The Seasons of the Year (applying the scientific method)

• Does the Sun itself change, or does its appearance change to us on Earth?
• How does the appearance of the Sun change?
  • where is the Sun in the sky, relative to the horizon (high/low)?
  • where does the Sun rise, on the horizon (north/south)?
  • how does the length of the day change (shorter/longer)?
  • how does the Sun appear (brighter/fainter)?
  • how does the temperature change (warmer/colder)?
  • what is its periodicity (how long till the pattern repeats)?
• Do the seasons become more or less extreme as we move away from the Equator and toward the North and South Poles?
• Are the seasons the same in the north and south hemispheres (above and below the Equator)?
• What do we know about the orientation of the Earth and Sun?
• Is the Earth closer to the Sun during some seasons, and further away during others?
• Remember that the Earth spins on its own axis once a day, and goes around the Sun once a year.