One chilly morning, Sarah, a curious 6th grader, wondered why it was winter. She decided to investigate. She discovered that winter happens due to the tilt of Earth on its axis. As Earth orbits the sun, this tilt means that for half the year, the North Pole is slightly away from the sun, causing winter in the Northern Hemisphere. While researching, Sarah also learned fun facts about winter. She found out that it snows metal on Venus! Surprised? So was she! But winter on Earth seemed far more enjoyable. Sarah loved building snowmen, having snowball fights, and ice skating. She also learned about how different animals survive the cold. Did you know some birds like the Arctic Tern fly all the way to Antarctica to escape the winter? By the time spring came, Sarah had a newfound appreciation for winter. She realized it was not just a season but a fascinating result of our Earth's journey around the sun. The next time it was winter, Sarah didn't just throw snowballs, she also marveled at the fantastic science that made it possible.