S2.9.4 For the adult
A year: going round the Sun
What is a year? Why does a year sometimes have an extra day?
What this chapter teaches
One trip round the Sun takes about 365 and a quarter days, which is a year. The spare quarter days add up to one whole day, so almost every fourth year is a leap year with 366 days. The seasons come from the lean of the Earth, not from its distance from the Sun.
Three questions to ask
There is no one right wording. Listen for the idea.
- Why does a year sometimes have an extra day?
- What do you think would happen to the calendar if we never added a leap day?
- How could you use a sheet of paper to show the spare quarter days?
After the chapter, the learner can
- Explain the Earth takes about 365 days to go round the Sun
- Explain why every fourth year has an extra day
- Explain that distance from the Sun does not make seasons
What they copy into their notebook
One trip round the Sun takes about 365 and a quarter days. That is a year. The spare quarters add up to one day. So almost every fourth year has 366 days.