Moon Phases Lesson Plan Overview: In this hands-on lesson, students learn about and discuss the phases of the moon through a variety of hands-on activities, including making their own moon flipbooks and cookie moons. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The teacher places lava rocks and small piles of crushed lava rock (“moon dust/soil”) on plastic sheeting around the room and turns the … You Teach.” method used in this guide. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. I am not going to go through each page of the teacher instructions since it is neatly written in order in the packet provided, instead I am going to go through each "phase" of the lesson and give you some basic information to help guide you. It's ALL here and it's ALL super awesome!!! Please feel free to use them in your home and home school co-op. I am providing all of the materials I have created with this lesson plan along with some additional lessons I used to get things off on the right foot. Students can work in groups of 2 - 4 for most of the activities. After the challenge students will work on two or more “focus questions” to assess their complete understanding of the topic. Grades: Preschool and K-2 Length of Lesson: 30-45 minutes More Active Astronomy Activities Ask a friend to accurately describe how we can see the lunar phases day in and day out. With phase two of the student packet students will first work on a “what do you think?” to pre-assess their understandings. This science lesson achieves a number of objectives. Letting other students hear these sentences builds vocabulary skills, thinking skills, and confidence. Overview: In this hands-on lesson, students learn about and discuss the phases of the moon through a variety of hands-on activities, including making their own moon flipbooks and cookie moons. We used the longer version and I photocopied a class set and highlighted the different speaking parts for each reader. Lesson Plan Title : Moon Craters. I take 1 more minute to share the (middle) sentences with the class. I have been teaching middle school space science for the past thirteen years and always found the discussions in our class that were centered around the moon to be some of the most meaningful. The main purpose of this is to help students understand why we discuss the explanation for the formation of the Moon as “theoretical” and not fact. Share it with us! Through this short unit, children will develop a deeper understanding of the moon. Or maybe you start with how the moon affects the ocean's tides. Teaching Moon Phases : Summary of Activity: Here we have several hands-on activities to teach the causes of Moon phases. This lesson is aligned to Common Core Standards RST.6-8.1 and RST.6-8.4. See more ideas about Moon lessons, Teaching science, Moon activities. 3. The entire purpose of this phase is to give students a better picture of what the moon looks like and how it has similar geologic composition and structure to that of the Earth. , Thank you for sharing the link to our Readers Theater script “Moon Talk” (based on the NASA transcripts), Liz. Use the lesson plans, activities, worksheets and clip art to help you bring the moon to your classroom. These high school lesson plans have been packaged in a way that meets the learning needs of my children and those I tutor. 1 year ago. To the Moon and Beyond with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter offers a variety of inquiry based, standards-aligned lesson plans. The Sun and Moon work together to make the phases. Varied approaches/ strategies are employed to steer the interest of the students on Astronomy. 1. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Teachers can access the presentation either through PowerPoint or Google Presentation. I once again use an NSTA article to help reinforce the concept. In this case students will be teaching through writing a book appropriate for fourth grade students. The moon is a perfect object to first get kids excited about space science, mainly because it is so easy to see and investigate (at least visually). Ready to teach your students about moon phases? There is an additional section that focuses on how scientific laws compare to scientific theories. The shape of the moon changes. I ask that you respect my time and energy and do not resell any of the lessons in part of whole. Large area covered with dark material - several pieces of black construction paper taped to the wall or white board work well Aim the light at the dark surface. Cast: 4+ (chorus) Readability: grade 5.8 Many students struggle with geometry at this age and this lesson actually involves a fair amount of geometric reasoning. Moon Story Book” along with the rubric used to grade the final product. Kids always have a level of thoughtful intrigue with the moon because it's just so darn alien to us. The article clearly explains all the materials that you need to create the models but overall it's just paper or plastic plates and some laminated labels. It’s exciting to see a science teacher integrating learning so many different ways. Middle School Science Blog Free lesson plans and resources for grades 5-8 by Liz Belasic (Liz LaRosa) ... Birthday Moons – this is a classic lesson that has I have used over the years. ( Log Out / I end up using local basalt samples and some breccia samples I picked up like these here. 1 1 MULTI-LEVEL LESSON PLAN GUIDE Earth, Moon, and Beyond Jeni Gonzales e-mail: JeniLG7@aol.com SED 5600 Dr. Michael Peterson December 18, 2001 The work I am presenting here took approximately 120 hours to complete and has now been successfully used by numerous colleagues of mine. This first moon landing lesson plan covers the details of that historic event and why it still matters today. 2. One of the best ways to determine if a student completely understands the material is to have the student teach it. Now that the students have an understanding of the positioning of the moon in space and no longer have the misconception that the moon is directly across from the earth at all times you can move on to modeling eclipses. The second phase (“Quarter Moon”) is where the real meat of the curriculum is discovered. My Massive Fail Who has sent home the moon calendar where students are supposed to […] I am happy that you will find good use for the lessons and please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions you might come across. I have found that everything up to this point has moved in such a logical order that this next phase (I know, I gotta stop with that pun) is so simple for the students. Thank you for sharing. It is estimated this lesson will take 20 minutes to teach. I had 2 readers for Armstrong, 2 for Aldrin, 1 for Collins, 5 readers for mission control, 2 readers for the narrator, and one reader for Nixon. I had my students work in pairs to create these books and had our ELA teachers join in on the literary components accompanying the creation of the books. Explain to the students that th… Change ). Post was not sent - check your email addresses! We are lucky to have our elementary school just up the road from us and we have utilized the opportunity for our students to interact and work with the second grade students at the elementary school. You can also find an abundance of resources to help you really delve into teaching everything there is to know about the moon. This final phase can be completed mostly in class with the initial brainstorming and rough draft but I have had students complete the final draft of the book as an out of class project due to the time it takes to create a quality product. This is awesome! Why does the moon … Everyone has gazed at the Moon, but why does it not always look the same to us? Students create Moon Logs to record and sketch how the Moon looks each night in the sky. The moon does not rotate. Free science lesson plans and resources. ( Log Out / ( Log Out / This is comprehensive for sure! To do this, you will need: 1. Participated in the Classroom Science Contest. I plan to use this next school year with my 7th graders. Lesson Plan #4286. • “Moon Talk–Apollo 11 (Quick Version)” grades 4-6, middle school, high school, adults) Time: 13 min. This is probably one of my favorite lessons to teach my students and I was hoping it would benefit other teachers who teach the same curriculum. Most adults can't explain how it is possible that we see only one side of the moon, even more didn't even know that we see only one side of the moon. During this lesson, students are asked to work collaboratively, with a partner, to complete an interactive activity in which they draw and cut out 5 phases of the moon and then glue and label each of the moon’s phases. With this next moon phase you will discuss the moon's composition and general appearance. Moon Area Middle School -- Virtual Nov. 19-20 November 17, 2020 We are experiencing a staffing shortage at the Middle School that makes it impossible for us to return to our Hybrid Model this week. Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), View middleschoolsciencelessons’s profile on Facebook, Click here to print out the set of cards, ready to laminate, Moon phase images, phases, and descriptions, Laminated placemat, Suns (larger and smaller version), Earth, and 8 Moon Phases, Free Science Starters, Bell Ringers, Warm Ups, Writing Prompts, Charles Darwin Survival Game - Link Updated, How to draw Lewis Structures - a step by step tutorial. After this lesson, students will be able to: 1. name the phases of the moon 2. describe characteristics of lunar phases 3. understand and use key terms Harvest Moon) and some basic ideas surrounding the formation of the moon. Students use math skills to calculate gravity, mass, and weight, as well as, create a solar eclipse in a hands-on activity, and complete an experiment about the law of motion. Description. The entire purpose of the first phase of this lesson is to introduce the students to what they are going to learn about in regards to the moon and hook their interest. The moon is an enigma. ( Log Out / Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Love it!!! There will be examples and additional information of extension found in the supplemental information section of this guide. The teacher will present the material using a PowerPoint presentation or Google Presentation. I am providing the entire lesson plan, which, if completed from start to finish, can take an entire month. This a wonderful resource. I would say that after the activity there are at least 80% of the students who "get it" and another 20% that might need the model explained again. It's amazing how much the kids love using the models and solving the problem. I use two binder clips attached to the ceiling with the strings passing through them so that I can adjust the height of the ball and cast a shadow onto them with the opposing ball. Students are introduced to the futuristic concept of the moon as a place people can inhabit. Better yet, start off by asking them when the moon typically rises. Grade: 5 | ... First Day Activities For Middle School Students . This is a packet of back to school activities for middle school students. We also provide a Powerpoint presentation and extensive teacher guide on how to use Active Engagement to teach and learn Moon phases. Many of my science lessons are based upon and taught using the 5E lesson plan model: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate.This lesson plan model allows me to incorporate a variety of learning opportunities and strategies for students. After the students create their group models you can model eclipses as a class by using an overhead projector as a light source along with a softball (or similarly sized ball) attached to the ceiling and a ball 1/4 the size (golf ball works well) attached to the ceiling. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Is there a shorter version for the “Moon talk”? The moon is an enigma. The challenges will often incorporate applicative thinking and mathematics based upon the information the students just learned. I hope that you find this guide of great use to you and your students and if you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to email me at chris_stark@wrsd.net. ReadWorks – “Climbing Space” has excerpts from Kennedy’s speech and reading comprehension questions. Overhead projector or some other bright light source, Tennis balls or other smooth sports ball (to be used as moon models held by students, you will need at least 9 of these), Marbles (you will need at least 9 of these), Softball attached to a string (to be hung from the ceiling representing the earth), Ball 1/4 size of softball attached to string (to be hung from ceiling representing the moon), Students will use a “student packet” throughout the entire lesson which clearly follows along with the material the teacher presents. I made a Birthday Moon Phases worksheet (pdf) for my students to use based on the original lesson. Everything is clearly explained and detailed in the teacher packet. It is suggested that the teacher uses the focus questions as a form of summative assessment, although some modification might be necessary for students with disabilities. In the book, the reader learns about the moon's composition, eclipses, and moon phases. In this case the student's final assessment is a colorful book that takes the reader on a journey to the moon. Mar 17, 2020 - Explore Pinning Teacher's board "Moon Lesson Plans", followed by 3747 people on Pinterest. The Sun causes the different phases of the Moon. This involves a hefty amount of literacy know-how and application so it is recommended that the teacher acquires the help of any literacy professionals in the school. Let the resources at Teacher Planet help you out. This section relies heavily on student interaction and group work and it is suggest that students work with multiple partners to experience different learning methods and various ideas. Thank you for sharing them! It is suggested that the teacher effectively use this chart by having students go the “L” or “What I Learned” section each time something new is learned to insert the information and keep a sequential timeline of what the class has learned. #4286. You can only see the moon at night. The first phase (“New Moon”) focuses on basic concepts necessary for later understandings along with pre-assessment activities to hook student interest. 5e Lesson Plan Model. There are so many misconceptions surrounding the moon that both kids and adults hold on to, therefore it is so important to get the kids thoughts out there and shared with the group prior to diving into the depths of moon learning. This lesson offers games and activities designed to get even your most stubborn middle school aged student engaged in reviewing information on the sun, moon, and Earth. Designed for the informal learning environment, several of the activities about lunar site selection and lunar geology are appropriate for the middle school classroom. You will need to acquire some moon rocks for this next phase... just joking, that would be some serious $$. There are three distinct sections (phases) separating the curriculum. Laminate, cut apart cards, and store into zip-top bag – 1 bag per 2 students. I love helping teachers! Phases of the Moon Science, level: Middle Posted Sun Dec 7 18:49:36 PST 2008 by Dorothy Puglisi (Dorothy Puglisi). Students follow along with the lessons and activities in their student packet. I have used these these activities for four or more years and have found great success over that time. Code a Traffic Light in Tinkercad Codeblocks & Circuits. You Learn. Some good sentences include: The Moon changes phases because of the Sun. The lesson is an excellent connection between science and math and further reinforces any other scale activities you might do with your students. A light source, a large flahslight or gooseneck lamp would work. Materials Required: Paper, Pencil, Clock, Calendar Concepts Taught: Moon Phases Lesson Plan Lesson Plan Title: Phases of the Moon ... For more lessons about the Moon, visit my Moon Page. I have always found that when a student can clearly explain a concept she/he truly understands it to the utmost extent. Lesson Plans; Moon Phases; Follow Us: Moon Phases Learn all about the different phases of the moon. The Slides - awesome! They brainstorm what people would need to live on the moon and then design a fantastic Moon colony and decide how to power it. I bet that if they don't understand the first question they will answer at sunset for the latter question. Thank you for including so many great resources. , Let me know if you have any ideas for more middle school Readers Theater science scripts, please. There are some materials necessary for this curriculum, which are not included such as rock samples, videos and other various products. With this phase you will discuss the apparent size of the moon, the changing appearance of the moon (i.e. Explain the locations of the Earth, moon and sun and describe their relationship 2. I love this section of the lesson plan since it involves so much interaction with the students. So here's the thing... if you present these ideas and questions to a group of young minds you are bound to get kids excited. Yes, she has them posted on her website: I love seeing the students work together to determine how this is possible and then we do it as an entire class with a couple of students acting as the earth and moon. This does pose some problems with group projects assigned out of class, so this will be at the teacher’s discretion. There are heaps of surprises (one could say craters) one learns when they start diving deep into what we currently know and understand about the moon. Many of the activities are adapted from tested and proven lessons found in the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) publication Science Scope. Thank you so much! :D. Tinkercad Robotics for School: Evil Zipline Robot! They’ll certainly be seeing the Moon that long. What really blows their mind is the fact that a footprint on the moon remains there for all eternity (barring no meteors find it) due to the low gravity leading to a lack of atmosphere, leading to no weather and no wind. You are welcome to skip sections that might not fit into your curriculum or might seem to advanced for your students. In this lesson students will make craters using small round objects dropped into powder. This lesson plan is designed for middle school science students between the ages of 10 and 15. You'll also find links to helpful worksheets. The first phase starts with a “KWL- What I Know, What I Want to Know, and What I Learned” chart to help jump start the lesson. Cast: 5+ (chorus) Readability: grade 5.1. Once again the students will be using hands on models to help explain this next phenomena. , Thanks Carol! #4286. I just posted a link from the “Moon Talk” script page you used to this wonderful page of resources. It's just too darn big to be orbiting our planet and even with the theories behind its creation, it seems unfathomable that we have this massive object zipping around Earth every day. Learn about the characteristics of the moon, its phases, its craters, and the planets that have moons. 3. Using this format helps keep both the student and teacher organized throughout the entire curriculum. Use this lesson plan to teach students about the Moon's phases. Each activity can be used stand-alone, in or outside the classroom, with students or adults. Lesson Plans Keep your students engaged with our lesson plans. I then use the projector and a tennis ball to help the students visualize the phases in a 360 degree model that allows them to see the changing phases as time passes. The moon incites children's curiosity from a very young age. After the books were fully assembled and finalized we headed up to the elementary school to read the books to the second grade students. NGSS Standard: MS-ESS1.A-1 Patterns of the apparent motion of the sun, the moon, and stars in the sky can be observed, described, predicted, and explained with models. Thank you so much for the comment! Although there are no extension activities taken out of the classroom during the lesson such as homework or short research projects, the curriculum is easily adaptable to additional assignments. With this phase you will model how we are inter tidally locked to the moon and we only see one face of the moon, the near side. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. With this phase you will be teaching students some important facts about the moon's position in space so that they will better understand the next two phases involving eclipses and moon phases. The moon is approximately 1/4 the diameter of Earth, making it one of the larger planetary orbiters out there in proportion to the planet. Phases of the Moon. This article suggests several solar and lunar eclipse activities that can be done in the classroom. (You have my email.) Search Search educational ... Middle school moon experts record several factors, including the altitude above the horizon, the azimuth, the phase, and... Get Free Access See Review. This lesson plan is designed for middle school science students between the ages of 10 and 15. Reply This is a fantastic way to end this hefty lesson and I have loved teaching the entire thing for the past seven years. The student packet completely replaces note-taking and if wanted, summative assessments in the form of quizzes and tests. Sometimes it is a big, bright, circle, but, other times, it is only a tiny sliver. Therefore, o ur Middle School will remain fully virtual on Thursday, November 19 and Friday, November 20 with the goal of returning to school for in person instruction on Monday, November 23. You have a WEALTH of resources here. I ended up using a National Science Teacher's Association article for part of this lesson and I included the link to the article in the teacher packet. Middle School MS-ESS1-1: Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and season. The second phase is broken down into five sections: Our Moon's composition Our Moon's period of rotation (day and night cycle) and our Moon's period of revolution (year) Scale: Our Moon's position in space relative to the Earth and the sun (angle and distance) Lunar and solar eclipses and the Moon's involvement Our Moon's apparent "phases" as viewed from Earth and Space Each section is prerequisite to the following section and helps foster a complete understanding of the Moon, ultimately leading up to the final assessment. The other material can be accessed through PDF files and/or Google Documents. Our The Moon lesson plan explores Earth’s moon in a captivating and information packed way. This understanding also helps students understand why much of what they are learning is still up for alterations and changes if new discoveries or findings are made. Mar 22, 2016 - After completing the unit students will be able demonstrate and predict the sequence of events in the lunar cycle.Each lesson plan follows the 5E model and provides you with the exact tools to teach the concept.Essential Questions:1. Because of the obvious level of intrigue my students expressed I thought it would be prudent to create a comprehensive lesson plan that begins with the very basics of the moon and progressively moves along the lines to more complex concepts involving Earth's nearest neighbor.