The Phases of the Moon

Objectives:

*1.4 Investigate why the full moon and new moon occur, using models.

*1.5 Observe the full moon and the new moon in the sky. Record the phases of the moon on a calendar.

Activity 1

Materials:

moon calendars

Procedure:

Give student a calendar for the current month. Instruct them to observe the night sky and draw the shape of the moon on the date. The next morning at school, the students will share their observations. At the end of one month discuss the children's observations and identify the phases of the moon. Click here for calendar.

Activity 2

Materials:

ball
bright lamp (flashlight)

Procedure:

Demonstrate the phases of the moon. Darken the room. Use an unshaded lamp or flashlight for the sun, a light coloured ball for the moon and a student to role play the Earth. Turn on the light, hold the ball in front of the student in line with their eyes and the light bulb. The side of the ball facing the student will be in light. You will see the full moon.

Have the student move around the lamp with the ball in front of him or her, demonstrating the phases of the moon. When the moon(ball) is between the light bulb and the earth(the student), the moon can't be seen at all. This is the new moon. The lightbulb is shining on the side of the moon(ball) that is turned away from earth(the student). Continue demonstrating the phases of the moon.

Show students a poster of the Phases of the Moon. Discuss. Give students a worksheet to fill in the names of the phases of the moon. To help students understand and visualize the phases, create a Bulletin Board display. Assign students a Phase of the Moon to create. Click here for Phases of the Moon worksheets.

Click the icon to see Bulletin Board display

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