Animation on Wikimedia Commons by Xofc

In the animation The Sun & the ecliptic rotation around the Earth:

The green Sun is the one of the vernal equinox (March)

it is followed by a summer solstice Sun.

Then Autumnal equinox

Then the winter solstice.

The ground plane (latitude 50°N) is green, the rotating ecliptic plane is blue.

Also represented are the celestial equator, the two tropics and the rotation axis.

Equinox

• The term, “equinox,” derives from equi-nox (equal-night), and on the equinox, the length of nighttime is nearly equal to the length of daytime,

• Over the previous six months, the sun has been rising in the southeast and setting in the southwest, but on the equinox it rises due east and sets due west, before continuing its northward motion.

• The equinox also marks the start of six months of daylight at the North Pole, and six months of nighttime at the South Pole.

Information from Professor Stephen Schneider, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Learn More at Teaching Latitude, Longitude and Time Zones

Summer Solstice

• The first day of summer
• Longest day of the year
• This happens when the North Pole is pointing towards the sun
• Because the North Pole is pointing towards the sun, the Northern Hemisphere is warmed by direct sunlight
• During summer, the days are long and hot

• MidPoint is Lammas
• Lammas History:  Welcoming the Harvest
  

Winter Solstice

• The first day of winter
• Shortest day of the year
• This happens with the North Pole is pointing away from the sun
• Because the North Pole is away from the sun, the Northern Hemisphere does not receive direct sunlight
• During winter, the days are short and cold

• MidPoint is Groundhog Day
• History of Groundhog Day 

Vernal Equinox

• The first day of spring
• Equal parts day and night
• On this day, the North Pole begins leaning towards the sun

• MidPoint is May Day
• The Brief Origins of May Day
• Celebration of May Day grew out of 19th century movements for labor rights and an 8 hour work day 

• May Day:  America's Traditional, Radical, Complicated Holiday from National Museum of American History.

Autumnal Equinox

• The first day of fall
• Equal parts day and night
• On this day, the North Pole begins leaning away from the sun

• MidPoint is Halloween
• History of Halloween (All Hallows' Eve)
  

For more information, see The Changing Seasons: A Brief Tutorial

Fairbanks Goldpanners Midnight Baseball Game

How Alaskans Cope with Two Months of All-Day-Daylight

     Learning Activities

Click here for a learning plan about the seasons.

Click here for a learning plan about the seasons.

  Click here for a youtube video on the changing seasons.

 Need to find a song about the seasons.

Mayan Calendars