Moon Phases Lesson Plan This is an ongoing lesson with several extension activities which allow you to work with moon phases over the course of multiple days or several weeks. The activities are meant to act like a mini-unit on moon phases. Subject / grade level: 4th grade Materials: several sets of moon phase cards (Delta kit), ball with one white side and one black side (can paint Styrofoam balls from Delta kit or use a Nerf ball if available), ball to represent sun, materials and websites for the various Elaboration/Extension activities listed NC SCOS Essential Standards and Clarifying Objectives: 4.E.1.2 Explain the monthly changes in the appearance of the moon, based on the moon’s orbit around the Earth. Lesson objective(s): Students will recognize that the changes in the moon’s appearance are caused by its orbit around Earth and our perspective of it as it orbits. Students will identify each phase by name and determine where the phase falls in the moon cycle. Prerequisite Knowledge: Students should have a basic understanding that light moves in a straight line and can be reflected, refracted, or absorbed. Students should know that Earth orbits the sun and the moon orbits Earth. It will also be helpful if students have a basic understanding of the relative sizes of the moon, the sun, and the Earth in comparison to one another. ENGAGEMENT Pre-assess students’ knowledge of the moon by creating a Mental File Folder or circle map using the moon as the topic. List what students know about the moon. If misconceptions arise, list them to the side (if using a circle map) or in the appropriate section of the Mental File Folder. Ask: Does the moon create its own light? Why does the moon appear to light up? Have students ever seen the moon change shape? If so, what shapes have students seen? EXPLORATION In small groups, students should try to put the moon phase cards in the correct order beginning with the new moon. The teacher should not correct students at this point, but rather allow students to explore the topic on their own and attempt the activity using their own methods. Students may see that the cards can be made into a pattern even if they don’t create the pattern correctly. Leave moon phase cards in the order students put them in, and set aside for later in the lesson. EXPLANATION Place the ball representing the sun in a central location at the front of the room. Gather students in the center of the room. Students will represent Earth. Show students the black and white ball and explain that it represents the moon. Ask students which side of the ball (white or black) needs to face the sun if the ball is positioned in between the sun and the Earth (students). Explain that the white side should face the sun because the sun gives light and the light is hitting that side of the moon. When the moon is in that position in its orbit around the Earth, the part of the moon we see is in shadow. It is called a New Moon. The teacher will hold the moon ball and orbit around the Earth (the students), keeping the light side of the moon facing the sun at all times. Students will rotate in the center of the room as the moon orbits so that they can see that the moon changes its appearance depending on where it is in the orbit around the Earth. The moon is not changing shape, it is our perspective of the moon that is changing. Depending on where the moon is in relation to Earth, we see different parts of the moon light up. As you rotate counterclockwise, stop at each phase and ask students to describe the moon ball and what they see. Name the phases and explain them as you orbit. Some explanations are below: Waxing Crescent- Waxing means “to become larger” and the part of the moon that is lit up is getting larger at this point. You can relate this to the fact that if you dip something in wax, it gets larger and larger the more it is dipped. Crescents are curved with 1 Moon Phases Lesson Plan points on each end (relate to a crescent roll). It is helpful to know that a waxing crescent looks like a backward C. First Quarter- The first quarter moon really shows half of the moon lit up. We call it a quarter because it is ¼ of the way through the moon cycle. This can be related to fractions and time on a clock (ex. quarter after the hour is ¼ of the rotation of the clock). Waxing Gibbous- The moon is still waxing because the part we see lit up is getting larger. Gibbous means “having a hump” or “bulging” and a waxing gibbous is a moon with more than half lit up (it looks bulging). Full Moon- Since the moon is now on the other side of its orbit around Earth, it is fully lit by the sun. Waning Gibbous- Waning means “to become smaller” and the part of the moon that is lit up is decreasing at this point in the cycle. It still looks bulging, but this time, the lit part of the moon is on the opposite side. It now will begin to look like a forward C. Third Quarter- Shows half lit up again (opposite half as before). Relate to fractions and the clock. Waning Crescent- Still getting smaller and looking like a forward C. New Moon- The cycle is now complete and will begin again with another new moon. Students should have picked up on a pattern. The shapes of the lit part of the moon look the same before and after the new moon, but the part of the moon that is lit up changes sides after you pass the full moon. Define and draw the moon phases on the board or on chart paper, having students take notes in a journal. Give students hints to help them remember the phases and what they look like. Students will return back to the moon phase cards and use what they know to correct the order of their cards. ELABORATION/EXTENSION Harcourt Moon Phase (also on e-Chalk)- Show how moon phases change throughout moon cycle, stopping periodically to explain or see if students can determine what the next phase in the cycle will be. This is great for follow-up after the initial explanation of moon phases. http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/moon_phases/ Moon Phase Chart using Phase Squares- Each student will cut one strip of moon phases and place them in the correct order around the Earth on the Moon Phase Chart. They will then label the phases. http://www.charlesbridge.com/client/client_pdfs/downloadables/facesofthemoon.pdf Lunar Cycle Challenge- Students can play three levels of the game on the Smartboard or computer. They must use the patterns and what they know about moon phases to choose the missing phase. http://sciencenetlinks.com/interactives/moon/moon_challenge/moon_challenge.html Moon Phase Flip Book- Create the flip book from the Delta kit to show students how the moon changes over its cycle. Moon Phase Bracelet- Students create a bracelet which they can turn around their wrists to learn the phases. Moon Phase Journal and Chart- Students will use the moon phase journal from Delta kit, blank paper made into a booklet, or the Moon Journal from e-Chalk to observe and track the moon phases over the course of a month. Begin this activity around the New Moon so students can see one complete cycle. Review the phase of the moon each day by having students share, and then look the phase up on a lunar calendar. You can also create a lunar calendar on butcher paper or register tape. Each day, assign a different student the task of drawing, dating, and labeling the moon on chart paper until you have an entire cycle completed. You may also want to track the percentage of the moon that was lit (can be found on most online lunar calendars). Oreo Cookie Moon Phases- Students will use a paper plate and 7 Oreo cookies (use the same cookie for the new moon and full moon) to create a diagram of the moon phases. This can be done independently (you will need approx.4 packs of cookies) or in small groups (less cookies will be needed). Students will separate the two halves of each cookie and use a plastic knife to scrape the cream off the cookies to create each moon phase. Extra cookie pieces will be set aside. They will then place their moon phases correctly on the plate beginning with the New Moon at the top and label each. If doing this in small groups, assign each student an equal number of phases to create, place, and label. EVALUATION Any of the following tasks from the Elaboration section can be used for evaluation: Moon Phase Chart and Phase Squares Lunar Cycle Challenge Moon Phase Journal and Chart Oreo Cookie Moon Phases 2 Moon Phases Lesson Plan Final Evaluation can include: Moon Phase Quiz- http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Space-Moon-Phases-Assessment-Quiz-478789 Additional Resources: Phases of the Moon Visualization- Good visual for teachers and students http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es2503/es2503page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization On the Moon’s Phases on e-Chalk- Gives teachers background knowledge on moon phases Earth/Moon/Sun Relationships on e-Chalk- visual for understanding motion of Earth, moon, and sun The Phases of the Moon- Kid friendly explanations and games associated with phases http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/moon/phases.html Out-of-this-World Orbits!- A paper model to show that the moon orbits the Earth, and the Earth orbits the sun English Language Arts Connections: Phases of the Moon Comprehension Passage- Explains the phases and why they happen in a text with a 710 Lexile and offers comprehension questions for the text. http://www.k12reader.com/worksheet/phases-of-the-moon/ If You Decide to Go to the Moon by Faith McNulty- Informational picture book with lots of interesting facts about the moon; 690 Lexile The Moon Seems to Change by Franklyn M. Branley- Informational picture book about moon phases and why the moon looks different to us at different times Thirteen Moons on Turtle’s Back by Joseph Bruchac- Book of poems about the 13 Native American cycles of the moon and how they illustrate the changing of the seasons and the passage of time Vocabulary: moon phase waxing waning sphere counterclockwise gibbous crescent quarter moon full moon new moon orbit revolve/revolution 3
