Long June Days and Opposite Seasons
Imagine it is eight o'clock at night. In the United States, a girl named Mia is still playing outside. The sky is bright, and the air feels warm. On that exact same day, a boy named Lucas lives in Chile, far to the south. Lucas looks out his window at eight o'clock. The sky is pitch black. The air is cold, and he puts on a thick sweater.
Why is the day so long for Mia but so short for Lucas? It happens because of the way our planet moves.
Earth does two things at the same time. First, Earth spins around like a toy top once every day. This daily spin gives us day and night. When your town faces the sun, it is daytime. When your town turns away from the sun, it is nighttime.
Second, Earth travels in a big circle around the sun. While it travels, Earth stays tilted to one side. It does not stand straight up and down.
- tilted:
- Slanted or leaning to one side rather than straight.
- Northern Hemisphere:
- The top half of planet Earth.
- Southern Hemisphere:
- The bottom half of planet Earth.
- summer solstice:
- The day of the year that has the most hours of daylight.
- pattern:
- Events or changes that repeat in a regular way.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What is Mia doing at eight o'clock at night?
- 2Where does Lucas live?
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About this explanatory article passage for 2nd Grade
“Long June Days and Opposite Seasons” is a explanatory article reading passage about Earth's Tilt and Seasons, written for 2nd Grade. It takes about 2 minutes to read (292 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.