SUN AND MOON ACTIVITY #1

Knight Foundation Summer Institute

Elizabeth Chesick, Haverford College

Introduction:

The following fact may seem hard to believe, but it is true: the moon does not give off its own light. In fact, the only reason we see the moon is because light from the sun reflects off of it. Ask the students what they know about the moon. Have them write their ideas down. Then discuss their ideas while making a list of them on the board. Can anyone explain why the moon seems to change shape every few days? Have the students discuss this question in small groups. The phases of the moon which we see are due to the part of the moon which is illuminated by sun light and which part of the moon is visible to us. The following lesson is a great illustration of these ideas.

Objectives:

  1. To understand why only half of the moon is illuminated by the sun.
  2. To understand how the phases of the moon are due to people on earth seeing part of the illuminated half of the moon, all of the illuminated half of the moon, or none of the illuminated half of the moon. To understand why a full moon is seen all night long and a new moon is seen all day long.

Vocabulary:

illuminates

phases

Materials:

Procedure:

  1. Obtain a sheet of paper with the appropriate circles drawn.
  2. Note that the sun is at the bottom. Only half of the moon receives light from the sun. Color half of the moon facing the sun "white" and the half away from the sun "black".
  3. Note that the earth is in the center. Anyone on the earth can see only half of the moon. Draw dotted lines to show the half of the moon visible to anyone on earth.
  4. Label the phases of the moon "full", "half", "three-quarters", "one-quarter", "new" according to how much of moon we can see.
  5. Note that the "full" moon is visible only to people on the part of the earth away from the sun -- those experiencing "night".
  6. Note that the "new" moon is visible only to people on the part of the earth facing the sun -- those experiencing "day".

Assessments:

Have the students observe the moon for a month. Every three days, have them write down their observation of the moon's phase and an explanation of why they see it that way.

Extensions:

These ideas could be made even clearer by using a ball to represent the moon and a flashlight to represent the sun. The students would be the people on earth observing the moon.

The students may also choose to record other observations they make as they look at the moon such as about weather or stars. This will serve as another opportunity to practice writing as well as a chance for the students to record what is important to them. It's like a diary.

See "Sun and Moon Activity #2" in this booklet for another great activity related to the ideas in this lesson.

Have the students research more ideas about the sun and moon or other objects in space.

Philadelphia Science Content Standards:

SCIENCE CONTENT STANDARD #2: PHYSICAL SETTING

This activity helps to satisfy Benchmark 1 for grades 5-8: "Understand and illustrate the effects of the solar system on the earth's day and year." It also satisfies Benchmark 6 for grades k-4: "understand that the earth is one of several planets that orbit the sun; the moon orbits the earth".

Cross-references:

This is a great introduction lesson to a unit on space. It could also be used in a more specific lesson on the moon or the sun. Furthermore, it is a great illustration of how students can ask questions about their world and receive answers. The Assessment and Extensions sections provide opportunities to practice writing skills.

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