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The key to understanding why the seasons change and summer is coming for us soon is to look at how much sunlight is shining on our hemisphere.  

We are in the northern hemisphere (top half), but Australia is in the southern hemisphere (bottom half).  On June 21 when it's summer here, it will be winter there.  The video below will show you why.

When you watch the video below, remember that those of us in Peabody, Massachusetts, in the United States are all in the northern hemisphere (top half) of the Earth.  In that picture, it shows you that in December the top is tilted AWAY FROM the sun, so it's in winter.  Notice how much less sunlight our half of the Earth is getting!  The bottom half of the Earth (the southern hemisphere) is getting much more sun, so in December it's in summer.

Another thing to notice is how the angle of Earth's tilt doesn't change.  Ever.  That's why the light doesn't always just shine straight at the middle of the Earth.
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So remember, the tilt of the Earth stays the same.  As a result, in June when the top half gets a lot of sunlight which makes summer, but at the same time the bottom half doesn't get as much sunlight so it makes winter.

jager
5/31/2013 11:38:39 am

I used to think it was when the earth was farther away from the sun

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Mrs. Thomas
6/1/2013 01:50:01 am

So did I! But then it couldn't be summer here and winter in Australia at the same time.

Nope, the tilt of the Earth's axis is what makes cold and warm seasons for the top and bottom half.

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