Phases of the moon
Young children may have the idea that the moon actually changes shape. This lesson explains that this apparent change is a result of the moon's revolution around the earth.
A lesson plan for grades 3–4 Science
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- Neuseway Nature Park, Planetarium, and Health and Science Center: A rich resource for Lenoir County, this center provides free health, astronomy, and nature and environmental experiences to school groups.
Related topics
- Learn more about astronomy, demonstrations, environmental science, moon, phases of the moon, rotation, science, solar system, and sun.
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Learning outcomes
Students will:
- Recognize that the moon does not actually change shape, but goes through phases that form a pattern.
- Learn that the amount of moon one can see each night depends on where the moon is in its orbit around the Earth.
Teacher planning
Time required for lesson
45 minutes
Materials/resources
- flashlight or lamp without shade
- model of the Earth and the moon
- Patterns of the Moon activity sheet
- pencils
- Moonwatch Questions
- completed Moonwatch Activity Sheet
Pre-activities
- Students observe the moon for two weeks.
- Students draw moon on the Moonwatch Activity Sheet each night for fourteen days.
Activities
- In a darkened room, the teacher will set up models of the sun, moon, and Earth.
- Moving the moon model slowly in a circle around the Earth, the teacher will instruct the students to draw the moon as it would be seen from Earth.
- Refer back to data collected on the Moonwatch Activity Sheet and pinpoint dates when the moon looks as it did in each point in this activity.
- Discuss and answer Moonwatch Questions.
Assessment
- Completed activity sheets.
- Verbal answers to questions.
Supplemental information
When collecting data on the Moonwatch Activity Sheet, it may be necessary for the students to infer what the moon actually looks like on any certain night, as some nights may be cloudy and the students may be unable to see the moon that night.
Comments
This lesson may be adapted to include the creation of bar or pie graphs as a part of a math lesson.
North Carolina curriculum alignment
Science (2005)
Grade 3
- Goal 3: The learner will make observations and use appropriate technology to build an understanding of the earth/moon/sun system.
- Objective 3.02: Observe that objects in the sky have patterns of movement including:
- Sun.
- Moon.
- Stars.
- Objective 3.02: Observe that objects in the sky have patterns of movement including:
- North Carolina Essential Standards
- Science (2010)
Grade 3
- 3.E.1 Recognize the major components and patterns observed in the earth/moon/sun system. 3.E.1.1 Recognize that the earth is part of a system called the solar system that includes the sun (a star), planets, and many moons and the earth is the third planet...
Grade 4
- 4.E.1 Explain the causes of day and night and phases of the moon. 4.E.1.1 Explain the cause of day and night based on the rotation of Earth on its axis. 4.E.1.2 Explain the monthly changes in the appearance of the moon, based on the moon’s orbit around the...
- Science (2010)
