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6th grade Day and night, the year, and why we have seasons worksheet

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

Grade 6 Science Worksheet - Building Confidence

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

  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. “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. 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. 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. 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. “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. 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. “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. 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. 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
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6th grade Day and night, the year, and why we have seasons worksheet – printable
Print: 123456

About this worksheet

Day and night, the year, and why we have seasons. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

  • I can tell rotation (a spin, about 24 hours, day and night) from revolution (an orbit, about 365 days, a year).
  • I can explain that seasons come from Earth's tilt, which gives high sunlight and long days to the hemisphere leaning toward the Sun, not from Earth's distance.
  • I can say that the Northern and Southern Hemispheres have opposite seasons, and read daylight and Sun-height tables to show it.

Standard: MS-ESS1-1

Words to know

rotation: Earth spinning on its axis; one spin takes about 24 hours

revolution: Earth's trip around the Sun; one trip takes about 365 days

axis: The imaginary line Earth spins around, from the North Pole to the South Pole

tilt: The axis leans about 23.4° and keeps pointing the same way all year

hemisphere: Half of Earth: the Northern Hemisphere is north of the equator

solstice: The day with the longest or shortest daylight, in June or December

equinox: A day in March or September when day and night are about 12 hours

direct sunlight: Light from a high Sun, packed into a small patch of ground

Common mistakes

Your child mixed up Earth's spin and Earth's trip around the Sun. Spin a ball for one day, then walk it around a lamp for one year.

Your child thought the Sun travels around Earth to make day and night. Try turning slowly in a room with one lamp: the lamp seems to move, but you are the one turning.

Your child thought seasons come from Earth getting closer to or farther from the Sun. Share that Earth is closest to the Sun in early January, in northern winter.

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with day and night, the year, and why we have seasons?

Your child mixed up Earth's spin and Earth's trip around the Sun. Spin a ball for one day, then walk it around a lamp for one year.

Are these 6th grade science worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

More grade 6 science

See all grade 6 science

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