Discussion of Challenge Question #1
If You Could Un-tilt the Earth

If you could untilt the Earth, what effect might that change have on climate and seasons? Students from Maine, Ohio, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Texas, Florida and Iowa responded:

Click on image to enlarge

Students in Miss Williams 4th Grade Class from Greenville, SC summed up the answer nicely by saying: "We would have no seasons. We would have the same temperature/weather patterns all year long. This would happen because the tilt of the Earth changes the seasons, and with no tilt we would have no seasons."

And we had many more helpful answers below too--nice job!

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From Ohio:
The equator would be a baron desert, the poles would would be so cold
there would be no life on them, and weather would stay the same year
round. Ben Moran, Mrs. Wearstler's class

From South Carolina:
We would have no seasons. We would have the same temperature/weather patterns all year long. This would happen because the tilt of the Earth changes the seasons, and with no tilt we would have no seasons. Miss Williams' 4th Grade Class, Sara Collins Elementary School , Greenville, South Carolina

From North Carolina:
If the earth's axis was straight up and down, there would be no changes in the seasons and photoperiods wouldn't change like they do in most places now. The climate at the equator wouldn't be that much different than it is now because it is already receiving direct sunlight almost all the time. The biggest differences would occur between the tropics and the Arctic and Antarctic Circles where the greatest seasonal changes now occur. This area would experience no seasons. Our class decided that where we live in NH it would be like having spring all year round. We think that the trees and other plants that thrive here might not do as well and there would probably be changes in plant and animal life. The Poles would be even colder than they are now. Tristan E. First AGAPE Homeschool Co-op Grades 5-7 Auburn, NH

From Texas:
The seasons and weather wouldn't change because we would get the same amount of sun all the time. Aaron J. Markle, 4th grade Agape Academy Cedar Hill, Texas

From Florida:
The world would not have any seasons.Megan, Rupert and Samantha, St. John's Greek Orthodox School

We think it would be hot all the time or cold all the time.
- Laryn and Elizabeth(group # 7), St. John's Greek Orthodox School

If our earth had no tilt we would have the same tempeuture every day which would change our way of life. People in other parts cound't produce becuase of heat or cold which means only half the would would produce food and the population would drop and the average life span would shorten. Austin, St. John's Greek Orthodox School

If the Earth wasn't tilted on it's axis, the climate would be the
same and the seasons would be nonexistant. I think that because now, when the Earth is on its axis, the sun hits different parts of the Earth, but if it were straight up, the sun would hit the whole Earth. J.C. St. John's Greek Orthodox School

From Mt. Pleasant, SC:
If the Earth was not tilted on it's axis the seasons would change. Instead they would stay the same. Andy S., St. Frances School

From Iowa:
I think that if the earth didn't tilt, it would stay the same season all year. I think this because the seasons are seasons when the earth tilts towards or away from the sun. You would always be the exact same distance from the sun. That is why it would stay the same season always. -Grant Lang

From Florida:
We think the middle part of Earth would get more light. Only one place on Earth would get summer, one place would get winter, one place would get fall, and one place would have spring.