How can I best explain the 4 seasons to Elementary school students? - Geography

I would use a lamp with no shade and a globe. First have the child directly face the lamp at a distance where she can feel the heat but not too close. Once she feels the warmth have her stay in place but turn her body away at about a 45 degree angle. She should notice a decrease in temperature. Next mark your location on the globe and have her walk around the lamp to simulate the earth's oblong orbit. At the appropriate solcitice or equinox points for each season have her stop and note the position of the north pole. Note the globe must not change its relative position. So if she begins at the fall equinox behind the lamp and facing the class with the north pole pointing towards her right, she must continue to face the class as she walks around the lamp. The summer and winter seasons occur opposite each other at the points where the earth is farthest away (solsitice). Spring and fall are opposite each other at the points where the sun is closest to the earth (equinox). At the solstice points the north pole is tilted towards (summer) or away from (winter) the sun. At the equinox points (fall and spring) the north pole faces the same direction. It is the position of the north pole and not the distance that causes the seasons. The effect is felt more closer to the poles than the equator. In order to demonstrate this you must fully understand it yourself and having a chart will maek it easier for the kids to understand. Here is a good site for kids that explains it better. Hope this helps. http://www.kidsgeo.com/geography-for-kids/0019-the-revolution-of-the-earth.php

That's great advice. I have also done this activity. You can use a flashlight as well to simulate the sun. Have fun!

Bill Nye is always fantastic! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ34-2cuzfY&feature=related

Another relative easy and fun way to teach the changing of the seasons is through pictures. Through pictures, the student will correlate snow and Christmas (Winter), a beach and fourth of July (Summer), falling leaves and Halloween (Autumn), and growing flowers and Easter (Spring). For a more scientific approach Gail's approach seems to very sound and informative.

www.epa.gov/students has plenty of interactive animations and quizzes about environmental topics. I also agree with the responses above...using a flashlight and globe is a great way to teach the seasons. I used that with my fifth grade class and it worked great. Anything interactive can help the students visualize what is happening in our atmosphere. Bill Nye is THE best...but when I can not obtain a Bill Nye video I always search on You Tube.