Phases of the Moon

MATERIALS

For each student: Yellow and black construction paper (8 x 11)

1. Glue or tape
2. Scissors
3. Styrofoam ball (size of tennis ball)
4. Pencil or dowel to hold styrofoam ball
5. Set of Moon phase cards (attached)
6. Per group, light source (large flashlight, projector, lamp with bright light bulb)
7. Large white ball

ENGAGEMENT

Student/Parent Activity/ Observing the Moon

Students and parents together observe and record the Moon's appearance for eight nights. Younger children may draw pictures of their observations or create shadow boxes withtheir parent's help. Older children may draw illustrations and/or write in journals.

 

Classroom Activity: Construction Cutouts of the Moon

Instruct students to cut a moon out of yellow construction paper and glue it to a black background. Have students tape pictures to a wall or blackboard visible to everyone. When all of the pictures are on display, ask the students to comment. The pictures should show the moon in different phases from the nature of the students' memories or interpretations.

Encourage students to discuss pre-set knowledge about the moon and its phases.

EXPLORATION

Grades K through 2

• Position a large white ball on a dowel (or have a student hold it) elevated above the audience.
• Shine a light source (large flashlight, projector) on the ball.
• Tell the children to pretend that the ball is the moon and they are sitting in their back yards looking at it.
• Give the children a set of Moon phase cards.
• Tell them to choose the picture that looks most like the view of the Moon from where they are sitting.
• Rotate the ball counter-clockwise a quarter of the way and ask the students to match the card with the view.
• Continue moving counter clockwise until students have recognized each phase.

Grades 3 through 6

• Create a Moon by placing a Styrofoam ball (size of a tennis ball) on the end of a dowel or pencil.
• Use a lamp with a bright bulb and the shade removed as a sun source. Students' heads represent Earth.
• With the lamp in the center of the room, have each student hold the Moon in his/ her hand at arm’s length, directly in front of his/her eyes.
• Have students experiment with level of positioning. The moon usually appears above or below the Sun as viewed from Earth.
• Have students begin with the “new moon” phase and gradually turn their bodies counter-clock-wise (to the left) in place, moving about 45 degrees (1/8) with each turn until the new Moon phase is regained (a full circle has been completed).

EXPLANATION

The Moon's phases are determined by its position relative to Earth and the Sun.

 

Grades K through 2

• Have each student create a face from his/her favorite moon phase and draw it in the journal.

 

Grades 3 through 6

• Have the students sketch the phases they observed as they rotated in their circles and write a reflection in their journals. The reflections should compare the accuracy of the classroom activity with their eight day field observations of the moon and include a prediction of the Moon's behavior for the remainder of the month.

ELABORATION

• Write and perform a "Luney Tune." Younger students may work as a group with the teacher's guidance to create a Moon song. Older students may work independently or in small groups to write and stage a Moon song, rap, or chorale reading.

Add one complete set of Moon phase cutouts to a school portfolio plus a Luney Tune selection.

EVALUATION

• Categorize the Moon pictures created at the beginning of the lesson by the Moon phase and the order of phases.
• Add phases that may have been missing in the original activity.
• Younger students may do this as a group with the aid of the teacher.

Add one complete set of moon phase cutouts to school portfolio plus a Luney Tune selection.

OBJECTIVES

• Students will be able to state the order of the Moon's phases from one full moon to the next.
• Students will be able to demonstrate how the Moon's position relative to Earth creates the phases.

CONNECTION TO THE NATIONAL SCIENCE STANDARDS:

Grades K through 4

• Develop an understanding of objects in the sky
• Develop an understanding of changes in the earth and sky
• Develop an understanding of the position and motion of objects.

Grades 5 through 8

• Develop an understanding of the earth in the solar system.

CONNECTION TO THE NATIONAL MATHEMATICS STANDARDS:

Grades K through 4

• Describe, model, draw, and classify shapes.
• Develop spatial sense.

Grades 5 through 8

• Identify, describe, compare, and classify geometric figures.
• Visualize and represent geometric figures with special attention to developing spatial sense.
• Explore transformations of geometric figures.

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ADDITIONAL LINKS

Phases of the Moon