Fun Equinox Facts for Elementary Science Teachers
The fall equinox is almost here! Ready or not, on Sunday, September 22, 2024, at 8:44 A.M. EDT, summer officially ends in the northern hemisphere 😢. On the bright side for folks on the other side of the world, in the southern hemisphere, winter ends! 🏖️
Here are some fun facts to share with your students on Monday as we start a whole new season.
🌍 Earth's Tilt and Orbit: Let's start with the basics. Earth is tilted on its axis at a 23.5 degree angle. As Earth orbits the Sun, the tilt doesn't change. That affects what parts of the Earth are closest to the Sun. During summer in the North, the tilt of the planet aims toward the Sun, making the days long for the upper part of the planet. In the winter in the North, the tilt of the planet aims away from the Sun, making the days short.
🌠 Equal Day and Night: How does all this relate to the equinox? Like the name suggests, the equinox is about thing being equal. On the days of the fall and spring equinox, the tilt of the planet is perpendicular to the Sun, which makes day and night about equal in length. Each lasts about 12 hours.
🍁 Seasonal Changes: As the Sun's rays hit the northern part of Earth at a more oblique angle than during the summer, temperatures drop. The shorter days and changing temps influence plant growth, animal behavior, and weather patterns. Did you know that active plant growth stops when there are fewer than 10 hours of daylight? Gardeners call that time of year the "Persephone period" after the Greek myth.
🍁 Cultural Impact: Many cultures throughout history noticed this period of balanced night and day. The designers of the ancient Mayan pyramid at Chichen Itza knew how to use astronomy for an amazing effect! They arranged the tiers of the pyramid to cast a wavy shadow on the main stairs for part of each day during the week of equinox. This makes the stairs look like the body of a slithering snake to complement the stone snake head at the bottom of the stairs.
🍂Celebrate the arrival of autumn with students
Here are some fun fall nature crafts to enjoy!
- preserved autumn leaves in beeswax, a leaf wreath or garland
- fall leaf crown, wings, or a leaf star wand for forest dress-up
- pinecones, nuts, and acorns turned into fun little animals.
- eco-confetti using leaves
📚Read exciting books about the equinox
- Fall Leaves: Colorful and Crunchy by Martha E. H. Rustad
- Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak
- Autumn Equinox: Celebrating the Harvest by Ellen Jackson
- Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
I hope you and your students enjoy nature's transformation this fall!
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