Each year on March 20 or 21, spring comes to Kentucky and to the earth’s northern half or northern hemisphere. This is called the vernal equinox. Vernal comes from a word that means “spring.” Equinox comes from from two ancient words that mean “equal” and “night,” and around the time of the equinox, the nighttime and the daytime last for nearly the same amount of hours. They are equal. At the time of an equinox, the earth tilts on its axis to the point where the sun shines evenly on both the northern and southern hemispheres. The earth’s axis is an imaginary line that goes through the center of the earth from the north pole to the south pole. Another equinox happens in September, the autumnal equinox. Autumnal comes from a word that means “autumn,” which is the beginning of the fall season.

Draw a line that matches the words with the correct meaning.

(Left side)

earth

hemisphere

equinox

vernal

autumnal

axis

(Right side)

from a word that means spring.

the plant where we live.

a word that means “autumn,” which is the beginning of the fall season.

half of the earth, Kentucky is in the northern half.

from two words that mean equal and night.

an imaginary line that goes through the center of the earth from the north pole to the south pole.