grade 5
Science: Earth and Space Science – Cycles and Patterns in the Solar System
- The Sun is one of many stars that exist in the Universe.
- Most of the cycles and patterns of motion between the Earth and Sun are predictable.
Grade 6
Science: Earth and Space Science – Matter and Motion
- There are two categories of energy: kinetic and potential.
- An object’s motion can be described by its speed and the direction in which it is moving.
Grade 7
Science: Earth and Space Science – Cycles and Patterns of the Earth and the Moon
- The relative patterns of motion and positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun cause solar and lunar eclipses, tides, and phases of the Moon.
- Thermal-energy transfers in the ocean and the atmosphere contribute to the formation of currents, which influence global climate patterns.