February 29

High school (ages 12+)
Mathematics & Numbers

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/february-29

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the earth's orbital period?Approximately 365.256 days (sidereal year)
2. What is the calendar drift without leap days?Approximately one day every four years relative to the seasons
3. What is February 29 and why does it happen?February 29 is an extra day that appears in the calendar every four years. It is added to keep our calendar in sync with the Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
4. Why do we add an extra day to February?The Earth takes a little longer than 365 days to go around the Sun. Adding a day every four years helps the calendar stay on track with the seasons.

Sidereal Year: The time it takes Earth to orbit the Sun once relative to distant stars, approximately 365.256 days.
Precession of the Equinoxes: The gradual shift in the orientation of Earth's axis, affecting the timing of seasons relative to calendar dates.
Intercalation: The process of inserting extra days or months into a calendar to synchronize it with astronomical or seasonal cycles.