June 21st
March 21st
To go around
The elliptical path of the Earth or a planet
The length of Earth's rotation
To spin or turn
The Earth's revolution
An imaginary line that runs (horizontally) around the center of the Earth. The Earth has the greatest diameter at this point. It divides the Earth into the Northern & Southern hemispheres.
Half of a sphere, or half of the Earth
When the sun reaches its greatest distance north or south of the equator twice a year
The most northern and southern ends of the Earth where the Earth’s axis of rotation meets the surface
An imaginary line that runs through the center of the Earth
The length of Earth's revolution
The Earth's rotation
September 23rd
December 21st
This happens twice a year when neither hemisphere is tilted toward or away from the sun. The noon sun is directly above the equator.
This picture shows the Earth's rotation.
Autumnal equinox
Hemisphere
This picture shows the Earth's revolution.
Orbit
A process that causes the day/night cycle
Solstice
365 days
24 hours
Equinox
Axis
A process that contributes to the pattern of changing seasons
Revolution
Poles
Winter solstice
Summer solstice
Rotation
Spring equinox
Equator
