The Four Seasons: Earth's Tilt and Orbit

About this printable The Four Seasons: Earth's Tilt and Orbit science reading passage, NGSS-aligned (Grades 3-6)

This engaging Grade 4-5 science passage, aligned with NGSS standards, explores how Earth's tilt and orbit cause the four seasons. Students will learn key terms such as axis, orbit, solstice, and equinox, and discover how sunlight changes throughout the year. The passage offers clear explanations, real-world examples, a glossary, Spanish translation, and interactive activities, including a multiple-choice quiz and writing prompts. Each section is designed for easy reading and audio integration, making it accessible for all learners. Teachers and students can use this resource to deepen understanding of Earth's movement and seasonal changes, while building science vocabulary and critical thinking skills.

Written by Workybooks TeamPublished by Workybooks

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Sample passage and quiz from The Four Seasons: Earth's Tilt and Orbit

Why Do We Have Seasons

The planet we live on, Earth, goes through four main seasons: spring, summer, fall (autumn), and winter. These changes happen each year because of two important things: Earth's tilt and its orbit around the Sun.

Earth spins around an invisible line called its axis. This axis is not straight up and down—it is tilted at an angle of about 23.5 degrees. Because of this tilt, different parts of Earth get different amounts of sunlight during the year.

As Earth moves in its orbit (the path it takes around the Sun), the tilt causes the Sun’s rays to hit the Northern and Southern Hemispheres differently. When the North Pole is tilted toward the Sun, the Northern Hemisphere gets more sunlight and has warmer weather. This is called summer there. At the same time, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, so it has winter. Six months later, the situation switches, and the Northern Hemisphere has winter while the Southern Hemisphere has summer.

When neither hemisphere is tilted directly toward or away from the Sun, both get about the same amount of sunlight. These times are called equinoxes and happen in spring and fall. Days and nights are nearly equal in length during equinoxes.

People notice the seasons in many ways. For example, trees lose their leaves in the fall, and flowers bloom in spring. In summer, the days are longer and warmer, which is perfect for swimming or playing outside. In winter, the days are shorter and colder, and some places even get snow!

Interesting Fact: The word “solstice” comes from Latin and means “sun stands still.” Solstices mark the longest and shortest days of the year!