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

Grade 6 Science Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   “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?

   • The Sun's trip around Earth
   • Revolution
   • The Moon's orbit
   • Rotation
2. 2.

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

   • Earth spinning on its axis
   • Earth's trip around the Sun
   • The Sun moving around Earth
   • Earth's tilted axis
3. 3.

   “not to scale” When it is noon for Jun in Arizona, it is night in India. What causes day on one side of Earth and night on the other?

   • The Sun moves to the other side of Earth
   • Earth spins, and the half facing the Sun has day
   • Earth goes around the Sun once a day
   • Earth's tilt hides India from the Sun
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 12 hours
   • About 24 hours
   • About 7 days
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?

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

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

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?

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

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

    • June is winter everywhere on Earth
    • The south leans away from the Sun in June
    • Argentina is farther from the Sun than Texas
    • Earth's axis tips the other way in June
11. 10.

    World map with Ohio and Chile marked, and the equator drawn as a dashed line. It is late March, and spring flowers are blooming in Esme's town in Ohio. What season is starting in Chile?

    • Summer
    • Spring
    • Winter
    • Fall