How Earth's Tilt Causes Seasons

Crash Course Kids

This engaging animated video explains the scientific reasons behind Earth's seasons, debunking the common misconception that distance from the sun causes temperature changes. Hosted by Sabrina Cruz, the video uses clear visuals and analogies to demonstrate how Earth's axial tilt and revolution around the sun create patterns of direct and indirect sunlight that result in seasonal changes. The content covers key astronomical concepts including Earth's orbit, axis, hemispheres, and the difference between direct and indirect sunlight. It features a practical demonstration using a flashlight to visualize light concentration and includes a data analysis segment using a temperature graph of Toronto to connect abstract concepts to real-world weather patterns. For educators, this resource is an excellent tool for introducing Earth and space systems. It provides a ready-made experiment (the flashlight demo) that can be replicated in class and effectively bridges science with math through graph interpretation. The video supports learning standards related to patterns in space, Earth's motion, and the cause-and-effect relationship between sunlight angles and surface temperature.