The Earth's seasons are not caused by the differences in the distance from the Sun throughout the year. The seasons are the result of the tilt of the Earth's axis. This tilting is what gives us the four seasons of the year - spring, summer, autumn (fall) and winter. Since the axis is tilted, different parts of the globe are oriented towards the Sun at different times of the year.
Summer is warmer than winter (in each hemisphere) because the Sun's rays hit the Earth at a more direct angle during summer than during winter and also because the days are much longer than the nights during the summer. During the winter, the Sun's rays hit the Earth at an extreme angle, and the days are very short. These effects are due to the tilt of the Earth's axis.
Here are some interactive sites on seasons:
Who Wants to be a Millionaire with Seasons
Season Simulator
Why do we have seasons?
The Science of the Seasons
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