Seasons Web Quest You have been hired by an educational publishing company to produce a poster for middle school science classrooms. Your poster is to be one that shows the causes of seasons on Earth. Since many students have the wrong idea about what causes seasons it is very important that your poster be very accurate. Your poster will answer the question "What causes seasons"? Please divide your poster into four sections: A. Misconceptions: Your first section will identify misconceptions students have about the seasons. What are these misconceptions? Use the resources below to find common misconceptions students have about the reasons for the seasons. Once you have the information about the misconceptions, it’s time to learn the real reasons. B. Tilt: The real reason for the seasons is the tilt of the Earth. Go the websites below. Use the information you learn from the websites to explain the tilt of the Earth. You will need this information to make your second section of your poster. Earth's Tilt Is the Reason for the Seasons! Earth’s Revolution and Sun Angle Seasons and the Tilt Interactive Why is the Earth Tilted? (podcast) C. Earth's Location: As the Earth revolves around the Sun, the tilt of the Earth affects the seasons. The direction of the tilt never changes. It is always pointing towards the North Star (Polaris). Using the information from the websites, you will make your third section of your poster. Your third section will show the location of the Earth at each season. Make sure the tilt is in the right direction! Earth’s Appearance Different Times During the Year D. Angle: We have learned that the Earth’s tilt is responsible for the seasons. We have also learned how the position of the Earth as it goes around the Sun affects the seasons. The next question is, “How do the tilt and the Earth’s position affect the seasons?” Use the resources below to get the information you need to make your fourth section of your poster. Direct/Indirect Sunlight Interactive Earth’s Revolution and Sun Angle Earth’s Revolution and Sun Angle Understanding the Seasons Through Pictures Observing the Sky: Motion of the Earth - Seasons Evaluation: Here is how your poster will be evaluated:CATEGORY 4 3 2 1 Required Elements The poster includes all required elements as well as additional information. All required elements are included on the poster. All but one of the required elements are included on the poster. Several required elements were missing. Content - Accuracy All the facts are accurate at a level above requirements as determined by the teacher. All the facts on the poster are accurate. Most of the facts on the poster are accurate. Few of the facts on the poster are accurate. Attractiveness The poster is exceptionally attractive in terms of design, layout, and neatness. The poster is attractive in terms of design, layout, and neatness. The poster is acceptably attractive though it may be a bit messy. The poster is distractingly messy or very poorly designed. It is not attractive. Mechanics Capitalization and punctuation are correct throughout the poster. There is one error in capitalization or punctuation. There are two errors in capitalization or punctuation. There are more than two errors in capitalization or punctuation. |