The students will understand the rotation of the earth and how it forms the seasons as Mr. Bowditch explains it in the novel.

Resources/Materials:

1. A globe

2. A flashlight

3. Seasons Worksheet (1 copy for every member of class)

4. Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, p. 139-140.

Time:

The entire lesson should take about 1 hour. (Parts 1 and 2 should take about 15 minutes. Part 3 should take about 5 minutes. Part 4 should take about 30 minutes. Part 5 should take about 5 minutes.)

Procedure:

1. Ask students why they think that it is warmer in the summer than it is in the winter. Discuss possibilities.

2. Explain that it is because the sun's rays are more perpendicular to the surface of the earth. It is not because the earth is closer to the sun; it's the opposite, actually.

3. The students will read pages 139 to 140 in Carry On, Mr. Bowditch. (Mr. Bowditch explains the relevancy of the sun and the seasons.)

4. Use the Globe and the flashlight (representing the sun) to demonstrate the orbit of the earth and how that determines the seasons. Define the spring and fall equinoxes, and the summer and winter solstices. Explain how the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer determine seasons. Also give proper dates for the equinoxes and solstices.

5. Have the students complete the worksheet.

Assessment:

Each student will fill out and hand in the worksheet. (Criteria for success: The students will have 16 correct answers filled in on the worksheet.)

Curricular Strands and Major Concepts:

1. Social Studies - knowing the globe

2. Math - angles of the sun and the earth, line of Latitude

3. Science - natural sciences, seasons

Possible Extensions:

1. Discuss the effects of the seasons on animal wildlife.

2. Discuss religions that followed the sun.

3. Study lines of latitude and longitude.

Sailing into the 19th Century - developed by Angela Hamerlind, Renee Kust, & Kevin Feyen

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