How are the Months on Earth Different?

NGSS Phenomena: An animation showing the differences in how light falls on the earth at different times of the year.
The above image shows the light from the Sun falling on the Earth during different months of the year. Spend a minute watching the animation repeat to prepare yourself for the next few questions.

1. This image shows the change in the way hits Earth over the course of a year, as Earth spins on its and the Sun.

Drag the answers below into the grey placeholders above

axis
sphere
rotation
light
orbits
Solar System

2. How does the pattern seen here help to explain the seasons that we experience at different times in the year?

3.
Your classmate Hayley made this diagram to explain Earth’s seasons. Her reasoning is that Earth’s distance from the sun changes throughout the year, and that the reason we have winter is because Earth is much further away from the sun than it is at other times of the year. Do you agree with Hayley’s model? Using at least 2 pieces of evidence, explain why or why not. Use the patterns from the animation to help you with your reasoning.

4. Describe the pattern you see in the animation.

Get Started with InnerOrbit

  • Browse All Our Question Clusters

  • Create Your Own Assessments

  • Analyze Student Performance in 3 Dimensions

This matching question aligns to the following standards

  • ESS1.A: The Universe and Its Stars

  • ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System

  • MS-ESS1-1

This free response question aligns to the following standards

  • MS-ESS1-1

  • Developing and Using Models

  • ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System

  • ESS1.A: The Universe and Its Stars

This free response question aligns to the following standards

  • ESS1.A: The Universe and Its Stars

  • ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System

  • Developing and Using Models

  • Patterns

  • MS-ESS1-1

This free response question aligns to the following standards

  • ESS1.A: The Universe and Its Stars

  • ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System

  • Developing and Using Models

  • Patterns

  • MS-ESS1-1

Get Started with 3D NGSS Assessments

How InnerOrbit Works

Select Questions

Choose from pools of rigorous NGSS aligned question clusters

Build Assessments

Copy, remix, and create your own science assessments

Assign to Classes

Students take do-nows, exit slips, and formative or summative assessments

Refocus Lessons

Give feedback, track growth, and use intuitive reports to identify gaps

Create Rigorous Science Assessments

From Phenomena-Based Questions Tagged Individually with Specific NGSS Standards

Choose from Multiple Choice, Drawing, Matching, Fill in the Blank, and Free Response Questions

  • What is the Effect of These Aerosols?

    6 Questions
    Published

    • MS-ESS2-6

  • Why Does This Drop so Slowly?

    16 Questions
    Published

    • MS-PS2-5

  • What Makes Glaciers Change Over Time?

    21 Questions
    Published

    • MS-ESS2-1

  • What Changes are Occurring at the Padma River?

    13 Questions
    Published

    • HS-ESS2-5

  • What is Happening to the California Condor Population?

    14 Questions
    Published

    • MS-LS2-1

  • Which Trash Cleaning Solution is Better?

    13 Questions
    Published

    • MS-LS2-5

  • How do Mushrooms Get Their Energy?

    24 Questions
    Published

    • HS-LS1-7

  • Browse
    1000+
    Questions

Intuitive Reports to Easily View Progress

Track student growth and gaps in three dimensions

    Easily Build and Assign
    Your First NGSS Assessments