Day and night, the year, and why we have seasons

Grade 6 Science Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   Ari spins a globe once to show one whole day on Earth. Which motion of Earth is Ari modeling?

   • The Sun circling Earth
   • The tilt of the axis
   • Revolution
   • Rotation
2. 2.

   “Orbit diagram, top view, not to scale:” For a class poster, Bo draws Earth's path all the way around the Sun. Which motion takes about one year?

   • Revolution
   • Rotation
   • The Sun's trip around Earth
   • The Moon's orbit
3. 3.

   Kira watches the Sun rise in the east in the morning and set in the west at night. Which motion of Earth causes this?

   • The Sun moving around Earth
   • Earth's trip around the Sun
   • Earth spinning on its axis
   • Earth's tilted axis
4. 4.

   One full spin of Earth gives Luz one day and one night, plus one very long sleep. About how long does one spin take?

   • About 365 days
   • About 7 days
   • About 12 hours
   • About 24 hours
5. 5.

   Camping at night, Milo sees the stars slowly move across the sky, just as the Sun does by day. Why do they seem to move?

   • The stars and the Sun circle around Earth
   • Earth spins, so the whole sky seems to turn
   • The stars drift because Earth is tilted
   • Earth goes around the Sun each night
6. 6.

   “Orbit diagram, top view from above the North Pole, not to scale:” Noah looks at Earth at place P on the orbit diagram. The North Pole leans toward the Sun. Which season is it in the Northern Hemisphere?

   • Summer, because Earth is closest to the Sun here
   • Summer in both hemispheres at once
   • Summer, because the north leans toward the Sun
   • Winter, because the axis tips away in winter

7. Read this first

   Use this

   Orbit diagram, top view from above the North Pole, not to scale: the Sun in the center; Earth at four places lettered P (left), Q (bottom), R (right) and S (top), counterclockwise; at every place the axis is drawn the same way, with the North Pole leaning toward the right of the page. Place R is circled.

8. 7.

   Pia finds Earth at place R, where the North Pole leans away from the Sun. Which season is it in the Northern Hemisphere?

   • Winter, because the north leans away from the Sun
   • Summer, because the axis has turned toward the Sun
   • Winter in both hemispheres at once
   • Winter, because Earth is farthest from the Sun here
9. 8.

   “Orbit diagram, top view from above the North Pole, not to scale:” Earth is at place P, with the North Pole leaning toward the Sun. Ren asks about the other half of Earth. Which season does the Southern Hemisphere have?

   • Spring, because the axis is turning around
   • Summer, because Earth is closest to the Sun here
   • Winter, because the south leans away from the Sun
   • Summer, the same as the north at that time
10. 9.

    In December, Tala builds a snow fort in Minnesota that is mostly snow and a little bit of hope. What season is it in Australia?

    • Spring
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer
11. 10.

    In late June, Zee flies from Texas to Argentina and packs a warm coat. Why does Zee need a coat there?

    • Earth's axis tips the other way in June
    • Argentina is farther from the Sun than Texas
    • June is winter everywhere on Earth
    • The south leans away from the Sun in June