What happens to the Earth to make the seasons change? Objective List the two main characteristics of winter: cold and dark Explain that we get heat and light from the sun Explain that the Earth both rotates on its axis and revolves around the sun Explain different characteristics for each season Explain that all places have winter, but winters in different places are not all the same Background As the earth travels around the sun, different regions receive more direct sunlight than others. The tilt of the earth on its axis is responsible for the different seasons in the northern and southern h Duration: 60 Minutes.