Socratic Questioning Guide

Concept: why the seasons change, for Grade 6. 1) What do you already think causes summer and winter? (surface prior ideas — listen for the common closer-to-the-sun misconception.) 2) If distance from the sun caused seasons, what would be true for the whole planet at once? (probe the assumption — listen for whether they notice both hemispheres would match.) 3) But when it is summer here, what season is it on the other side of the world? (explore evidence — listen for the contradiction with the distance idea.) 4) What else changes between summer and winter besides temperature? (consider alternatives — guide toward day length and sun angle.) 5) So what might really cause the seasons? (reach a conclusion — listen for tilt of the Earth axis.)